Gaelic Games

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Monaghan have secured the Division Two title thanks to a 1-26 to 0-19 victory over Roscommon at Croke Park on Saturday night.

A close first half ended with Roscommon going in with a 0-12 to 0-11 advantage at the interval.

Monaghan were leading 0-20 to 0-18 on 58 minutes when substitute Jack McCarron scored the only goal of the game.

The Ulster side pulled cleared in Dublin and eased to a 10-point success.

Roscommon moved 0-4 to 0-3 in front before Monaghan reeled off four straight points including a two-pointer from Conor McCarthy.

Back came the Rossies and they went in with a narrow lead at the break.

Monaghan opened up a five-point gap after keeper Rory Beggan followed up a two-pointer with another and then Micheal Bannigan also fired over a two-point score.

As with the first half Roscommon hit back and they were just two behind when McCarron netted from a Ryan McAnespie .

Monaghan built on the goal and Beggan slotted over a two-pointer as the Farney team stretched clear to become Division Two champions.

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Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan has made just one change from the defeat by Down for Saturday evening's Allianz Football League Division Two Final against Roscommon at Croke Park (19:15 GMT).

Stephen O'Hanlon is drafted into the attack as Kevin Loughran drops out of the defence with Ryan Wylie switching to right half-back.

Otherwise Monaghan's starting personnel is unchanged from the home loss against Down, which didn't prevent the Farney men from reaching the final as other results went their way.

Roscommon also make one change from their draw with relegated Westmeath in Mullingar last weekend with Dylan Ruane is named at wing-back and Daire Cregg dropping out of the matchday squad

Regular captain Brian Stack remains unavailable for the Rossies because of injury.

When the sides meet in the Division Two round-robin stage at Dr Hyde Park last month, Roscommon secured a 0-25 to 2-14 victory.

Monaghan: R Beggan; R Wylie, K Duffy, D Byrne; R McAnespie, R O'Toole, C McCarthy; J Wilson, M McCarville; S O'Hanlon, M Bannigan, C McNulty; D Garland, A Woods, J McCarron.

Subs: D Croarkin, J Irwin, G Mhillips, D Hughes, D Ward, G Mohan, B McBennett, A Carey, B McCaul, S Mooney, K O'Connell.

Roscommon: C Carroll; C Neary, D Murray, N Higgins; S Cunnane, R Fallon, D Ruane; E Nolan, K Doyle; C Lennon, E Smith, C Hand; D Murtagh (capt), D McKeon, C Murtagh.

Subs: A Brady, J McManus, R Daly, S Killoran, U Harney, T Lambe, B O'Carroll, C Heneghan, S Lambe, C Cox, D Smith.

Image source, BBC Sport

On this week's GAA Social podcast, Thomas and Oisin sit down with legendary Armagh footballer and former commentator Jimmy Smyth.

As captain in 1977, Smyth led the Orchard County to success in the Ulster Championship before they were beaten by Dublin in the All-Ireland final.

Named an All-Star that year, the Clan na Gael clubman would win one more Ulster title (in 1980) before managing his club to two Armagh titles.

He moved from the pitch and sidelines to the commentary box, spending two decades working for the BBC calling the action on his beloved sport.

In this wide-ranging interview, which you can now from BBC Sounds, the 76-year-old talks about having survived two heart attacks and how he is still involved in the game as chair of the Ulster Schools.

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Oisin McConville believes Derry face a huge task in attempting to regroup for their Ulster SFC opener against Donegal in less than two weeks after their hammering by Armagh on Sunday.

The Oak Leafers were already certain of relegation from Division One of the Allianz Football League after taking only a single point from their opening six games but in their last match before the Ballybofey contest, were on the receiving end of a 4-24 to 1-18 scoreline at the Athletic Grounds.

"It will be very difficult for Derry to pick it up now because you are only talking two weeks until they play Donegal," said former Armagh star and current Wicklow manager McConville on The GAA Social BBC gaelic games podcast which he presents with Thomas Niblock.

"And when you consider the league that Donegal have had – even though a bit of a dip towards the end for whatever reason – you would think it's very difficult for Derry to go in and win that game. It's not impossible but it's very difficult to see it right now."

McConville confessed to feeling a degree of sympathy for manager Paddy Tally, who was only appointed to the Oak Leaf role in the middle of November after Derry took four months to find a successor to Mickey Harte.

The BBC GAA pundit added that Tally's late arrival amid the advent of the new football rules and the suspension of the Dr McKenna Cup pre-season competition made his task even more difficult.

"The personnel that Paddy Tally has available to him is not what it was even 12 months ago but also the confidence is sucked out of you when you continuously come out on the wrong side of results.

"There were a couple of times when they could have picked up results. The Kerry game is the one that people keep coming back to because it looked as if they were home in that game and managed to contrive to lose it."

Derry were only two points in arrears when star forward Shane McGuigan was sent off at the Athletic Grounds just before half-time after getting a second yellow card and McConville said that "put the tin hat on" Derry's league campaign as they dropped to Division Two a year after winning the Division One title.

McGuigan was dismissed for two yellow cards so he will not be banned for the Ulster opener at MacCumhaill Park.

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Antrim's Ulster Football Championship fixture against All-Ireland champions Armagh will be played at Corrigan Park on 12 April.

Ulster GAA confirmed in a statement on Tuesday the match will take place in west Belfast with a 12:30 GMT throw-in.

The game had been moved to Newry's Pairc Esler following a meeting of the Ulster GAA Competitions Control Committee (CCC) on 6 March but in their statement, Ulster GAA said that they have agreed to reverse their earlier decision after being "satisfied with further assurances given by Antrim GAA".

There had been doubts over the fixture ever taking place after Antrim players said they wouldn't play the game unless it was at the Belfast venue.

Health and safety issues, largely concerning the big demand for tickets from the very well ed All-Ireland champions, had led the provincial body to move the game to Newry's Pairc Esler.

This only hardened the "Corrigan or nowhere" refrain from the Antrim players and indeed the county's GAA board which put the match in potential jeopardy.

That scenario could have led to Antrim's entire removal from the remainder of the football championship, which would have involved them being thrown out of the second-tier Tailteann Cup.

Antrim were first out of the hat in the Ulster SFC draw last October which normally means home advantage for that team.

Even with home advantage, the Saffrons will go into the contest as massive underdogs having suffered relegated to Division Four of the Allianz Football League on Sunday.

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Reigning champions Armagh will face All-Ireland winners Kerry in the Ladies National Football League Division One final.

The game, which is a repeat of last year's decider, will take place on Saturday 12 April at Croke Park.

The Orchard County reached the final despite suffering their first defeat of the season as they fell to a shock 1-22 to 1-12 loss against Waterford on Saturday.

Sixteen second-half points helped Waterford to cause an upset at a windy Kilmacthomas.

Kerry, who are appearing in their third successive Division One final, edged out Meath 0-13 to 1-8 in Tralee to book their place in the decider.

At the other end of the table, the fight against relegation will go down to the final day.

Mayo kept their hopes of avoiding the drop alive as they beat Kildare 3-4 to 0-12 whilst relegation rivals Tyrone fought back too late as they suffered a 1-11 to 3-4 loss against Dublin.

The Red Hands are bottom of the table and level on points with Mayo, but with an inferior points difference.

They need a win or a draw in their final game against Kildare and for Mayo lose to stay up while Mayo will be safe with a win or a draw against Waterford.

In Division Two, Galway and Cork, both of whom were relegated last season, made a swift return to the top flight with victories on Monaghan and Clare on Sunday.

Galway hammered Monaghan 7-23 to 0-4 with Cork having it somewhat tougher as they defeated Clare 1-12 to 0-7.

Also in Division Two, Donegal edged out Tipperary 0-10 to 0-7, in a low scoring encounter that was 0-4 each at the break

In Division Three, Cavan secured promotion to Division Two next season with a 2-16 to 0-11 against Laois.

The final promotion spot is still in the mix with Wexford, Louth and Laois all still in contention after wins for Wexford, Louth and Down this afternoon.

The Mourne County women defeated Offaly 3-12 to 1-7.

LIDL Ladies National Football League

Division One

Dublin 1-11 Tyrone 3-4

Waterford 1-22 Armagh 1-12

Mayo 3-4 Kildare 0-12

Kerry 0-13 Meath 1-8

Division Two

Cork 1-12 Clare 0-7

Westmeath 1-14 Roscommon 1-10

Galway 7-23 Monaghan 0-4

Donegal 0-10 Tipperary 0-7

Division Three

Cavan 2-16 Laois 0-11

Down 3-12 Offaly 1-7

Wexford 2-17 Carlow 1-6

Louth 2-7 Limerick 0-10

Image source, BBC Sport

Let's just park any discussions about league finals and who wants to be in them (or not) for today and crunch the numbers instead.

Five teams - Galway, Dublin, Donegal, Mayo and Kerry - have a chance of playing for the league title going into the final round of fixtures on Sunday.

If Galway, Dublin and Mayo all win, then it'll come down to scoring difference to decide the top two so if any of that top three lose, one of the other counties can take advantage.

For Mayo and Kerry to get into the mix, they'll have to win their matches against Donegal and Galway respectively - and hope Dublin lose in Omagh.

Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke will be hoping for that result as he looks to guide the Red Hands away from relegation.

With Derry already condemned to Division Two next season, Tyrone and All-Ireland champions Armagh could also them.

The simplest solution for both counties is they win and the other loses but nothing ever plays that easy does it?

On the face of it, Armagh look to have a considerably easier task at the Athletic Grounds against a Derry side who Paddy Tally says are now firmly focusing on the Ulster Championship opener against Donegal on 6 April.

If both Tyrone and Armagh win - and Mayo avoid defeat against Donegal - then both the Red Hands and Armagh will finish on seven points with Kieran McGeeney's side avoiding the drop on the head-to-head after beating Malachy O'Rourke's side in round two. In that eventuality, Tyrone will go down even if they have earned a thumping victory over Dublin.

But if Tyrone, Armagh and Mayo all finish on seven points, the side with the worst points difference will Derry in dropping to Division Two which in that scenario would mean the Red Hands are definitely safe given that their points difference is currently on 0, with Mayo on -3 and Armagh on -8.

Division One fixtures - final round (all Sunday 15:45 throw-in)

Galway v Kerry

Mayo v Donegal

Armagh v Derry

Tyrone v Dublin

Image source, BBC Sport

Things are looking good for a Monaghan return to the top flight as they lead the Division Two table and have a healthy points difference advantage over their three promotion rivals Roscommon, Meath and Cavan - even though the Farney men will be facing a Down team fighting for their lives to avoid the drop.

Monaghan go into the Clones game knowing that avoiding defeat will confirm promotion and a league final courtesy of a top-two finish.

After a series of agonising narrow defeats, even a thumping Down victory will not be enough to save Conor Laverty's side if Louth beat Meath and Cork avoid defeat in Cavan.

Down have a superior points difference of +8 to Louth but the Wee County's 2-17 to 0-22 win over the Mourne County last month would see them staying up on the head-to-head if they both finish on six league points.

Roscommon, Meath and Cavan go into the last round of fixtures two points behind the Farney men.

As it stands, Roscommon's scoring different of +19 is nine ahead of Meath and 23 better than Cavan and on the face of it, the Rossies look in a strong position given that they are facing already-relegated Westmeath in Mullingar.

But once again, the head-to-head could come into play. Cavan beat Roscommon last weekend so if the two of them end up on 10 points after respective victories over Cork and Westmeath, with Meath failing to beat Louth, the Breffni County would secure promotion.

However, the head-to-head will favour Meath if they were to end up on 10 points along with either Roscommon or Cavan because the Royals have beaten the Rossies and Cavan during the campaign.

Division Two fixtures - final round (all Sunday 13:30 throw-in)

Monaghan v Down

Louth v Meath

Westmeath v Roscommon

Cavan v Cork

Image source, BBC Sport

It's not looking too good for Antrim in the third tier with results outside of their control needing to go their way if they are to avoid relegation.

Last weekend's home defeat by Sligo - after a dismal first-half display - looks set to prove ruinous to Andy McEntee's side's hopes of remaining in Division Three.

They need to beat promotion hopefuls Kildare in Newbridge on Sunday and hope Sligo fall to defeat to winless Leitrim, who forfeited last weekend's game with Fermanagh due to lack of available players.

The Erne County were awarded the win and those two points give them an outside hope of a top-two finish. For that to happen they'll need to beat Laois and hope that Kildare and Clare both lose.

If Clare beat leaders Offaly and Kildare win in Newbridge, all three sides will be on 10 points but with Mickey Harte's side and the Lilywhites looking certain to clinch the promotion spots given their huge points difference advantages over the Banner County.

There have been some reports suggesting that Fermanagh may seek an effective annulment of Leitrim's results but as it stands, the Ernemen's hopes rest on Kildare and Clare both losing.

Kildare looked promotion certainties after winning their opening five games but despite their defeats by Clare and Offaly over the last two rounds, the Lilywhites will be strongly fancied to secure ascent to Division Two by beating the Saffrons at St Conleth's Park.

Division Three fixtures - final round (all Sunday 14:00 throw-in)

Fermanagh v Laois

Clare v Offaly

Sligo v Leitrim

Kildare v Antrim

Image source, BBC Sport

It's a nice and simple picture in the fourth tier with Limerick and Wicklow looking to already promoted Wexford in Division Three next year.

The pair played out an entertaining draw last weekend to leave things firmly in the favour of Limerick going into the final fixtures.

They face bottom of the table Waterford knowing a win will seal second spot - and they also currently hold a superior scoring difference to Wicklow, meaning even if they draw, it will require a big win for Oisin McConville's side over Tipperary.

Division Four fixtures - final round (all Sunday 14:00 throw-ins)

Longford v Wexford

Limerick v Waterford

Tipperary v Wicklow

London v Carlow

Image source, BBC Sport

On this week's GAA Social, Thomas and Oisin are ed by four-time All-Ireland final referee David Coldrick.

As you can imagine, the new rules are one of the main topics of discussion and Coldrick's thoughts on the who put them together.

The trio also touch on what it takes to become a top-level GAA referee and the time the Meath whistler failed a fitness test.

But avid followers of Gaelic games will probably be most interested in his opinions around his belief that referees should be micc'd up for matches.

Listen now on BBC Sounds by clicking the link here

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St Patrick's College Maghera clinched their sixth All-Ireland Senior Football Colleges Hogan Cup triumph as they comfortably defeated St Colman's Claremorris 2-8 to 0-4 in the final at Croke Park.

Two Cormac Og McCloskey points helped the Maghera school lead 0-5 to 0-1 at half-time and their advantage should have been bigger as they missed several other chances.

Darragh Beirne notched the Mayo team's only first-half score and remained their only scorer during the contest.

St Colman's did have a 15th-minute goal chance when they were 0-2 to 0-0 down but Maghera goalkeeper Jack McCloy spread himself to deny Ciaran Treacy.

Owen Doherty, Padraig O'Kane and Darach McGonigle were also on target for the Derry side in the opening half.

By half-time, St Patrick's had lost skipper Cahal McKaigue to injury but they remained unruffled as man of the match Padraig Haran's 40th-minute goal, after a sweeping move, put them in total control at 1-6 to 0-2 ahead.

Haran notched Maghera's next score and while Beirne and Darragh Flanagan both had goal chances as St Colman's frantically attempted to get back into the game, McCloy refused to be beaten as he made further saves.

McCloskey notched his third point in the final minute of normal time and Darragh O'Neill's goal in injury-time - after another turnover at the other end of the pitch - topped off the St Pat's win as they added All-Ireland success to the MacRory Cup triumph.

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Tyrone manager Malachy O'Rourke said that his side have a "fighting chance" of staying in Division One after their 0-25 to 0-19 win against Donegal.

Despite a second victory of the season, O'Rourke's side remain in the relegation places and must avoid defeat against Dublin to have any chance of staying up.

O'Rourke was keen to praise his side for getting the job done against an under strengthened Donegal which takes the fight to avoid the drop to the final day.

"That's all we wanted. We knew when Donegal picked their team that they hadn't picked their full team, and it was a no-win situation for us in many ways," he told BBC Sport NI.

"We just had to get the two points and that's what we did, just glad to get out of it and that leaves us in with a fighting chance next week hopefully."

Tyrone have a better scoring difference than Armagh, who also have five league points, but remain in the relegation positions due to the All-Ireland champions' win over them in round two.

Armagh take on already relegated Derry in their last game, who are set to ring the changes after their boss Paddy Tally said their focus was now on preparing for the Ulster Championship.

O'Rourke stressed that the Red Hands will focus on getting a result against Dublin in Omagh next weekend rather than worrying about Armagh's game.

"We'd like to stay in Division One, but if we win next week – and that's a big if – that would mean we have five points out of the last six and that would be a good win to finish the league," he explained.

"It's an unforgiving division, this year more than ever. If we happen to get seven points and still get relegated, that would be tough. All we can do is concentrate on getting the couple of points."

Image source, Getty Images

Tyrone boosted their chances of avoiding ing Derry in being relegated from Division One of the Allianz Football League as they defeated an understrength Donegal 0-25 to 0-19 in Letterkenny.

Michael Murphy was in the Donegal line-up that took to the field at O'Donnell Park but Mark Curran, Hugh McFadden, Jamie Brennan and Niall O'Donnell were the only starters retained from the win over Derry two weeks ago.

Murphy's early brilliance helped the home side initially keep pace with the Red Hands but the visitors hit the final three scores of the first half to lead 0-12 to 0-7 with Ciaran Daly notching his second score after the hooter after a Donegal attack had broken down.

A Niall Morgan two-point free helped Tyrone stretch their advantage to 0-17 to 0-8 as they dominated the 10 minutes after the resumption.

Caolan McColgan and Odhran Doherty two-pointers helped cut Tyrone's advantage to 0-20 to 0-16 with 17 minutes left but Morgan's second placed-ball two-pointer was a steadying score for the Red Hands.

Tyrone managed the game well in the closing stages as points from the impressive Mattie Donnelly and substitutes Seanie O'Donnell and Darren McCurry kept Donegal at bay.

Murphy was forced off with seven minutes to play and it wasn't immediately clear whether he had picked up a knock.

The 2012 All-Ireland-winning skipper looked sharp early on as he battled with Tyrone full-back Peter Teague, who also got on the scoresheet for his side in the first half.

Despite the Football Review Committee's midweek rule change aimed at curbing the 12v11 situation in attack, Tyrone keeper Morgan still regularly ventured into the Donegal half although he also stood tall in the own goals to beat away a Charles McGuinness first-half goal chance.

Despite having a better scoring difference than Armagh, who also have five league points, Tyrone remain in the relegations positions by dint of the All-Ireland champions' win over them in round two going into the final round of fixtures next weekend.

Tyrone thus will have to avoid defeat against Dublin in Omagh to have any chance of avoiding the drop while Armagh will host relegated Derry.

Kerry are also not safe as they sit on six points and neither are Mayo on seven despite their win at Celtic Park on Sunday.

Donegal slip to third place in the table behind Galway and Dublin, with all three sides on eight points, and Jim McGuinness' side face Mayo in Castlebar next weekend.