GAA News from Ireland: Cork trumps Mayo in National Football League final

 
Limerick Wins

Goalkeeper Brian Scanlon was an unlikely hero with a point from a late 45 as Limerick beat Waterford in Saturday night’s NFL Division Four final at Croke Park.

Limerick manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan praised Scanlon’s kick, then warned his players to keep their feet on the ground.

“We have to treat it like another game ahead of the championship -- we can’t lose the run of ourselves,” he said.

“There is just one game in town for us - it is either Waterford or Clare in the first round of the Munster championship.”

Waterford boss John Owens was proud of his players after their narrow defeat and said, “With a couple of minutes to go, we were very much in it so it was very disappointing to lose.

“Somebody said to me that it’s a bonus getting to Croke Park but there’s no bonus inside there, those boys are very disappointed. That’s the first time I’ve seen that in our dressing room this year.

“But they’ve done brilliantly to get promotion and they’re a great bunch of lads. It’s been a very positive league. It’s a credit to them, they kept coming back today when things were going against them.”

 
Sligo Wins

Former Galway midfielder Kevin Walsh was the toast of Sligo after coaching them to the NFL Division Three title in Saturday night’s 0-19 to 1-11 Croke Park win over Antrim.

Sligo captain Charlie Harrison led the praise for Walsh and said, “Kevin Walsh came down two years ago from Galway when we were in the depths of Division 4 and he has now brought us up to Division 2.

“It’s always a tough battle with Antrim. It’s the fourth time in two years that we have met and this was yet another fast-tempo game.”

Antrim boss Liam Bradley paid tribute to Sligo’s hunger and said, “Basically, we were beaten by a far superior team on the day. Sligo came out of the blocks, we didn’t. In the first half, we were completely overrun. Defensively we were very poor.

“Middle of the field, we were cleaned out, albeit Brendan Herron was a big loss to us. Basically, we were just cleaned out all over the pitch for the first 35 minutes.”

 
GAA Shorts

BRIAN Murphy is expected to get the nod at full-back in place of the injured Eoin Cadogan when Cork meet Galway in Sunday night’s NHL final in Thurles. Galway’s only injury worry concerns forward Niall Healy . . .

MICK O’Dwyer has backed his native Kerry to win this year’s All-Ireland football championship. “I think one team can do it -- Kerry,” said O’Dwyer . . .

TYRONE defender Ryan McMenamin has suffered another ankle injury on club duty, but fellow veteran Brian Dooher has returned to training with the county squad . . .

BERNARD Brogan is a major doubt for Dublin’s Leinster Championship opener against Wexford in June after picking up a knee injury on club duty over the weekend . . .

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Nster.com