Louth GAA club: Division Two round-up

Stabannon Parnells 2-16 Glen Emmets 0-19

Stabannon Parnells claimed the first Louth GAA club league points of 2025 when they came out on top against Glen Emmets on Thursday night.

The Division 2 opener proved to be a lively contest from the outset with little to choose between the teams throughout.

However, in the end it was the home side who did just enough to get their season off to the perfect start.

READ MORE: Louth GAA club: Division Three round-up

Once again it was Harry and Bobby Butterly who came up trumps for the Parnells as both found the net on the night to help secure the win.

At the other end, James Butler was in fine scoring form as his final total of 12 points included three two-pointers and his accuracy was instrumental in seeing his side go in at the break with a 0-10 to 0-9 lead.

Keelan O’Neill was also on target as the visitors battled for supremacy but the goals from the Butterlys proved decisive along with points from Dylan Shevlin.

Stabannon Parnells: Derek Crilly; Daniel Clinton, Ryan Halpenny, Alan Reynolds; Jake Corrigan 0-1, Colm Giggins 0-1, Johnnie McGee; Niall Cluskey, Ryan Shevlin 0-1; Dean Lynch, Bobby Butterly 1-1, Conor Clinton 0-1; Harry Butterly 1-7, Dylan Shevlin 0-4, Padraig Reynolds.

Subs: Robert Callaghan for P Reynolds, David Cluskey for A Reynolds, Shane Brady for D Lynch.

Glen Emmets: Ian O'Reilly; Evan English, Tom Grimes, Emmet Delaney; Brien Maguire, Aidan Monaghan, James Breen; Cian Talbot 0-1, Diarmuid Cullen; Keelan O'Neill 0-3 (1 2p), Cathal Maguire, Keefer Carolan; Paddy McHugh, James Butler 0-12 (3 2p), Ronan Grufferty 0-2.

Subs: Danny Grimes for B Maguire, Lorcan Lynch 0-1 for D Cullen, Darragh Russell for K Carolan, Jacob Morgan for A Monaghan.

(John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Division Two table)

Roche Emmets 0-18 Clan na Gael 2-12

The Division 2 campaign got off to a dramatic start at Pairc de Roiste as Clan na Gael snatched a share of the spoils with a last-gasp goal to deny the hosts victory.

Liam O’Hanlon found the back of the net to see the Clans made the short trip home with a point to show for their efforts.

It was clear from the outset that this was going to be a lively affair as both sides pressed forward and kicked some impressive scores over the hour.

It was tit-for-tat in the opening period with Barry O’Hare leading the way for the home side on a night when he would finish with seven points to his credit.

However, his scores weren’t enough to give his side a half-time advantage as Jack Callan’s goal saw the visitors go in level at 1-6 to 0-9.

It was a similar pattern in the second half with Roche looking as if they were on their way to victory but points from Robbie Curran kept the Clans in contention before O’Hanlon fired in the late equaliser.

Roche Emmets: Evin Quigley; Sean Connolly, David Quigley, Dermot Carthy; Gerry Browne, Liam Dawe 0-2, James McDonnell; Jack McKay, Glen Stewart; Cathal Corcoran 0-2, Shane Byrne, Fionn Connolly; Mark Byrne 0-2, Barry O’Hare 0-7 (1 2p), DD Reilly 0-3 (1 2p).

Sub: Daire Reilly 0-1.

Clan na Gael: Sean Smyth; Conor Smith, Craig Callan, Brian McDonnell; Craig Long, Kevin Carroll, Tiernan Weldon; Shay Coleman 0-1, Gerard Curran; Jack Callan 1-1, Liam O'Hanlon 1-2 (1 2p), Gavin Gaffey 0-2; Aodhan Kirk, Robbie Curran 0-6 (2 x 2p), Billy Smith.

Subs: Sean O’Hanlon for B Smith, Mark Newell for T Weldon, Brooklyn Cavanagh for K Carroll, Shane Carroll for A Kirk.

(John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Division Two fixtures)

Kilkerley Emmets 1-14 St Brides 1-14

A well-contested local derby ended honours even on Sunday night as Kilkerley and St Brides began the season with a point apiece.

The game at Kilkerley appeared to be going the way of the hosts in the second half only for St Brides to stage an impressive comeback with 1-7 in the closing 12 minutes to put themselves on course for victory.

However, that wasn’t the end of the drama as the Emmets dug deep at the end and landed two injury time points through Kieran Murtagh and Cormac Mallon to claim a share of the spoils.

Kilkerley went into the game on the back of a confidence-boosting Paddy Sheelan Cup campaign but were made to fight all the way by the Brides.

It was point for point for much of the first half with Tadhg McEnaney in fine form for the Emmets while Sean Marry, Donal McArdle and Emmet Kirk were on target for the visitors.

The decisive score came from the boot of Cormac Mallon who scored the only goal of the half to send his team in with a 1-6 to 0-6 lead.

McEnaney, Fionn Cumiskey and Micheal Begley all found their range to help the hosts take control of the game after the restart.

However, the Brides rallied in the closing stages and with James Costello and Kevin Hearty among those on target, they hit back to lead by two entering the final moments.

However, Kilkerley hit back in injury time to level the game in dramatic fashion with scores from Murtagh and Mallon.

Kilkerley Emmets: Callum Mulholland; Luke Shevlin, Cillian Mulligan, Cormac Bellew; Fionn Cuimiskey 0-3 (1x 2p), Patrick Murtagh, Ronan Deery; Fintan Brady, Kieran Murtagh 0-1; Tadhg Fitzgerald, Darragh Conlon, Cormac Mallon 1-1; Tadhg McEneany 0-7, Michael Begley 0-2, Eunan McEnteggart. 

Subs: Darren Geoghegan for P Murtagh; Rian Hand for T Fitzgerald.

St. Kevin's: 3-15 O'Raghallaigh's: 2-11

Home side St. Kevin's announced their Division 2 campaign with an emphatic display, outgunning O'Raghallaigh's by seven points in a match that showcased their superior finishing power.

The Philipstown men started brightly, with Jacob Finlay finding the net after just two minutes following a slick move involving Tom Matthews. The O'Raghallaigh's response was swift but limited to a solitary point.

The hosts weren't in any mood for pleasantries, as Lee Crosbie converted a free before Cameron Maher buried their second goal, establishing a commanding lead with just seven minutes gone.

The visitors' forward line was in fine form, with Jacob Finlay, Cameron Maher, and Tom Matthews all registering points before the interval.

Brian Callaghan added a third goal just before half-time, set up by Seanie Crosbie, allowing St. Kevin's to take a comfortable 3-6 to 0-5 lead into the break. O'Raghallaigh's emerged with renewed determination for the second period.

They registered the first score after the restart and slowly began to claw their way back through Kyle McElroy, hitting 1-3 without reply including a goal that breathed new life into the contest.

With momentum shifting, Joshua Finlay produced a crucial block to deny O'Raghallaigh's a potential goal that would have reduced the deficit to just a point.  

Ciaran King's black card midway through the second half threatened to derail the hosts but the ever-reliable Lee Crosbie steadied the ship with a superb point, followed by more scores from the impressive Cameron Maher.

Josh McArdle Lynch put in a tremendous shift throughout, while Cameron Maher continued to exert his influence, finishing with 1-5 from play.

O'Raghallaigh's did register a late Eoin Moore goal, but St. Kevin's had enough in reserve to secure the victory.

St. Kevin's: Joshua Finlay; Sean Powderly, Niall Gregory, Cian Martin; Darren McMullan, Seanie Crosbie, Donncha Boylan; Brian Callaghan 1-0, Cameron Maher 1-5; Ciaran King, Caolan McMullen, Jacob Finlay 1-2; Tom Matthews 0-3, Lee Crosbie 0-4 (3f), Josh McArdle Lynch.

Subs: John Callaghan for Donncha Boylan, Jack Stokes for Ciaran King, and Keelan Maher for Josh McArdle Lynch.

O’Raghallaighs: Conor Brown; Ollie Clutterbuck, Emmet King, Joe Clark; James Morgan, Alan Doyle, Olan Walsh 0-1; Ruairi Moore 0-5, Daniel Reilly; Eoin Moore 1-0, Kyle McElroy 1-4, Kevin Magee; Barry Finnegan, Ben Rogan, John Horan 0-1.

Dundalk Gaels 1-11 Mattock Rangers 0-5

Despite the absence of Dylan McKeown and Tony McDonnell, Intermediate champions, Dundalk Gaels were able to pick up opening league points against Mattock Rangers in Collon.

In a tense opening spell, it was 11 mins before the Gaels opened the scoring with a Seán Murray point. Mattock then got two points in a row from Adam Flynn and midfielder Robert Holmes before Tom O’Connell took over.

The ace attacker really stepped up on the night. The full forward popped over a two-pointer for a 3v3 infringement. Mattock’s discipline was off and O’Connell was in the mood to punish.

O’Connell really stretched the game before halftime when he swung over two from beyond the arc to make it 0-7 to 0-2 at the interval.

As the hosts struggled to get their attacks going, Kerry man Tomas Kavanagh recorded the first score with a well-struck free.

O’Connell then scored two frees, one being for another three-v-three infringement. Collon’s bright light on the day was youngster Karl Grimes who scored a two-pointer to rally his side.

Aaron Culligan made a crucial save for the winners to deny a the Mattock revival. Tom O’Connell continued to show his potential with another two-pointer. 

The Gael’s then piling on the pressure missed two goal chances before O’Connell ended a healthy outing with a shot that found the back of the net.

Dundalk Gaels: Aaron Culligan, James Lynch, James O’Connell, Shaun Duffy, Jack Mullen, Sean Murray 0-1, Luke Murray, James Stewart Tom Murphy; Sean Lambert, Chris Sweeney, Jordan Keating; David McComish, Thomas O’Connell 1-9, Tomas Kavanagh 0-1.

Subs: Liam Coleman, Gary Shevlin, Paddy O’Connell, Preston Keating, Luke Conlon.

Mattock Rangers: Stephen Smith; Shane Maguire, Cillian Hickey, Tom Grimes; Eoin McCloskey, Ben Quaile, Terry Donegan; Robert Holmes 0-1, Ben McKenna; Adam Flynn 0-1, Cathal Fleming, Jamie O’Halloran; Karl Grimes 0-2, Daire Englishby.

Subs: Adrian Reid 0-1, Callum Wogan, James Caraher.

Dundalk Young Irelands 1-12 Oliver Plunketts 0-12

Dermot Mone was the hero of the hour for Dundalk Young Irelands as his last-minute goal snatched all the points from Oliver Plunketts on Saturday night in Mell. The stunning smash-and-grab finish by the veteran swung the tie.

The stunned losers had done so well to get back into the contest in the second half. Adam Smith had just levelled minutes earlier and just when it looked like both sides were content with an opening day draw, Mone had other ideas.

Kristian Nolan was emphatic with his frees in the opening half while in the second, Liam McStravick was on song for the winners.

The visitors relied on his free taking to stay in the contest and with five second-half scores it was enough to set up Mone to the decisive counter. 

Dundalk Young Irelands: Fergal Sheekey; Lee O’Donoghue, Ciarain Murray, Alan Hanks; Caolan McCabe, Jordan O’Donoghue 0-2, Conn O’Donoghue; Brendan Prendergast, Peter Nixon 0-3; Ewan McArdle, James Prendergast 0-2, Jack McArdle; Mark Lee, Liam McStravick 0-6, Dermot Mone.

Subs: Micheal O’Shea, Joe Mee, Jack Watters, Ruairi O’Connor.

Oliver Plunketts: Luke Haggans; Barry Reynolds 0-1, Davy McTaggart, Gary Keogh; Jamie Byrne 0-1, Shaun Smith, Adam Lambe 0-2; Dean Carolan, Stephen Keeley; Sean Boyle, Kristian Nolan 0-6, Conor Haggans; Adam Smith 0-2, Robbie Brodigan, Ben Boyce.