Louth GAA club | Division Two round-up

Dundalk Gaels 2-20 Stabannon Parnells 0-17

Dundalk Gaels remain on course for the John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Louth Division Two League title after coming out on top against promotion hopefuls, Stabannon Parnells on Sunday evening.

The Dundalk men certainly had to do it the hard way as they overturned a seven-point interval deficit before eventually coming out on top by nine.

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A very impressive second-half showing was capped by goals from Tom O’Connell and Dylan McKeown as the visitors to Stabannon displayed their title credentials.

Once again Harry Butterly was in fine scoring form for the hosts as he finished with 11 points and his accuracy helped Parnells take a 0-14 to 0-7 lead into the break.

However, on a day when Robert Callaghan, Sean Reynolds Jake Corrigan contributed points, Stabannon couldn’t reproduce that form after the break as the Gaels dominated.

Aside from the goals, the visitors saw Dylan McKeown bring his total to seven points, while Jack Mullen came off the bench to land two two-pointers.

Meanwhile, Tony McDonnell fired over three points to ensure his side remains clear at the top of the table.

Dundalk Gaels: Aaron Culligan; James Lynch, James O’Connell, Kyle Rafferty; Luke Murray 0-1, Oisin Murray, Alan Jumbo 0-1; Sean Murray, Padraig Tinnelly 0-2; Shaun Duffy, Cain Bromley, Jordan Keating; Tony McDonnell 0-3, Tom O’Connell 1-2, Dylan McKeown 1-7 (2p).

Subs: David McComish, Jack Mullen 0-4 (2 x 2p), Paul McCrave, Chris Sweeney.

Stabannon Parnells: Padraig Malone; Johnny McGee, Alan Reynolds, Michael Lynch; Jake Corrigan 0-1, Colm Giggins, David Cluskey; Harry Butterly 0-11, Sean Reynolds 0-3; Ryan Halpenny, Bobby Butterly, Padraig Reynolds; Robert Callaghan 0-2, Niall Cluskey, Derek Crilly.

Subs: Tristan Hartung for D Cluskey, Jamie Cronin for D Crilly, C Lynch for P Reynolds.

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

St Brides 1-17 Kilkerley Emmets 0-16

St Brides kept themselves in the mix for a top-four finish when they got the better of neighbours Kilkerley Emmets on Sunday afternoon.

Paddy Reilly scored the only goal of the game from a penalty in the closing stages to clinch a victory that sees the Knockbridge men move to within one point of third-placed Roche Emmets in the Division 2 table.

The visitors got off the mark with two early points before Fintan Brady, Ultan McEneaney and Ronan Deery responded as Kilkerley moved 0-5 to 0-4 in front.

However, it was the Brides who dominated the closing stages of the half and inspired by Kieran McArdel and Sean Marry they kicked six unanswered points to lead by 0-11 to 0-6 at the break.

The Emmets hit back in the second half as scores from Micheal Begley, Michael Kirby and Luke Shevlin helped them tie things up at 14 points apiece before Reilly hit the net.

Begley and Shevlin hit back with points to cut the gap to one but the Brides had the final say with a point and an Aaron Devlin two-pointer to settle the issue.

St Brides: Aaron Devlin; Stephen Hoey, Cillian Kirk 0-1, Padraig Mckin; Daniel McArdle, Bernard Laverty, Andrew Smyth; Ross Murnaghan, James Costello; Sean Marry 0-3, Kieran McArdle 0-6, Morgan Tobin; Oisin McBride 0-2, Kevin Hearty, Nathan Kirk 0-1.

Subs: Peter Carragher for D McArdle, Paddy Reilly 1-0 for K Hearty.

Kilkerley Emmets: Callum Mulholland; Fintan Brady 0-2, Cillian Mulligan, Cormac Bellew; Michael Kirby 0-1, Patrick Murtagh, Aaron Crawford; Ronan Deery 0-1, Cathal Bellew; Brian Brady, Luke Shevlin 0-2, Ultan McEneaney 0-2; Michael Begley 0-6, Ciaran Bellew 0-2,  Rian Hand.

Subs: Darren Geoghegan for B Brady; Darragh Conlon for U McEneaney.

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

Roche Emmets 1-18 Mattock Rangers 1-24

Mattock Rangers jumped to second in Division 2 with an impressive showing in Rathduff defeating Roche Emmets on home soil and avenging the loss at the same venue two months previous.

Emmets were short a glut of starters like James McDonnell, Gerard Browne and county man Peter Lynch and as a result, started the game at a pedestrian pace. Rangers smelt blood and led 10 to 0-1 and as much as 14 to 0-4 in the opening half.

The form of the Flynn brothers inside and Ben McKenna’s dominance around the middle was key but David Quigley’s late goal in the first period sparked the hosts into action.

Liam Dawe and two points from beyond the arc by Barry O’Hare saw the momentum of the game swing in Roche’s favour.

Shane Byrne cut the gap to two points with a fine score but just as it was looking troubling for Mattock, Cathal Fleming slotted home a penalty that would suffice for the win.

Mattock Rangers: Craig Englishby; James Carahar, Cillian Hickey, Ben Quaile; Tom Grimes, Shane Maguire, Robert Holmes; Ben McKenna, Jason Condon; Jack Thompson, Cathal Fleming, Terry Donegan; Liam Flynn, Sean Flynn, Adrian Reid.

Subs: Oisin McKenna for Thompson.

Roche Emmets: Evin Quigley; Dermot Carthy, Matthew McArdle, Marc Murphy; Fionn Connolly, David Quigley, Jack McKay; Liam Dawe 0-2, Glen Stewart 0-1; Sean Dawe 0-1, Shane Byrne 0-3, James McArdle; Daire Reilly, Barry O’Hare  0-10, Alex McArdle. Subs: Ryan Martin, James Corcoran, David O’Connell.

Clan Na Gael 3-10 O’Raghallaigh’s 1-17

O’Raghallaigh’s moved further away from the drop zone and overtook opponents Clan Na Gael in doing so on Sunday night at the bottom half of Division Two. The win in the Ecco road was the Drogheda side's second win over the Dundalk men this season.

Youngster Jason Reynolds will get most of the plaudits with the goal that swung momentum in the Raghs favour. Impressive since moving up from minor, his finish defied his years.

Elsewhere, the Moore brothers of Eoin and Ruairi dominated the centre of the field and while providing the platform and stable base for Keith Horgan’s side they would combine for nine points between them.

The hosts are now third from bottom and slowly but surely getting sucked into a much-avoided relegation battle. They’ll face the team below them, Glen Emmets next in a proverbial six-pointer this Saturday.

O’Raghallaighs: Joe Finnegan; Adam Dooley, Alan Doyle, James Morgan, Emmet King, Stephen Murphy, Conor McGinty; Ruairi Moore 0-6, Eoin Moore 0-3; Olan Walsh, Barry Finnegan 0-3, Lucas Carton; Ben Rogan 0-3, John Horan 0-1, Jason Reynolds 1-1.

Glen Emmets 4-14 St. Kevin’s 1-10

Glen Emmets picked a great time to pick up their second win of the league. Revenge for the close loss to the Kevin’s earlier in the year and the opening round of the split league.

The victory sees the hosts join Oliver Plunkett's level at the bottom of the table. Keelan O’Neill netted the opening goal that sent the winners on their way.

Wingback Shane Curtis scored another in the next minute as Tullyallen were well in the ascendancy by that stage.

A healthy lead was narrowed with a goal midway through the half but James Butler and young Jacob Morgan immediately wiped out any idea of a comeback with two majors. Great time to get a run of form for a great escape perhaps.

Glen Emmets: Ian O'Reilly; Emmett Delaney, Keith Boylan, Brien Maguire; Shane Curtis 1-0,  Cathal Maguire, Callum Wogan; Andrew Mooney, Darragh Russell 0-1; Diarmuid Cullen, Kealan O’Neill 1-3, Eoghan Maguire; Paddy McHugh 0-2, James Butler 1-6, Jacob Morgan 1-2.

Subs: Keefer Carolan, Evan English, James Breen, Danny Grimes.

Oliver Plunketts 0-13 Dundalk Young Irelands 0-15

Late points in Mell was enough to soothe Dundalk Young Irelands relegation worries over hosts Oliver Plunketts who are now embroiled in a relegation race.

They are now joint level at the bottom automatic demotion place and three points adrift of the next team.

The win does not guarantee safety but it looked to be going against the winners in the opening half Cian Brady and top scorer Kristin Nolan had the home side leading at the break. Deservedly so thanks to two late frees.

The lead was extended by Adam Smith after the break but Cian O’Nairaigh got the Irelanders going. Jordan O’Donoghue would soon level but Nolan and a booming two-point free from Luke Haggans narrowed the gap.

Derek Maguire was summoned from the bench and found the range at this stage his point was crucial and Liam McStravick's effort was the insurance score on the hour for Eamonn Morgan’s men.

Dundalk Young Irelands: Fergal Sheekey; Conn O’Donoghue, Ciarain Murray, Lee O’Donoghue; Cian O’Niaraigh 0-1, Peter Nixon, Caolan McCabe; Ruairi Kelly 0-1, Micheal O’Shea 0-3; Liam McStravick 0-1, Dermot Mone 0-2, Jack Watters; Dean Maguire 0-1, Jordan O’Donoghue 0-4, Cian O’Donoghue 0-2.

Subs: Derek Maguire 0-1, Mark Lee.

Oliver Plunketts: Luke Haggans 0-2; Barry Reynolds, David McTaggart, Ricky Bateson; Jamie Byrne, Sean Smith, David Lambe; Robbie Brodigan. Dean Carolan; Conor Haggans 0-1, Adam Lambe 0-1, Adam Smith 0-1; Jack Taaffe, Kristian Nolan 0-5, Cian Brady 0-3.

Subs: Ben Boyce, Kenny Hurley, Stephen Keeley, Gary Keith.