Louth GAA club | Division One round-up

St Mochtas 1-16 St Patricks 0-14

St Mochtas came from behind to claim victory over St Patricks in phase two of the John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Louth Division One League in Louth Village on Sunday afternoon.

The home side needed a strong second-half display to get the better of the Pats as they recovered from a two-point interval deficit at the short whistle.

READ NEXT: Louth GAA club | Division Two round-up

The visitors got off to a quick start with scores from Conor McGuinness (2) and Aidan McCann, but the Mochtas wiped out that advantage on six minutes when they found the net from a Declan Byrne penalty.

The Mochs went two points clear soon after but two-pointers from Conor Grogan and Martin McEneaney, along with a late Jack Murphy point saw the Pats lead by 0-11 to 1-6 at halftime.

The Mochtas upped their performance in the second half, but the game remained in the balance as Sean Fearon's point levelled matters at 1-11 to 0-14 with nine minutes to play.

However, the hosts, who had scores from Cormac Smyth, Dara Quinn and Oisin Callan, found the extra gear in the closing stages as two two-pointers from Declan Byrne helped them secure a five-point win.

St Mochtas: Daire O’Shea; Andy Lennon, Oisín Callan 0-1, David Lennon; Oisín Kerr, Sean McLaughlin, Jamie Farrell; Dara Quinn 0-2, Gerry Garland 0-2; Sean Flynn 0-1, Liam O’Flaherty, Decky Byrne 1-9 (2 x 2p); Philly Englishby, Cormac Smyth 0-1, Darren McMahon.

Subs: Gavyn Short for C Smyth, Andrew English for O Kerr, Casey Byrne for L O’Flaherty.

St Patricks: Martin McEneaney 0-4 (2 x 2p); Sean Holland, Jack Elvin, James McGeown; Conor Grogan 0-3 (2p), Barry Dunne, Darren Connor; Tom McCann, Jack Murphy 0-2; Aidan McCann 0-1, Joe Connor 0-1, Sean Fearon 0-1; Conor McGuinness 0-2, Cillian Keenan, Cillian White.

Sub: Cian McKenna for C Keenan.

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

St Marys 4-13 Naomh Mairtin 2-17

St Marys produced a memorable comeback as they snatched victory over a stunned Nh Mairtin in Ardee on Sunday afternoon.

The home side looked to be heading for defeat when they trailed by eight points with five minutes remaining but in a remarkable finish, they struck an unanswered 2-4 to come out on top as Eimhin Keenan and Liam Jackson found the net.

The visitors got off to the perfect start when Dara McDonnell found the net inside a minute, followed by a Tom Gray double to lead by five.

The Marys gave themselves hope with their first goal of the game, scored by Shane Matthews, and after ten minutes, the teams were level at 1-1 apiece.

Although the Jocks opened up a three-point gap, the Ardee men finished the half on top and a second goal from Conor Gillespie saw them lead by 2-8 to 1-9 at the break.

However, the Mairtins upped the pace in the third quarter and with Sam Mulroy, Gray and Shane Morgan all on target, they were 1-16 to 1-8 ahead after 48 minutes. Mulroy then found the net to ease his side into a 2-17 to 2-9 lead on 55 minutes.

It looked all over as a contest at that stage, but the hosts pulled the game out of the fire with two late goals from Keenan and Jackson to claim a memorable victory.

St Marys: Tiernan Markey; Noah Coyle, Karl Faulkner, David Rooney; Kian Moran 0-1, Evan Malone, Carl Gillespie 0-2; Liam Jackson 1-0, Eimhin Keenan 1-0; Fionn Coyle, Shane Matthews 1-1, Andy Murphy 0-2; Conor Gillespie 1-2, Ronan Carroll 0-4, Luke Keenan. Sub: Brian Talty 0-1.

Nh Mairtin: Darren Morgan; Colm Egan, Shane Morgan, Conor Healy; Jack Murphy, Sean Healy, Jake Neilon; Adam Booth, Dara McDonnell 1-0; Joe McGrane, Sam Mulroy 1-8 (2 x 2p), Craig Callanan; Darragh Dorian 0-1, Ben Callanan 0-2, Tom Gray 0-5.

Subs: Wayne Campbell for J McGrane, Evan Whelan for J Neilon, Enda McDonnell for S Morgan, Thomas McKiernan for T Gray.

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

St Josephs 2-17 Dreadnots 1-3

St Josephs opened the second phase of their Division 1 campaign with a comprehensive win over the Dreadnots on Sunday afternoon.

Following a quick exchange of points from James Califf and Ben Collier in the opening two minutes the sides’ defences dominated the next ten minutes.

Points from a Conall Smyth free and two points from play from Alan Quigley and Gabriel Bell put the Joes three ahead. A superbly struck two-pointer from Alan Quigley had the Joes leading by 0-6 to 0-1 after 15 minutes. 

Eoin Murphy pointed for the hosts but the Joes added four points in the closing minutes of the half through Conall Smyth, Michael O’Brien (2p) and Cormac McKeown to lead by 0-11 to 0-2 at the break, with Pauric Smith adding a second point for the Clogher side.

Despite playing into the wind, the Joes had the better start to the second half with a Ben Collier point followed by an Evan McEnteggart goal.

On 49 minutes Cormac McKeown broke forward for the Joes, soloing in from the right to drive a left-footed shot low to the left corner of the net.

The Dreadnots continued to battle and finally hit the net on 58 minutes through sub Jay Hughes. In the closing minutes, the sides exchanged points with Oisin McGuinness closing out the scoring for the Joes to seal a comfortable win.

St. Josephs: Adam Cassidy, Ciaran Johnston, David Kieran, Rian Devlin, Michael O’Brien (0-2), Cormac McKeown (1-1), Ben McKeown, Oisin McGuinness (0-2), Gabriel Bell (0-1), Evan McEnteggart (1-0), Craig Doherty, Pearse Grimes Murphy, Alan Quigley (0-5), Ben Collier (0-2), Conall Smyth (0-3), Conor Neary, Jack Mulligan (0-1), Rory McLoughlin, Killian McDonald, Aidan Kieran. 

Dreadnots: Dylan Cassidy; Callum Skinnader, Padraig Rath, Aaron Scullion; Donnacha Skinnader, Anthony Williams, Conor Faulkner; James Califf 0-1, Leon Fox; Conor Clarke, Pauric Smith 0-1, Ciaran Caffrey; Owen Murphy, Sam Reilly, Callum Shevlin.

Subs: Craig Shevlin for O Murphy, Ciaran Cunningham for C Caffrey, Conor Shevlin for C Faulkner, Jay Hughes 1-1 for S Reilly.

John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Louth Division 1B

Newtown Blues 1-18 Hunterstown Rovers 1-12

Newtown Blues continued their revival when a strong second-half display saw them return home from Hunterstown with maximum points on Sunday afternoon.

Following their early season struggles, the Drogheda side are finding their form and with five wins now on the board, they are easing clear of the relegation zone.

Eoin McCoy was in excellent form for the winners as his nine-point tally included two two-pointers, while an Alan Connor goal also proved vital.

Connor’s goal came in the opening exchanges of a tight first half that ended with the visitors leading by just 1-5 to 0-7 at the break.

Rovers battled throughout and had a second-half goal from Shane Halpenny, while Ryan Ward finished with six points and Donovan Sheridan contributed a two-pointer.

However, it wasn’t enough to deny the Blues who eased home with the help of points from Conor Mac Criosta, Jamie Kelly and Conor Moore.

Newtown Blues: Johnny McDonnell; Dan McArdle, Ian Connor, Aidan O’Brien; Jack Healy, Colm Judge 0-1, Iollan Farrell; Brian Kermode, Ryan Kelly; Alan Connor 1-0, Conor Mac Criosta 0-2, Niall Devlin 0-1; Jamie Kelly 0-3, Eoin McCoy 0-9 (2 x 2p), Conor Moore 0-2. Subs: Joe Harte for I Connor, Sean Cummins for N Devlin, Lorcan McQuillan for C Moore.

Hunterstown Rovers: Donovan Sheridan 0-2 (2p); Adam O’Reilly, James Russell, Cillian Taaffe; Colm Murphy  0-1, Patrick Taaffe, David Finn; Marc Ward 0-1, Shane Halpenny 1-0; Jason Monaghan, Glen Mathews, Tony McKenna 0-1; James Rogers, Ryan Ward 0-6, Dean Burns.

Subs: Ciaran Russell for J Russell, Paul Carrie for G Mathews.

Sean O’Mahonys 0-13 Cooley Kickhams 1-8

Sean O’Mahonys picked up a much-needed victory when they came out on top against Cooley Kickhams at the Point Road on Sunday. The Dundalk men have endured a difficult run of late but came good in a tight encounter to boost their survival hopes.

As a result, the O’Mahonys are four clear of the Geraldines at the foot of the table and two ahead of St Fechins who are second from bottom.

Cooley Kickhams: Niall Brady; Niall Morgan, Dean McGreehan, Sean White; Gerard Hanlon, Gerry Malone, Sean Hoey; Fionn O’Reilly, Gerard White; Fearghal Malone, Enda O’Neill, Jason Brady; Calum O’Hanlon, Mickey Rafferty, Brian Boyle.

Subs: Richard Brennan, Cormac Malone, James O’Reilly.

St Fechins 2-7 Geraldines 1-10

A draw at the bottom of Division 1 as St Fechins and Geraldines played out an intense 2-7 to 1-10 thriller in Páirc Naomh Feichín, with both sides battling not just each other but a tricky swirling wind.

Geraldines started their tally with two opening points, one from a placed ball before Danny Burnell pointed from play. With both sides playing a possession game scores were slow to come by,

Gers pointed again at the quarterway stage and Aaron McGlew pointed from free. Gers hit their purple patch and over the space of five minutes ploughed their way through the Fechin's defence and scored four points on the trot.

McGlew and Burnell added one more each to go in at the halfway stage with three between the sides at the break.

Fechins stormed into the second half, levelling the game with three unanswered points, McGlew two and John O’Connell leading the charge.

Although it took till the 18th minute, Geraldines responded with three points to regain the lead, Fechins struck back in style—McGlew’s clever play set up Shane Reilly for a vital goal to level the game once more.

Burnell then sent a high ball into the Geraldines' square, which found its way to the net, giving the home side a crucial edge. Drama followed as two Fechins players collided, leaving them injured.

While play continued, Niall McDonnell made a save, but the clearance was intercepted and finished to the net by Geraldines Danny Nordone, tying the game again. Both teams showed grit, but neither was able to pull away in the end.

St Fechins: Niall McDonnell; Robert McCarthy, Niall McCabe, Garbhan O’Reilly; Matthew Flanagan, Shane Reilly 1-0, Ciaran McGinty; Dan Reilly, Evan Kelly; Colm O’Neill, Lee Grifferty, Danny Burnell 1-2; John O Connell 0-1, Evan Dolan, Aaron McGlew 0-4(2f).

Subs: Donal Quinn for Lee Grifferty.