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DUNDALK GAELS 0-14 ST JOSEPHS 0-8

Dundalk Gaels began their 2023 season with a deserved six-point victory over St Joseph’s in the first round in Group A of Sheelan Cup in Cluskey Park on Sunday.

In an evenly contested first half it was the Gaels who settled quickly with three points in the opening five minutes from Dylan McKeown (2) and Eanna McArdle.

Conor Neary then hit three successive points to level the scores before McKeown and Michael Staunton traded scores. Alan McKenna edged the Joes in front but just before the break McKeown added his fourth of the half to make it five apiece.

After a scoreless ten minutes the game was decided in the next five when the Gaels kicked five points in a row thanks to McKeown, McArdle and Thomas O’Connell. The Joes battled back with points from Ben Collier and Alan McKenna, but the Gaels finished strongly to claim a six-point win.

DUNDALK GAELS: Connor Boyle; Mark Hanna, Oisin Murray, Kyle Rafferty; David McComish, Gary Shevlin, David Moloney; Jordan Keating, Sean Murray; Chris Sweeney, Dylan McKeown, Luke Murray; Cian Walsh, Thomas O'Connell, Eanna McArdle.

ST JOSEPHS: Jordan Mackin; Patrick McKenna, Ben Mulligan, Stefan Potts; David Kieran, Killian Staunton (0-1), Aidan Kieran; Conor Neary (0-3), Jack Mulligan (0-1); Craig Doherty, Daire Smyth, Killian McDonnell; Ben Collier (0-1), Alan McKenna (0-2), Daire McKernan. Subs: Jack Barron, Lorcan McGeeney, Stephen Carron, Cian Sheridan.

KILKERLEY EMMETS 3-15 LANNLEIRE 2-5

Lann Léire returned to the Paddy Sheelan Cup with a heavy defeat to Kilkerley Emmets in Group B on Sunday morning in Dunleer after Sean Connor’s new side upped the gears after half time.

The teams were in fact level at half time with Lannléire adapting seamlessly in the early stages to go in level 1-2 to 0-5 at half time. Killian Gregory netted for Nicky Malone’s men from a free after just five minutes play.

In the second half, a fitter and slicker moving Kilkerley team took control and ran out convincing winners. Brian Brady and Sean Hand hit 1-2 apiece while Tadhg McEneaney scored from the penalty spot. Bob Murphy scored Lanneire's second goal from a penalty too, five minutes from full time.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Ultan McEnaney; Cormac Bellew, Cillian Mulligan, Kyle Cotter; Ewan McEnteggart, Andrew McGuill, Brian Brady (1-2); Aaron Crawford, Kieran Murtagh (0-1); Shaun McElroy (0-1), Dan McKeown, Cormac Mallon (0-2); Tadhg McEnaney (1-6), Micheal Begley (0-1), Sean Hand (1-2). Subs: Darragh Conlon for McElroy; Dean Murtagh for McKeown; Conal Quinn for Cotter; Liam Cawley for Brady; Conal McEnaney for Hand; Kieran Lennon for T McEnaney

LANNLÉIRE:  Liam Callan; Jason Torris, Paul McGeough, Darragh Goodman; Aaron McArdle, Thomas Doyle, Kyle van Rhijn; Caoimhin Maher, Paul Callan; Conal Maher (0-1), Ian Mulroy, Alex Carroll; Colin Murphy (0-2, 0-1 free), Bob Murphy (1-0 pen), Killian Gregory (1-1). SUBS: Pierce Hawkins (0-1), Ciaran Dunne, Darragh Malone, Luke Boylan, Jimmy Kearney, Conor Dunne, Cathal McEvoy, Mathew Malone.

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 ST FECHINS 0-9 GLEN EMMETS 0-4

In their first match of the new season, St Fechins proved to be the stronger and fitter of the two sides to claim a well-deserved win in Group C against Glen Emmets. 

Top scorer Ronan Holcroft got the scoreboard up and running with a fine point from play followed by a well taken free from a placed ball from Niall McDonnell. Ronan added a second to his tally after being fouled as he headed to the scoring zone.

The home side made use of the mark and got two points in succession at the end of the first quarter.  Holcroft, who was heavily marked throughout the match, put his next free wide but found the target a minute later from placed ball to make it 0-5 to 0-2 at half time.

The second half saw the dominant Fechins bring on plenty of young talent, with eight subs coming on over the half including the three Dolan brothers. Meanwhile, O’Neill ploughed a lonely furrow along with Sam Kenny for Emmets in defeat.

ST FECHINS: Niall McDonnell (0-1 free), Alex Smith, David Lally, Colm O’Neill; Lee Grifferty, Niall Devlin, Neal Hodgins; David Collier, Harry Haughney (0-1); Eoghan Ryan, John O’Connell, Joe Corrigan (0-1); Brian Devlin, Ronan Holcroft (0-6, 0-5 free), Adam Kirwan. SUBS: Robert McCarthy for Smith, Shane Reilly for C O’Neill, James McGlew for Devlin, Cormac Dolan for McDonnell, Kyle Meegan for E Ryan, Caelum Dolan for Corrigan, Matthew Burnell for Kirwan, Evan Dolan for Holcroft. 

GLEN EMMETS: Damien Grimes; Keith Boylan, Cathal Maguire, Luke McCarthy; Shane Curtis, Danny Grimes, Emmet Delaney; Cian Talbot, Sam Kenny (0-1); Evan English, Eoghan Maguire, Andrew Mooney; Ronan Grufferty, Kealan O’Neill (0-3, 0-2 marks, 0-1 free), Keefer Carolan. SUBS: Darragh Russell for Boylan, Alex Blakemen Fowler for K Carolan, Robert Byrne for Mooney, Rhys Fordham for English, C Kelly for O’Neill.

ST PATRICKS 0-11 CLAN NA GAEL 0-3

Jason Woods inspired St Patrick’s to a comfortable victory away to Clan na Gael on Sunday as they got their Paddy Sheelan Cup Group D campaign off to a winning start.

Woods was in fine form in the first half as he landed six points to put his side in a commanding position by the time the half time whistle sounded. Martin Breen and Cathal Grogan were also on target for the visitors as they went in at the break with an 0-8 to 0-1 advantage.

The Dundalk side were more competitive after the break but were unable to threaten a comeback on a day when only Robbie Curran and Jason Cullen found the target.

Pats remained in control throughout and added second half points from Tadhg O’Connor, Conor Grogan and Cathal Grogan to seal the victory.

ST PATRICKS: Martin McEneaney; Barry Dunne, Padraig Duffy, Conor Grogan (0-1); Ruairi O’Hagan, Darren O’Hanlon, Joe Connor; Martin Breen (0-1), Thomas McCann; Aidan McCann, Matt Pagni, Darren Connor; Tadhg O’Connor (0-1), Cathal Grogan (0-2), Jason Woods (0-6). Subs: Cillian White for P Duffy, Adam Finnegan for D Connor, Stefan Breen for T McCann, Jack Elvin for R O’Hagan, Shane Murphy for T O’Connor, Ben McGuinness for C Grogan, James Savage for J Woods, Daniel Tumilty for D O’Hanlon.

CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smith; Jack Callan, Gerard Curran, Brian McDonnell; Paul Gartland, Craig Long, Mark Lee; Conor Noonan, Shay Coleman; John Byrne, Shane Carroll, Jason Cullen (0-1); Mark McGeown, Robbie Curran (0-2), Liam O’Hanlon.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 1-9 MATTOCK RANGERS 2-10

Mattock Rangers had to rally in the second half to get over their neighbours Hunterstown Rovers in Group E of the Sheelan Cup last Sunday morning. Trailing 1-5 to 0-1 early in the first half, the home side looked to be on course for victory.

Mattock cheaply gave the ball away and Dean Burns finished off a fine hand-passing move that punished Rangers straightaway. Glen Matthews also got in on the lively beginning for Colm Donnelly’s men with four points.

However, the visitors' comeback was ignited by an opportunistic Pauric Bannon goal that nestled into the top corner. With fresh legs introduced, Mattock soon took over and top scorer on the day, Jack Thompson helped himself to a late goal.

MATTOCK RANGERS: Stephen Smith; Caoilte Hickey, Eoin McCluskey, Ben Quaile; James Caraher, Pauric Bannon (1-0), Ronán Kilbane (0-1); Jason Condon, Cillian Hickey; Jack Thompson (1-3), Seán Clarke, Adam Flynn; Oisín McKenna (0-1), Ryan Leneghan, Cathal Fleming (0-2). SUBS: Alan Caraher (0-1), Ben McKenna (0-1), Brendan Leacy (0-1), Aaron Smith, Adrian Reid, Daire Englishby, Robert Holmes.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Marc Ward; Euan Woodlock, Patrick Taaffe, Conor Reaburn; Finn Kelly Daithi Carroll, Alan Landy; Tony McKenna (0-1), Ryan Ward (0-2); Caolan McCabe, Glen Matthews (0-4), Brendan Lennon; Niall Carrie, Colm Murphy (0-1), Dean Burns (1-1). SUB: Peter Reid.

COOLEY KICHAMS 3-13 O RAGHALLAIGHS 1-8

Cooley Kickhams continued on their winning ways from last season as they proved too strong for O Raghallaighs in their Paddy Sheelan Cup opener on Sunday at Fr McEvoy Park.

There were just two points between the sides at the interval, 1-6 to 1-4, but hosts moved up a gear in the second half as they ran out comfortable winners.

Michael Rafferty top-scored for Cooley with 1-9, while Patrick Johnston scored 2-1. At the other end, Eoin Moore found the net for O Raghallaighs.

COOLEY KICKHAMS: Neil Gallagher; Ian Arnold, Dean McGreehan, Gerry Malone; James O’Reilly (0-1), Fearghal Malone, Patrick Hanlon; Richard Brennan, Darren Marks; Michael Carron, Patrick Johnston (2-1), Peter Thornton (0-1); Brian Boyle, Michael Rafferty (1-9), Sean Hoey (0-1). Subs: Eddie Kirwan, Gerard White, Thomas McCarragher, Joseph Quinn, Cian McGuinness, Thomas Fearon, Aodhan O’Hanlon, MJ Hanlon.

O RAGHALLAIGHS: Joe Flanagan; Stephen Murphy, James Morgan, Jack Carr; Joe Meehan, Emmet King, Eoin Moore (1-1); Ben Sweeney (0-1), Cillian Curran; Matthew Moore, Ewan Sweeney (0-2), Ruari Moore (0-2); Ben Rogan (0-1), James Smith (0-1), Alan Doyle. Subs: Pearse Rice (0-1), Connall Rice, Sam Sweeney.

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NEWTOWN BLUES 1-14 ST MOCHTAS 0-16

In a repeat of last year’s final, the holders Newtown Blues came out on top again in Group G against St Mochta’s in Newfoundwell.

Match winner that night twelve months previous, Conor Branigan, was the hero again with a defining spot kick that gave the hosts the edge on the night.

New Tipperary addition Seán Flynn helped himself to a welcoming point, but the Blues maestro Andy McDonnell continued where he left off last season with a brace.

Declan Byrne, fresh from his departed county duty, came off the bench to land seven second half points, but despite that tally the Blues would not be caught.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Johnny McDonnell; Joe Harte, Ciaran Cluskey Kelly, James Moore; Stephen Kerr Rafferty, Emmet Carolan, Ian Connor (0-1); Andy McDonnell (0-2), Cathal Broderick; Daire Nally (0-3), C Branigan (1-2, 1-0 pen), Conor McGuirk (0-1); Conor McNamara, Declan McNamara (0-3), I Farrell (0-1). SUBS: Johnny Clear for J McDonnell, Coinneach Farrell (0-1) for McNamara.

ST MOCHTA’S Jason Callan; Liam Lawlor, Andrew English, Andrew Lennon; Ryan Cash, Conor Garland, Oisín Callan; Sean Flynn (0-1), Liam O’Flaherty; Jake Mason, Jamie Farrell, Danny Kindlon (0-3); Eamonn O’Neill, Gerry Garland (0-2 frees), Cormac Smyth (0-3, 0-1 frees). SUBS: Owen Lennon for Cash, Declan Byrne (0-7, 0-2 frees) for Mason, Gavyn Short for O’Neill, Jake Mason for Lennon, Liam Kindlon for Callan.

NAOMH MAIRTIN 4-9 ST KEVIN’S 1-8

Naomh Mairtin got off to winning ways in Group H, as a brace of goals in each half was enough to see off plucky intermediate finalists St Kevin’s in Philipstown.

Big Joe McGrane flicked a diagonal cross field ball to the net for the opening goal, but Cian Callan kept the hosts in touch and Paul Duff landed a timely goal. Evan Whelan came up from the back to make it 2-5 to 1-6 in favour of the Monasterboice men at half time.

Stephen Campbell and substitute Oisín Gray found the net after some slick hand passing moves as the home side could only muster two points after the interval. The Jocks are back to winning ways, under the new management ticket of Niall McCoy.

NAOMH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Tadhg O Brien, Sean Healy, Colm Egan; Evan Whelan (1-0), Jack Murphy, Paul Murphy; Val Leddy (0-2), Wayne Campbell (0-2); Joe McGrane (1-0), Stephen Campbell (1-0), Jack Lynch; Thomas Clarke, Conor Whelan (0-4), Ben Callanan. SUBS: Oisin Gray (1-1) for Callanan, Adam Booth for T Clarke, Cathal Dorian for J Lynch, Jake Neilon for P Murphy, Daniel Harmon for McGrane, Sean Faulkner for Healy, Karl Morgan for Booth.

ST. KEVIN’S: Caolan McMullan, Daniel O'Connell, Eoin McKenna, Shane Meade, Finbarr Lynch, Dylan Maher, Karl Martin, Seanie Crosbie, Brian Callaghan, Darren McMullan, Evan Maher, Jack Stokes, Cian Callan (0-5), Lee Crosbie (0-1), Paul Duff (1-0). SUBS: Adam Cromwell for Lynch, Patrick Clarke (0-1) for P Duff, Cian Martin for J Stokes, Andrew Hynes for D O'Connell, Joe McArdle for L Crosbie, Sean Powderly for D McMullan, Thomas Guinan for B Callaghan, Colin Byrne for Cian Callan, TJ Doheny (0-1) for D Maher, Niall Gregory for Karl Martin, Emmet Byrne for E Maher.