Kevin Mullen Shield Roundup: Knockout stages begin to take shape

Kevin Mullen Shield Roundup

Group A

SEAN MCDERMOTTS 2-10 DOWDALLSHILL 3-4

Three wins in a row from Sean McDermotts has them top of the table and through to the Kevin Mullen Shield knock out stages as Dowdallshill were the Churchtown men's most recent victims.

Despite the conditions and postponements across the county, St Brigid’s Park pitch was perfectly manicured.

At half time that McDermotts unbeaten streak looked to be in severe danger when Paudie Murray, Jack McGailey and Ryan Smith all found the net in the first half. The hosts led 3-2 to 0-7 at the interval.

Seans’ winning habit came back to the fold upon the resumption and two second half goals saw them over the line. Declan Carroll and Ian McDonald finding the net in the full forward line for the in-form visitors.

SEAN MCDERMOTTS: Finbar Moran; Ronan Kerley, David McArdle, Nathan Commins; Danny Commins, Ian Corbally, Danny Reilly; Sean Martin, Cormac Walsh (0-1); Dean Brennan, Kevin McMahon (0-5), Peter Tuite (0-4); Ian McDonald (1-0), Declan Carroll (1-0), Noel Tuite. SUBS: Brendan McGahon for N Tuite, Conor Walsh for Corbally.

DOWDALLSHILL: Ridwan Bodunrin; Kevin McGonagle, Sean Duffy, Killian McCrumins; Paddy McKenna (0-1), Stephen Murray, Dillon McDonald; Jack McGailey (1-0), Donal Magennis (0-1); Ryan Smith (1-0), Peter Hughes, Paudie Murray (1-0); Tommy Craig, Paul Gill (0-2), John Walsh. SUBS: Gavin Durkin for P Murray, Eamonn Duffy for McGonagle, P Murray for Paddy McKenna

REF: Paul Kneel (Kilkerley Emmets)

Group B

WOLFE TONES 3-8 GLYDE RANGERS 2-7

Wolfe Tones excellent start to the new season continued with a four-point win over Glyde Rangers on a snowy Thursday night in Darver.

With the weather conditions worsening as the game progressed, the Drogheda men finished much the stronger side.

Tones full forward Joe Comiskey bagged a hat-trick but it was Glyde square man Brian Duffy that scored the first goal of the game. However, by half time Comiskey had pushed the Tones 2-3 to 1-3 in front.

In the second half Eoghan Brennan added a couple of scores and Comiskey punished some sloppy Tallanstown defending to complete the feat that sees Martin Rice and Jay Finnegan’s side safely through to the next round. 

WOLFE TONES: Alan Sweeney; Taidgh Rock, Reece Owens, Shane Kelly; Rhys McGovern, Sean McQuail, Danny Byrne; Mark Healy, Conor Farrell; Liam Gaffney, Cathal Bergin, Cailean Gallagher-Floody; Eoghan Brennan (0-2), Joe Comiskey (3-3), Darren Weldon (0-1). SUBS: Darragh Browne for Shane Kelly, Sam Kelly for Bergin, Paddy Fanning for McQuail, Alan Fanning for Floody, Garret Cooney (0-1) for Healy, Sean Flanagan for Farrell, Eoin Wynne (0-1) for Weldon, Sean McMahon for rock, Graham Fanning for Gaffney.

GLYDE RANGERS: David Brennan; Aaron Myles, Conor McCullough, Oran Matthews; Darren McKeever, Gerard Bourton, Ultan Larney (0-1); Conor Sheridan, Lee Finnegan; Peter Duffy, Killian Scott (0-2), Sean Devaney; Lee Byrne, Brian Duffy (2-4), Cillian Gallagher. SUBS: Paddy Lyons, Niall Bird, Kevin Kane.

REF: Fiachra Lambe (O’Raghallaigh’s)  

ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS 2-8 NA PIARSAIGH 0-12

For the first time in 22 years Annaghminnon Rovers defeated Na Piarsaigh. The last win was at intermediate level back in 2001 and the visitors deserved their long-awaited victory on Sunday morning.

Goals were ultimately the difference in the game at Pairc An tAthair Ui Dhubhthaigh. With the travelling side’s ability to stay ahead in trying conditions, they led 1-6 to 0-4 at half time thanks to a James O’Connor net buster.

Joe Woods and Paul Mallon looked to have narrowed the gap enough for the hosts, but captain Dwayne Markey’s performance and Conor Russell’s effort swung the momentum back in Rovers favour.

ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS: Ciaran O’Reilly; Tierney O’Brien, Mark Hoey, Chris Connolly; Colin Campbell, Ronan Byrne, Padraig Russell; Sean Harte, Conor Russell (1-1) Dylan Mulholland, Niall Brennan, James O'Connor (1-1); Aidan Lee Martin (0-2), Dwayne Markey (0-2), Eddie Finnegan (0-1). SUBS: Tony Brennan (0-1), Shane McMahon, Ronan Redmond, James Campbell, Kyle Martin, Richie Ashfield.

NA PIARSAIGH Adam Molloy; Chris Kellett, John Galligan, Sean Connolly; Tommy Muckian, Joe Woods (0-2), Stephen McGuinness (0-1); Ciaran Murphy (0-1), James McCartney; Cormac McCartney, Robert Murphy (0-2), James Mahoney (0-1); Gerard Rice (0-2), Paul Mallon (0-3), Daniel Muckian. SUBS: Seamus Reid, Tiernan Nash. 

REF: Damien Connor (St. Patrick’s)

Sheelan Cup Roundup: Geraldines secure huge win to advance to knockout stages

Lauren Boyle the difference maker as DkIT secure national crown

Group D

NAOMH FIONNBARRA 0-14 CUCHULAINN GAELS 0-11

A game of two halves on the back pitches of Protection & Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre in Darver on Sunday morning saw Naomh Fionnbarra pick up their maiden victory this season over Cúchulainn Gaels.

Leading by seven at half time the Finbarr’s broke the back of the contest to hold off the Gaels and the other gales on the day. Conor Osborne, Ciarán Markey and Adam Hanratty all found the range to keep the scoreboard ticking and keep Noel Lichfield’s side at bay.

Mícheal McCabe’ efforts almost turned the game in that second half along with James Sharkey’s huge tally. However, Padraig Butterly and Osborne's first half exploits would prove to be the difference in the finish.

NAOMH FIONNBARRA: Fionn McQuillan; Stephen Doyle, Cormac Reynolds (0-1), Rónán Callaghan; Hugh McGrane (0-1), Josh Crosbie, Niall Woods; John Doyle, Colum Smith (0-1); Kalum Regan, Jack Regan (0-1), Padraig Butterly (0-3); Conor Osborne (0-3), Aaron Kearney (0-1), Dylan Hanratty (0-1). SUBS: Ciarán Markey (0-1), Paddy McGrane, Oisin madden, Collie McGrane, Adam Hanratty (0-1), Conor Boyle, Mairtin Murphy, Colum Kierans, Ronan McCreesh, Kyle Treadwell.

CUCHULAINN GAELS: Niall King; Conall Donnelly, Martin Hynes, Peter Morgan; Phillip McGovern, Sean Brennan, Brendan O’Hagan; David O’Reilly, Seamus McCabe; James Sharkey (0-5), Jordan Loye, Jamie Molloy; Cian McDonald, Mícheál McCabe (0-4), Rammie Phillips. SUBS: Euan McArdle for McGovern, Ciaran Connolly for King, Michael Keenan for Molloy, Stephen Mullen for McArdle, McGovern for Loye, Martin Ward for Donnelly, Brendan McKeown for McDonald, Rory Watson for McGovern.

REF: James Everard (Dowdallshill)