Louth GAA Roundup: Subsidiary leagues reach the final stages

PADDY SHEELAN SHIELD

CLAN NA GAEL 3-8 ST KEVINS 2-10

Clan na Gael set up a clash with Cooley Kickhams in the final of the Paddy Sheelan Shield after coming out on top against St Kevins on Sunday.

The match began in dramatic fashion when Clan na Gael’s Billy Smith picked up a red card after just two minutes, but despite this early setback, the team managed to maintain their composure and continued to push forward.

St Kevin's also faced a red card later in the first half, with Seanie Crosbie receiving his second yellow card in the 28th minute.

There was further drama when Clan’s goalkeeper Cillian Rice saved a penalty from TJ Doheny to keep his side in contention.

The decisive score of the half came from Lee Crosbie who scored the only goal of the game to see the Kevins lead by 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.

The second half saw the Dundalk men pick up their game and they began to make inroads into the Kevins advantage and goals from Robbie Curran, Gavin Gaffey and Ciaran O’Connor put their side in control.

The Philipstown men didn’t give up without a fight and a second goal from Lee Crosbie kept them in the hunt into the final whistle. However, four point from substitute Jason Cullen helped the Clans get over the line.

CLAN NA GAEL: Cillian Rice; Brian McDonnell, Gerard Curran, Craig Callan; Paul Gore, Mark Lee, Jack Callan; Stephen Coleman, Conor Noonan; Paul Crewe, Shane Carroll, Robbie Curran (1-2); Gavin Gaffey (1-1), Billy Smith, Ciaran O’Connor (1-1). Subs: Sean Smith for C Rice, Paul Gartlan for P Gore, John Byrne for M Lee, Craig Long for J Callan, Jason Cullen (0-4) for S Carroll, Liam O’Hanlon for G Gaffey.

ST KEVINS: Danny Crosbie; Sean Powderly, Seanie Crosbie, Shane Meade; Niall Gregory, Cameron Maher (0-1), Darren McMullen; Brian Callaghan (0-1), Evan Maher (0-1); Dylan Maher, TJ Doheny (0-3), Adam Cromwell; Cian Callan (0-3), Lee Crosbie (2-0), Jack Stokes (0-1). Subs: Josh Finlay for D Crosbie, Andrew Hynes for N Gregory, Caolan McMullan for A Cromwell, Keelan Maher for D Maher, Cian Martin for J Stokes.

COOLEY KICKHAMS 0-10 SEAN O’MAHONYS 0-5                    

A strong second half showing helped Cooley Kickhams reach the final of the Paddy Sheelan Shield as they got the better of Sean O’Mahonys at Fr McEvoy Park on Friday night.

In a hard hitting and end-to-end encounter, it was the hosts who started brighter and kicked the opening two points before Ben McLaughlin had the Point Road men off the mark.

Cooley restored their two point advantage before Mark Traynor and Terry Kelly levelled matters.

The teams then traded points before Kelly landed the final score of the half to send his side into the break leading by 0-5 to 0-4.

The second half saw Cooley take a grip of the game as the visitors failed to maintain their momentum. With Brian White coming off the bench to kick two points and Michael Rafferty bringing his tally to three for the evening, they added six points to their tally as the Seans failed to raise a white flag for the remainder of the game.

COOLEY KICKHAMS: Neil Galllagher; MJ Hanlon, Dean McGreehan, Gerry Malone; Sean Hoey, Fearghal Malone, Sean White; Richard Brennan, Eddie Kirwan; Enda O’Neill (0-2), Michael Carron, Cian Connor (0-1); Brian Boyle, Michael Rafferty (0-3), Peter Thornton (0-1). Subs: Ronan McBride (0-1), Brian White (0-2), Gerard Hanlon, Jack Hughes.

SEAN O’MAHONYS: Eddie Maguire; Calum Smith, Chris O’Neill, Colin Finan; Oisin Breen, Kian McEvoy, Robbie Clarke; Tiarnan Cassidy, Thomas Rice; Brian McGuirk, Terry Kelly (0-3), Sean Cassidy; Conor Mackin, Ben McLaughlin (0-1), Mark Traynor (0-1). Subs: Barry O’Brien for C O’Neill, Ciaran Redmond for B O’Brien, Conor Finnegan for R Clarke, Vinny Smith for C Mackin, Daniel Crawley for B McLaughlin, Conor McGailey for M Traynor.

KEVIN MULLEN PLATE

GLYDE RANGERS 2-9 ST NICHOLAS 0-10

Glyde Rangers held off the determined challenge of St Nicholas to book their place in the final of the Kevin Mullen Plate on Saturday evening.

Goals early in each half from Jack McKeever and Aaron Myles were the difference in Jimmy Pentony Park as the Tallanstown side made the journey home with a five point victory.

With the aid of the breeze in the first half, it was the visitors who raced out of the blocks. An early goal, two frees and one from play had Glyde cruising before Paudi Downey added two back-to-back frees to get the Nicks off the mark.

With Brian Duffy and Tadhg Kellett impressing in front of the posts, Glyde added another four from play before Hayden Quinn scored late in the half to leave the visitors ahead by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break.

The visitors extended their lead early with 1-2 from play before St. Nicholas worked their way back into the game with the impressive Phillip Kirwan leading the way.

Sam Reilly and Paudi Downey added three each and Kirwan added another. Even with the Nicks final quarter push, Glyde held on for a deserved win.

GLYDE RANGERS: David Brennan; Darren McKeever, Conor McCullough, Oran Matthews; Fiachra Sheridan, Gerard Bourton, Ultan Larney; Conor Sheridan, Lee Finnegan; Jack McKeever (1-1), Killian Scott, Aaron Devlin (0-1); Aaron Myles (1-0), Brian Duffy (0-4), Tadhg Kellett (0-3). Subs: Niall Bird, Alan Kirk, Paddy Lyons, Cillian Gallagher. 

ST NICHOLAS: Shane Finegan; Stephen Finegan, Andrew Starrs, Matt Onianwa; Hayden Quinn (0-1), Alex Finegan, Cian O'Brien; Brian Carter, Aaron Flanagan; Caebhan Housidari, Phillip Kirwan (0-1), Jack Downey; Lee Kavanagh, Paudi Downey (0-5,0-2 frees), Sam Reilly (0-3). Subs; Ruairi Hanlon for J Downey; Stephen Hodgins for Kavanagh; Tadgh Martin for Quinn; Declan Heeney for Onianwa; Connor Faulkner for Starrs.