Division 1 Roundup: Ardee keep the pressure on Jocks with another victory

HOLLYWOOD DEVELOPMENTS DIVISION 1 ROUND 5

ST MARYS 2-12 ST MOCHTAS 1-11

St Mary’s chalked up their fourth win of the Division 1 campaign when they proved too strong for St Mochtas in Ardee last Monday night.

For the Louth Village men, this was a disappointing outcome as they went into the game on the back of four victories. But they were unable to continue that momentum as the hosts prevailed by four points.

The Ardee men had to do it the hard way as they found themselves two points in arrears at the break. They turned in a strong second half display to come away with the points. In the end, goals from Ronan Carroll and Luke Matthews making the difference.

Cormac Smyth and Jamie Farrell were again in good form for the visitors in the opening half as they helped their side to lead by 0-8 to 1-3.

The hosts picked up the pace after the restart and although Sean Flynn found the net, the Marys remained on top, and a second goal saw them over the line.

ST MARYS: James McGillick; Jay Crawley, Tiarnan Corrigan, Carl Gillespie (0-3); Kian Moran (0-1), Evan Malone, Ben Clarke; Conor Gillespie, Ronan Carroll (1-1); Killian Keenan, Dean Matthews (0-1), Tadhg McDonnell (0-1); Darren Clarke (0-2), Sean Callaghan, Luke Matthews (1-2). Subs: Paudy Clarke (0-1) for B Clarke, David Rooney for J Crawley, Conor O’Brien for D Matthews, Caolan O’Callaghan for D Clarke.

ST MOCHTAS: Jason Callan; Liam Lawlor, Ben Goss Kieran, Andy Lennon; Oisín Callan (0-1), Darren McMahon, Andy English; Sean Flynn (1-1), Danny Kindlon; Conor Garland, Liam O’Flaherty, David Lennon; Cormac Smyth (0-5), Gerry Garland (0-1), Jamie Farrell (0-3). Subs: Gavyn Short for L O’Flaherty.

SEAN O’MAHONYS 0-13 DREADNOTS 0-12

Sean O’Mahonys held out for another victory when they emerged by the tightest of margins away to Dreadnots on Saturday night.

The Dundalk side look as if they are enjoying their travels at present as they picked up another victory in Division 1 – with all three wins coming away from home.

As with their previous wins, this was again hard-fought as they had to show great character once again to come out on top.

In what was an impressive team effort, Stephen Kilcoyne led the way in front of the posts as he finished with seven points, while there were also important contributions from Thomas Rice and goalkeeper Eddie Maguire.

At the other end, Craig Shevlin was top-scorer for the Dreadnots with five points, while Peter Kirwan (3) and Paraic Smith were also on target.

The game was tight all the way, with the O’Mahonys leading by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break. They stretched that gap in the second half, but had to withstand a late revival from the Dreadnots before securing the points.

SEAN O’MAHONYS: Eddie Maguire (0-1); Robbie Galligan, Chris O’Neill, Barry O’Brien; Keith McLaughlin, Kian McEvoy, Sean Cassidy (0-1); Conor Martin, Tiarnan Cassidy; Brian McGrath, Conor Finnegan (0-1), Kyle Carroll; Thomas Rice (0-2), Stephen Kilcoyne (0-7), Ben McLaughlin (0-1). Subs: Colin Finan for B O’Brien, Oisin Breen for T Cassidy, Conor Mackin for B McLaughlin, Robbie Clarke for K McLaughlin.

DREADNOTS: Dylan Cassidy; Aaron Scullion, Barry Faulkner, Cathal Lynch;  Darragh Shevlin; Conor Faulkner, Ciaran Finnegan (0-1); Craig Shevlin (0-5), Cian McEvoy; Conor Shevlin, Paraic Smith (0-2), Eoin Murphy; Sam Reilly, Peter Kirwan (0-3), Dean Hyland (0-1). Subs: Ciaran Cunningham for S Reilly.

ST PATRICKS 1-14 ST BRIDES 0-8

For the third match in a row St Brides gave away a half time lead when they succumbed to their fourth loss on the trot at Lordship on Friday evening.

The experienced Aidan McCann once again illustrated his value to the team as he contributed an impressive 1-3 to the total.

The visitors started the better and with Kieran McArdle in fine form, they had four points on the board inside 21 minutes, with the only Pats reply coming from the boot of Jason Woods.

However, the home side picked up the pace in the closing stages of the half and points from Cathal Grogan (2) and Woods, saw them cut the gap to 0-5 to 0-4 at the half time whistle.

The teams traded points in the early stages of the second half to suggest it would remain a close affair, but the hosts had other plans as they moved up a gear to take command of proceedings with points from Martin Breen and Joseph Connor either side of three-in-a-row from McCann.

There was no way back after that for the Brides and the Pats completed victory with a late goal from McCann.

ST PATRICKS: Martin McEneaney (0-1); Padraig Duffy, Kevin Toner, Daniel Tumilty; Conor Grogan, Barry Dunne, Eoin O’Hagan; Joe Connor (0-1), Martin Breen (0-1); Aidan McCann (1-3), Adam Finnegan, Tadhg O’Connor, Jason Woods (0-4), Cathal Grogan (0-2), Sean Fearon. Subs: Darren Connor (0-2) for A Finnegan, Tom McCann for J Woods, Cillian White for E O’Hagan.

ST BRIDES: Aaron Devin (0-1); Paraic Mackin, Ronan Bailey, Stephen Hoey; Sean Brennan, Cillian Kirk, Daniel McArdle; Bernard Laverty, Ross Murnaghan; Kieran McArdle (0-5), Ciaran Deane, Brian Faul; Nathan Kirk, Neil Thornton (0-2), Paraic Rutledge. Subs: Sean Marry, Emmet Kirk, Robert McCaughey, Shane Tubridy, James Costelloe.

NAOMH MAIRTIN 4-20 O RAGHALLAIGHS 0-10

Naomh Mairtin continued their flying start to the Division 1 campaign when they swept aside the challenge of O Raghallaighs at Jimmy Pentony Park on Saturday evening.

This was a game that certainly went according to the form book as the league leaders inflicted further pain on the struggling Drogheda side.

It proved to be a difficult evening for the hosts from the opening whistle as the Mairtins dominated from the outset. Joe McGrane opened the scoring for the Jocks who had four points on the board before the O Raghallaighs got off the mark.

Wayne Campbell, Conor Whelan and Darragh Dorian were all on target as their side led by 0-7 to 0-1 inside nine minutes, before a goal from Dara McDonnell had the visitors ahead by 1-10 to 0-3 at the end of the first quarter.

The O Raghallaighs enjoyed their best spell before the break as they rallied to cut the gap to 1-12 to 0-7.

However, a comeback was never really on the cards and the Mairtins added the first three points of the second period before Evan Whelan grabbed the second goal on 34 minutes.

Further goals followed from Craig Lynch on 46 minutes, and Ben Callanan just before the end, while Mark McCullough and Oisin Gray were among the points as their side cruised to victory.

NH MAIRTIN: Joe Gordon; Tadhg O’Brien, Tom Sullivan, Conor Healy (0-1); Evan Whelan (1-1), Sean Healy, Paul Murphy; Wayne Campbell (0-2), Dara McDonnell (1-1); Joe McGrane (0-1), Ben Callanan (1-0), Craig Callanan; Darragh Dorian (0-4), Conor Whelan (0-6), Stephen Campbell (0-2). Subs: Craig Lynch (1-0), Oisin Gray (0-1), Mark McCullough (0-1).

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NEWTOWN BLUES 2-14 GERALDINES 2-8

Newtown Blues ran out six point winners over Geraldines last Thursday night in McGeough Park in Haggardstown. The reigning league champions turned on the style after the break to prevail.

At full forward for the hosts, Beanón Corrigan has been in a rich vein of form and he smashed home the first goal for Mícheál Magill’s side. Blues came roaring back into the game thanks to top scorer Conor Branigan.

Branigan nudged home a goal very much against the run of play while Shane O’Hanlon returned to find the net for the Blackrock/Haggardstown outfit. At half time the sides were level, 2-3 to 1-6.

The second half saw Andy McDonnell control things more around the middle along with Louth panellist Alan Connor to provide the visitors with a stern grip on the game.

Once Branigan completed his brace, the home side could not come back and keep pressure on those above them, despite Jim McEneaney and Jamie Callan’s best efforts.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Johnny McDonnell; Zach Levins, Ciaran Cluskey Kelly, Cathal Broderick; Iollan Farrell, Emmet Carolan (0-1), Ian Connor; Andy McDonnell (0-3), Alan Connor; Jamie Kelly (0-4), Conor Branigan (2-4), Emmet Murray (0-1); Johnny Connolly, Fergal Donohoe (0-1), Declan McNamara. SUBS: Stephen Kerr Rafferty, Ciaran White.

GERALDINES: Conor Rafferty; Tom Cunniffe, Gareth Neacy, Jack Traynor; Jamie Callan, Ryan Brennan, John McCrohan; Brian Cafferty, Matt Corcoran; Kevin Pepper, Jim McEneaney (0-2), James Craven (0-1); Shane O’Hanlon (1-1), Beanón Corrigan (1-3), Ben Gartlan (0-1). SUBS: David O’Connell, Paddy Hoey.

ST FECHINS 0-11 MATTOCK RANGERS 0-11

Both sides had to settle for a draw in beautiful conditions in Bealieu. The home side were looking to make it three wins on the spin whilst Mattock was looking to follow up their win last week against O Raghaillaighs. But a late Ronán Kilbane leveller for Rangers left both sides somewhat satisfied.

Niall Devlin opened the scoring from play which was matched by an immediate response from Mattock’s Aaron O’Brien.

Devlin and his brother Brian added two further points to extend the lead, before Christy Grimes’ side took over to lead by two at the break, 0-6 to 0-4. Fechins went 17 minutes in the half without raising a white flag.

Again, Mattock extended the lead with an excellent point from Terry Donegan but Fechins then dug deep and hailed the impact of Ryan Walsh, fresh from his heroics with the Louth hurlers, to score a fine brace.

With the game in the balance, Mattock held off Devlin on two occasions.

After leading for the majority of this contest, it was the Fechins that amazingly hit the front with seconds remaining. Kilbane, however, held his nerve to fire over the equaliser.

ST FECHINS: Niall McDonnell (0-1 free); Cian Gorman, David Lally, Danny Burnell; Shane Reilly, Aaron McGlew, Neal Hodgins; Eoin Hackett, Harry Haughney; Adam Kirwan, Colm O’Neill, John O’Connell; Joe Corrigan (0-3), Brian Devlin (0-1), Niall Devlin (0-4). SUBS: Ryan Walsh (0-2) for Adam Kirwan, Lee Grifferty for Brian Devlin, Eoghan Ryan for John O’ Connell, Evan Dolan for Eoin Hackett.

MATTOCK RANGERS: Stephen Smith; Ben Markey, Cillian Hickey, Alan Caraher; Pauric Bannon, Ronán Kilbane (0-1), Darren Henry; Cathal Fleming (0-2) Brendan Leacy; Robert Holmes (0-1) Aaron O’Brien (0-2), Caolan Nulty; Shane Hickey (0-2), Terry Donegan (0-1), Oisín McKenna (0-2). SUBS: James Caraher, Eoin McCloskey, Ryan Leneghan.