Division 1 Reports: Jocks secure top spot ahead of league split

HOLLYWOOD DEVELOPMENTS DIVISION 1 ROUND 10

NAOMH MAIRTIN 1-14 ST MOCHTA’S 2-8

In this mouth-watering top of the table clash, Naomh Mairtin came from six points down at half time to beat the Mochtas in Louth Village by three after a ferocious second half.

The Jocks lead at the top of Division 1 is now stretched out to three points after their nine-point turnaround win over their second placed opponents on Wednesday night.

The host got the perfect start, county man Craig Lennon returned to his club for the first time this season and John Moylan’s side hit the ground running. Liam O’Flaherty and Jamie Farrell provided the goals that saw the village side lead by 2-5 to 0-5 at half time.

However, in the second half, without a massive burst, Declan McCoy’s side grounded out a victory. Stephen Campbell was exceptional on the night, and he found the net seven minutes upon the resumption to give the visitors the energy to power on.

With the now stunned Mochta’s struggling for parity, Campbell soon levelled and despite a late Declan Byrne free, the hosts could not stop the momentum slide.

Towering Mairtin’s centre forward Val Leddy gave the Monasterboice men the lead they would not relinquish, and Dara McDonnell and Oisín Grey would close out the notable victory that sees the former county champions top ahead of the league split regardless of the last round.

NH MAIRTIN: Joe Gordon; Connor Smyth, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy (0-1); Evan Whelan, Sean Healy, Jack Murphy (0-1); Dara McDonnell (0-1), Wayne Campbell; Ben Callanan, Val Leddy (0-2), Darragh Dorian (0-2); Conor Whelan (0-3), Tom Gray (0-1), Stephen Campbell (1-2). SUBS: Joe McGrane for Smyth, Tadhg O’Brien for Callanan, Mick Fanning for Dorian, Oisín Grey (0-1) for T Gray.

ST MOCHTA’S: Jason Callan; Ben Goss Kierans (0-1), Andrew English, Andrew Lennon; Owen Lennon, Oisín Callan, Conor Garland; Sean Flynn, Gerry Garland (0-2); Jamie Farrell (1-1), Declan Byrne (0-3), Craig Lennon (0-1); Cormac Smyth, Eamon O’Neill, Liam O’Flaherty (1-0). SUBS: Ryan Cash for O Lennon, Gavyn Shortt for O’Neill, Justin McCooey for C Lennon.

GERALDINES 2-11 ST MARYS 2-8

Geraldines ended their poor run of form in fine style as the claimed a three-point win over county champions, St Marys last Thursday evening.

The Gers went into the game on the back of six successive defeats and were expected to face another difficult assignment in Ardee. However, they turned in a solid display on the night and were rewarded what could prove to be two vital points.

The visitors, boosted by the return of Dan Corcoran to their team, were in fine form in the opening half. A goal from Paul Smith was the highlight of a productive half for the Gers, as they went in leading by 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.

The Ardee side battled back in the second half and two goals from Ronan Carroll got them back into contention.  However, the McGeough Park outfit were not to be denied and a goal from Shane O’Hanlon helped them claim victory.

GERALDINES: Des Reenan; Tom Cunniffe, Jack Traynor (0-1), Paul Clarke; Paul Smith (1-0), Dan Corcoran, Neil Gartlan; Gareth Neacy, Michael Rogers (0-2); John McGrohan, Jim McEneaney (0-2), Beanón Corrigan; Shane O’Hanlon (1-2), Brian Cafferty (0-1), Ben Gartlan (0-1). Sub: Conor Rafferty (0-2).

ST MARYS: James McGillick; Jay Crawley, Tiarnan Corrigan, Carl Gillespie (0-2); Kian Moran, Paraic McKenny, Johnny Commins (0-1); Cillian Keenan, Sean Callaghan; Conor Gillespie, Shane Matthews (0-1), Dean Matthews (0-2); Tadhg McDonnell, Ronan Carroll (2-2), Darren Clarke. Subs: Ryan Rooney for Cillian Keenan, Paudy Clarke for J Commins.

DREADNOTS 1-14 ST FECHINS 1-8

Dreadnots continued their move away from the foot of the table with a six-point win at home to neighbours St Fechins on Saturday evening.

The visitors started poorly and were 0-4 to 0-0 down after six minutes before Joe Corrigan got the scoreboard ticking over with two good points from play. Again the home side responded with a goal from Conor Shevlin and a point, before Brian Devlin from play and a Ryan Walsh free cut the deficit.

The Dreadnots then added a further four points before the Fechins were thrown a lifeline just before half time when Bevan Duffy was fouled in the square resulting in a black card for the Dreadnots player.

Ronan Holcroft stepped up to bury the penalty, sending the keeper the wrong way. It appeared to get better for the visitors just before half time when the Dreadnots were reduced to 14 players for the second half.

A six-point deficit (1-10 to 1-4) seemed manageable in the second half with the aid of the breeze and an extra man, but it did not turn out that way.

The Fechins did get it back to within four with 10 minutes to play with scores from Walsh and Holcroft, while Mickey Mac Mahon added another from play. However, it was the home side who finished the strongest to kick the final two points to see out the game.

DREADNOTS: Dylan Cassidy; Aaron Scullion, Barry Faulkner, David O’Brien; Ciaran Finnegan, Conor Faulkner, Conor Clarke; Darragh Shevlin (0-1), Anthony Williams; Owen Murphy (0-1), Paraic Smith (0-6), Conor Shevlin (1-0); Dean Hyland, James Califf (0-4), Peter Kirwan (0-1). Subs: Carl Monaghan (0-1) for D Hyland, Ciaran Cunningham for C Finnegan, Craig Shevlin for C Faulkner.

ST FECHINS: Niall McDonnell; Mark Holohan, Aaron McGlew, Danny Burnell; Neal Hodgins, Bevan Duffy, Eoghan Duffy; Harry Haughney, Eoin Hackett; Joe Corrigan (0-2), Brian Devlin (0-1), John O’Connell; Ryan Walsh (0-3), Niall Devlin, Ronan Holcroft (1-1). Subs: Eoghan Ryan for Niall Devlin, Mikey Mac Mahon (0-1) for B Devlin, Adam Kirwan for R Holcroft.

SEAN O’MAHONYS 0-10 NEWTOWN BLUES 1-6

Sean O’Mahonys managed just one point in the second half at home to Newtown Blues, but it proved to be a huge score as it was the winner in this entertaining Division 1 clash on Saturday evening.

Robbie Clarke was the man who kicked the all-important final score to see his side secure an important victory that moves them three points clear of the relegation play-off place.

Terry Kelly was another of the O’Mahonys heroes on the night as he landed five vital points in the first half to help his side lead by 0-9 to 0-2 at the break.

The Drogheda men raised their game in the second half and a goal from Robert Carr gave them home. Declan McNamara and Jamie Kelly were among the points as they clawed back the lead.

However, the comeback fell just short as the home side replied through Clarke and did enough to hang on for the win.

SEAN O’MAHONYS: Stephen Fisher; Ciaran Jameson, Kian McEvoy, Robbie Galligan; Conor FInegan, Sean Cassidy, Robbie Clarke; Gareth Hall, Conor Martin; Brian McGuirk, Thomas Rice, Kyle Carroll; Ben McLaughlin, Terry Kelly, Brian Gartlan.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Johnny McDonnell; Stephen Kerr Rafferty, Ciaran McCann, J Harte; Zach Levins, Alan Connor, Cathal Broderick; Andy McDonnell, Daire Nally (0-1); Jamie Kelly (0-2), Robert Carr (1-1), C Farrell; Ciaran McGuirk, Declan McNamara (0-2), Evin McConnon. Subs: Ian Connor for S Kerr Rafferty, John Kermode for J Harte, Ciaran Brannigan for C Farrell.

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ST PATRICKS 3-18 O RAGHALLAIGHS 0-10

St Patricks consolidated their position in the top four of Division 1 when they cruised to victory at home to O’Raghallaighs on Saturday evening.

The hosts held a slender two-point advantage at the break but dominated the second half as they eased to a 17-point victory. Goals from Jason Woods, Eoin O’Connor and Sean Fearon proved to be the icing on the game as the peninsula side recorded a sixth win of the campaign.

Despite their poor run of form, it was the Drogheda men who made the brighter start to the game and with 12 minutes on the clock they had established a 0-4 to 0-2 lead. Kyle McElroy was prominent in the early stages on a night when he finished with five points.

However, the Pats soon found their rhythm and took the lead when Jason Woods found the net before the end of the first quarter.

Cathal Grogan added three points for the hosts, but the O’Raghallaighs were very much in the game as they kicked three successive scores to cut the gap to 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.

However, the second half was a completely different affair as the Pats took control from the early stages. Danny O’Connor, Joseph Connor, Cathal Grogan and Woods were all on target as their side opened up a six-point gap before sub Eoin O’Connor found the net to make it 2-11 to 0-8 after 40 minutes.

There was no way back for the visitors after that and the Pats eased to victory with the help of points from Aidan McCann, Leonard Grey and Tadhg O’Connor before substitute Sean Fearon added the third goal three minutes from time.

ST PATRICKS: Martin McEneaney; Daniel Tumilty, Kevin Toner, Ruairi O’Hagan; Conor Grogan (0-1), Barry Dunne, Joseph Connor (0-1); Leonard Grey (0-2), Matt Pagni; Aidan McCann (0-3), Jack Murphy, Tadhg O’Connor (0-2); Jason Woods (1-1), Cathal Grogan (0-6), Darren Connor. Subs: Danny O’Connor (0-1) for M Pagni, Eoin O’Connor (1-1) for R O’Hagan, Adam Finnegan for D O’Connor, Tom McCann for Cathal Grogan, Sean Fearon (1-0) for J Woods.

O RAGHALLAIGHS: Joe Flanagan; Kevin Magee, Alan Doyle, James Morgan; Emmet King, Matthew Moore, Ruairi Moore (0-2); Ben Sweeney, Eoghan Moore (0-1); Ewan Sweeney, Kyle McElroy (0-5), Conal Rice; James Smyth (0-1), Barry Flanagan (0-1), Andrew Rogan.

ST BRIDES 3-11 MATTOCK RANGERS 2-13

St Brides edged this even affair in Knockbridge by the minimum over Mattock Rangers on Thursday night. The victory now sees the winners join the Collon men on the same points ahead of the final round.

Rangers scuppered a chance to guarantee their place in the top six with a win on the night and will now have it in their own hands along with six possible others for a place in the top half of Division 1.

On the night it was a shootout between two Louth under 20 stars Kieran McArdle and Mattock’s Liam Flynn. McArdle pounced for the game’s first goal after a superb fetch and slaloming run.

Flynn responded twice before the break with barnstorming runs himself to make it level, 1-8 to 2-5, at the interval. Two quick goals in four minutes upon the resumption from Neil Thornton and Paddy Reilly gave the hosts the cushion to hold on for the remainder of the half.

ST BRIDES: Aaron Devin; Ronan Bailey, Cillian Kirk, Richard Halpenny; Steven Hoey, Patrick Reilly (1-0), Evan Wynne; Kieran McArdle (1-3), Liam Molloy; Andrew Smyth, Bernard Laverty, Neil Thornton (1-3); Paraic Rutledge, Emmet Kirk (0-3), Sean Marry (0-2). SUBS: Robert McCaughey, Nathan Kirk, Brian Faul, James Costelloe.

MATTOCK RANGERS: Stephen Smith; Ben Markey, Cillian Hickey, Eoin McCloskey; Ronán Kilbane, Ryan Leneghan, Brendan Leacy (0-1); Aaron O’Brien, Jason Condon; Jack Thompson, Ben McKenna, Terry Donegan; Shane Hickey (0-2); Liam Flynn (2-6), Cathal Fleming (0-3), Shane Hickey (0-1). SUBS: Caolan Nulty, Robert Holmes.