Louth GAA club | Paddy Sheelan Cup round-up

Group A

ST. JOSEPHS 5-15 O'RAGHALLAIGHS 3-7

The new rules certainly had an impact on the opening day of the season as this Paddy Sheelan Cup produced a glut of scores.

In the end, St Joseph's enjoyed better fortune in front of the posts, going on to record a comprehensive victory in a game that produced eight goals.

READ NEXT: Louth suffer tough National Football League defeat to the Breffnimen

The tone was set in the opening moments as Jack Mulligan found the back of the net inside three minutes to put his team on their way.

Mulligan would go on to add a second goal while Ben Collier, Conall Smyth and Killian Staunton also raised to green flag to help the Cluskey Park men emerge with a 14-point success. The O Raghallaighs replied with goals from Danny Reilly, Kyle McElroy and Barry Finnegan.

ST. JOSEPHS: Adam Cassidy; Killian McDonnell, Michael Staunton, Rian Devlin; Conor Neary (0-1), David Kieran (0-1), Ciaran Johnston; Oisin McGuinness, Killian Staunton (1-0); Jack Mulligan (2-3), Alan McKenna, Craig Doherty; Alan Quigley (0-6), Ben Collier (1-4), Conall Smyth (1-0).

Subs: Cian Sheridan, Aidan Kieran, Rory McLoughlin, Sean Allen, Oran McParland, Ben McKeown, Liam McQuillan, Evan McEnteggart.

O'RAGHALLAIGHS: Conor Brown; Lucas Carton, Kev Magee, Tim Curran; Emmet King, Ruairi Moore 0-1, Stephen Murphy; Danny Reilly 1-0, Eoin Moore; Conal Rice, Kyle McElroy 1-5, Ben Sweeney; Barry Finnegan 1-0, Ben Rogan, James Smith.

Sub: Olan Walsh 0-1.

MATTOCK RANGERS 0-14 OLIVER PLUNKETTS 1-6

There was no love lost on Valentine's night as holders Mattock Rangers began their Paddy Sheelan campaign with a win over Oliver Plunketts in Collon.

Luke Haggans’ restarts caught the eye during the first competitive match both sides played under the new rule enhancements. Plunketts found the net in the opening half through Adam Smith but could not sustain their efforts.

Rangers were stronger overall and look to retain their pre-season silverware after an impressive fightback showing by Cathal Fleming on the forty.

MATTOCK RANGERS: Stephen Smith; Ben Markey, Cillian Hickey, Tom Grimes; Eoin McCloskey, Shane Maguire, Ben Quaile; Robert Holmes 0-1, Jason Condon; Adam Flynn 0-1, Cathal Fleming 0-7, Terry Donegan; Karl Grimes 0-2, Alan Caraher, JP Watters.

Subs: Rian McBride, Craig Englishby, Adrian Reid, Callum Wogan, Ben Brennan.

OLIVER PLUNKETTS: Luke Haggans; Adam Lambe, Davy McTaggart, Ricky, Bully Lambe, Sean Smith, Niall Murtagh, Dean Carolan, Jack Taaffe; Conor Haggans Sean Callaghan; Adam Smith 1-0, Kristian Nolan, Ben Boyce.

Subs: Sean Boyle, Stephen Keeley, Shane Lambe, James Guinn.

SEAN O’MAHONY’S 2-9 GLEN EMMETS 1-10

Sean O’Mahony’s struck goals in the opening and final five minutes of the game and that was enough to see off Glen Emmets in the opening round of the Sheelan Cup at Cusack Park.

Emmets looked to James Butler to take advantage of the new rules, and he did so by striking double two-pointers in the first half. The sides were level at halftime, thanks to Callum Bradley’s opening goal for the visitors.

The second half saw Kealan O’Neill strike from beyond the arc and looked to have the hosts home after Mullen’s debut goal. However, Mark Agnew came off the bench to win the game for the Quaysiders.

SEAN O’MAHONYS: Kevin Brennan; Dean Carroll, Oisin Breen 0-1, Ciarán Redmond; Dan Crawley, Kian McEvoy, Conor Oliver; Sean Cassidy, Brian McGurk; Cillian Lavery, Junior Shotayo, Callum Bradley 1-0; Thomas Rice, Terry Kelly 0-8, Aaron Mackin.

Subs: Conor Finnegan for Junior, Mark Agnew 1-0 for Cillian Lavery, Colin Finian for Ciarán Redmond, Thomas McCahill for Callum Bradley.

GLEN EMMETS: Ian O’Reilly; Emmet Delaney, Tom Grimes, Jaime Farnan; Keefer Carolan, Evan English, Calum Wogan 0-1; Cian Talbot, Cathal Maguire; James Butler 0-7, Kealan O’Neill 0-2, Patrick McHugh; Alex Carolan, Diarmuid Cullen, Lorcan Lynch.

Subs: S Smyth, D McKeown, Breen Maguire, J Mullen 0-1.

(Powerscreen Paddy Sheelan Cup, Group A, Round 1 standings)

Group B

ROCHE EMMETS 4-9 ST. PATRICKS 2-13

Roche Emmets got the better of neighbours St Patricks in what proved to be a competitive Paddy Sheelan Cup Group B encounter at Pairc de Roiste on Sunday morning.

The game represented a quick return to a familiar setting for Pats manager Jamie O’Hare who enjoyed considerable success with the Faughart club before parting ways at the end of last season.

However, it would prove not to be a happy return as Roche fired in four goals to ensure they came out on top.

It was Jack Murphy who opened the scoring for the visitors but the Emmets quickly took control and raced into a 1-5 to 0-1 advantage thanks to a Liam Dawe goal.

A Cillian Keenan goal got the Lordship side back in the game but two goals inside a minute at the other end from Dawe and Fionn Connolly just before the break had Roche leading by 3-8 to 1-4.

Points from Aidan McCann, Ben McGuinness, Brian Commons and Micheal O’Shaughnessy had their side back in contention but Roche added their fourth goal from a Barry O’Hare penalty to remain in control.

The visitors battled to the end and found the net through Jack Murphy but the Faughart men did enough to hold out for the victory.

ROCHE EMMETS: Jamie O’Hare; Dermot Carthy, David Quigley, Kevin Quigley; James McDonnell, Aidan Grant, Gerry Browne; Ryan Martin, Jack McKay; Sean Dawe, Liam Dawe, Cathal Corcoran; Barry O’Hare, Mark Byrne, Fionn Connolly.

ST. PATRICKS: Brian Commons 0-2 (2p); Cillian White, Darren O’Hanlon, Daniel Tumulty; Conor Grogan, Tom McCann, Sean Holland; Micheal O’Shaughnessy 0-1, Padraig Duffy; Aidan McCann 0-2, Jack Murphy 1-6 (1 2p), Darren Connor; Ben McGuinness 0-2, Cillian Keenan 1-0, Cian McKenna.

Subs: Ruairi Traynor for B McGuinness, Ross Murphy for C McKenna, James Savage for S Holland, Alex Gregory for B Commons, Stephen Toner for A McCann, James McGeown for D Tumulty.

ST. KEVINS 1-12 ST. FECHINS 0-10

St. Kevin’s team kicked off their 2025 campaign in the Paddy Sheelan Cup with a commanding performance against St. Fechin’s, adapting seamlessly to the newly introduced rules.

In what was their first competitive game under these changes, the Philipstown men showed no signs of hesitation, executing an impressive display that saw them secure a well-earned victory.

The Fechins fielding an extremely youthful team started well and were unlucky to be trailing by the minimum at half time with the crucial score of the half being a goal on the break from Tom Matthews.

Midfielder Brian Callaghan played a crucial role in this, offering physicality and composure in the middle of the field.

Cameron Maher (0-3) was another standout in attack, stepping in for his injured brother Evan and looking right at home, while Josh McArdle Lynch chipped in with vital points.

In attack, Tom Matthews and Cian Callan were the standout threats, thriving under the new rules.

Matthews was particularly clinical, bagging 1-3 from play, while Callan’s accuracy from frees (0-4) kept the scoreboard ticking over.

While the attacking unit was sharp, the defensive structure was just as impressive, led by the outstanding trio of Niall Gregory, Sean Powderly, and John Callaghan.

At the other end of the pitch, Jacob Finlay was a driving force at right-wing half-forward, showcasing his immense work rate, strength, and defensive discipline.

Despite the outcome, it was an encouraging day for St Fechins as unlimited substitutions meant a run out for 25 players with Ciaran Hickey making his senior debut.

ST. KEVINS: Joshua Finlay; John Callaghan, Dylan Maher, Sean Powderly; Niall Gregory, Enda McKenna, Darren McMullan; Brian Callaghan, Cameron Maher (0-3); Jacob Finlay, Keelan Maher, Caolan McMullan; Tom Mathews (1-3), Cian Callan (0-4), Josh McArdle Lynch (0-1).

Subs: Cormac Rogers for J McArdle Lynch, Caoimhin Prout for J Callaghan, Zaki Khan for C McMullan and Conor Rogers for E McKenna.

ST. FECHINS: Kyle Meegan; Rob McCarthy, Cian Gorman, Dylan Rice; Ciaran McGinty, Colm O’Neill, Garbhán O’Reilly (0-1), Eoin Hackett, Matthew Flanagan (0-1), John O’Connell (0-1), Lee Grifferty (0-1), Aaron McGlew (0-4), Evan McCluskey, Colm Hackett (0-1), Mikey MacMahon (0-1).

Subs: Cormac Dolan, John Woods, Cathal O’Reilly, Evan Dolan, Eoghan Ryan, Ciaran Hickey, Burnell, Caelum Dolan, Paddy Keane, Alex Smith.

NAOMH MAIRTIN 0-9 HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 0-9

In this tense affair, both runners-up from last year’s championship finals played out an even draw at the back pitch in Darver.

Naomh Mairtin salvaged a draw by converting a two-point free at the death after Rovers infringed the two in one-half enhancement. Monasterboice duly punished the lack of study.

With the low-scoring affair short of many regulars, Ciaran Russell enhanced his reputation and Jamie O'Callaghan chipped in with a few scores but no two-pointers.

Senior side Naomh Mairtin under Paddy Christie, struck a brace of two pointers and that accuracy through Tom Gray earned them the share of the spoils.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Donny Sheridan; Adam O'Reilly, Cillian Taaffe, Senan Taaffe; Daithi Carroll, Paddy Taaffe, Davy Finn, Shane Halpenny Tony McKenna, Jason Monaghan, Aaron Levins Ciaran Russell; Jamie O'Callaghan, Glen Matthews, Joe Rogers.

Subs: Alan Landy Marc Ward, Conor Reaburn, Cian Matthews.

NAOMH MAIRTIN: Joe Gordon; Daniel Creedon, Shane Morgan, Eoin Cooney; Cian Sands, Evan Whelan, Paddy Usher; Adam Booth, Joe McGrane 0-2; Sam Murtagh, Enda McDonnell, Karl Morgan; Craig Callanan, Tom Gray 0-7 (1tpf) 4f), Adam Callanan.

Subs: Darren Morgan, Eoghan Winters, Ben Callanan, Jack Lynch, Charlie Murphy and Colm Egan.

(Powerscreen Paddy Sheelan Cup, Group B, Round 1 standings)

Group C

NEWTOWN BLUES 2-15 STABANNON PARNELLS 1-10

Newtown Blues made it a successful trip to Stabannon on Thursday night as they secured victory in the Paddy Sheelan Cup.

Despite a battling display, the hosts were unable to match their higher-grade opponents and in the end, the Drogheda men eased home with a margin of eight points in this Group C clash.

Harry Butterly and Dillon Shevlin led the charge for the Parnells on the night but at the break, the game was slipping away from them as they trailed by 0-8 to 0-4, with Jack Healy and Eoin McCoy among the points for the Blues.

The pace of the game lifted in the second half which produced three goals. Padraig Reynolds found the net for the hosts but it wasn’t enough to prevent the Blues from leaving with maximum points thanks to goals from Ryan Nugent and Eoin McCoy.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Yemi Taylor: Joe Harte, Dan McArdle, Stephen Kerr Rafferty; Eoin Branigan 0-1, Ian Connor 0-1, Joey Nally; Liam Branigan 0-1, Alan Connor 0-1; Jamie Kelly 0-1, Jack Healy 0-3, Sean Cummins 0-1; Ryan Nugent 1-1, Eoin McCoy 1-3, Niall Devlin 0-1.

Subs: Iollan Farrell for J Harte, Ryan Kelly for N Devlin, Sean Doherty for R Nugent, Conor Moore 0-1 for E Branigan, Niall Devlin for S Cummins, Markuss Callans for J Nally, Joe Harte for E McCoy.

STABANNON PARNELLS: Padraic Malone; Shane Brady, Ryan Halpenny, Johnny McGee; Jake Corrigan, David Cluskey, Conor Clinton; Colm Giggins 0-1, Ryan Shevlin; Tristan Hartung, Harry Butterly 0-5 (1 2p), Dean Lynch; Padraig Reynolds 1-0, Dillon Shevlin 0-4 (1 2p), JP Byrne.

Subs: Danile Clinton for T Hartung, Michael Lynch for D Cluskey, Robert Callaghan for JP Byrne, Cillian Byrne for D Lynch.

KILKERLEY EMMETS 0-16 ST. BRIDES 0-12

Kilkerley Emmets made a bright start to the Paddy Sheelan Cup campaign when they held off the challenge of St Brides in Knockbridge on Sunday morning.

The visitors had to withstand a second-half revival from the Brides before making the short journey home with the victory on a day when Tadhg McEneaney’s ten points made all the difference.

The Emmets made a blistering start to the game and with Brian Brady and Micheal Begley adding to points from McEneaney, their side had established an early 0-7 to 0-1 advantage.

McEneaney added another two-pointer to help stretch the lead to 0-12 to 0-3 at the halftime whistle.

It was looking comfortable for Kilkerley at that stage but the Brides came right back into the game in the second half by posting six unanswered points.

Peter Carragher and Sean Marry led the way in terms of scoring for the hosts as they finished with nine points between them.

However, the visitors regained control as points from Ciaran Bellew and McEneaney (2) saw them secure a four-point win, despite a late reply from Marry.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Callum Mulholland; Oran McMahon, Cillian Mulligan, Cormac Bellew; Fintan Brady, Patrick Murtagh, Kieran Lennon;  Kieran Murtagh 0-1, Cathal Bellew; Brian Brady 0-1, Ciaran Bellew 0-1, Fionn Cumiskey; Michael Begley 0-3, Tadgh McEneaney 0-10 (2 2p), Ewan McEnteggart.

Subs: Tadhg Fitzgerald and Ultan McEneaney.

ST. BRIDES: David Shevlin; Stephen Hoey, Daniel McArdle, Ronan Bailey; Oisin McBride, Kelvin Slowey, Ross Murnaghan; Bernard Laverty, Peter Carragher 0-4; Brian Faul, Sean Marry 0-5, Morgan Tobin; Aaron Devin 0-1, Kevin Hearty, Donal McArdle 0-1.

Subs: Nathan Kirk for B Laverty, Paddy Reilly for K Hearty, Cillian Kirk for K Slowey, Padraig Mackin for B Faul.

COOLEY KICKHAMS 2-15 DUNDALK GAELS 0-10

Cooley Kickhams made a winning start to the Paddy Sheelan Cup as they overcame the challenge of Dundalk Gaels on Sunday morning.

The peninsula side began well and with the benefit of the wind, they scored three two-pointers through Cian Connor, while the same player made a very productive half as he scored the first goal of the game to take control of the scoreboard.

The Gaels were unable to make any real impression in attack and at the interval it was Cooley who was leading by 1-12 to 0-4.

Eanna McArdle and James Stewart were the stand-out performers in a lacklustre first half, with McArdle hitting all four points. Brian Boyle added a second goal for Cooley after the restart to see his side tighten their grip on the game.

There was no way back for the Dundalk men in the second half although they did take the opportunity to give game time to all squad members.

COOLEY KICKHAMS: Niall Brady; Sean Hoey, Ronan McBride, Sean Thornton; Gerard Hanlon, Patrick Hanlon, Fionn O’Reilly (0-1); Darren Marks (0-2), Paul Brennan; Darren O’Shaughnessy (0-2), Enda O’Neill (0-2), Brian Boyle (1-0); Cian Connor (1-6, 3 2p), Patrick Johnston (0-1), Conor Loughran.

Subs: Mickey Rafferty (0-1) for C Loughran, Sean White for G Hanlon, Cian McGuinness for P Johnston, Calum O’Hanlon for D O’Shaughnessy, Emmet McGuigan for B Boyle, Michael John Hanlon for F O’Reilly, Thomas McCarragher for C Connor.

DUNDALK GAELS: Aaron Culligan; Luke Conlon, James Lynch, Paddy O’Connell; Sean Lambert, James O’Connell, Shaun Duffy; James Stewart, Jordan Keating; Luke Murray, Chris Sweeney, Jack Mullen; Eanna McArdle, Tom O’Connell, Liam Coleman.

(Powerscreen Paddy Sheelan Cup, Group C, Round 1 standings)

Group D

ST. MOCHTAS 0-14 CLAN NA GAEL 1-6

St Mochtas made a winning start to the season when they proved too strong for Clan na Gael at home on Thursday night in the Paddy Sheelan Cup.

The Louth Village side had to wait until the second half before they really found their stride as they overturned a three-point interval deficit to claim victory in this Group D encounter.

Declan Byrne did most of the damage for the winners as he chalked up a total of eight points on the night to send the Dundalk men home empty-handed.

It was the visitors who had the better of the first half and a goal from Robbie Curran sent them in at the break with a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage.

However, the Mochtas picked up the pace after the restart and in the end were comfortable winners as the Clans challenge faded.

ST. MOCHTAS: Brendan Duff; Owen Lennon, Conor Mc Kenna, Oisín Kerr; Conor Garland, Darren McMahon 0-1, Oisín Callan; Gerry Garland, Liam O’Flaherty; Dylan Farrell 0-1, Daire Quinn 0-1, Sean McLoughlin; Jamie Farrell 0-8, Declan Byrne 0-8, Cormac Smyth 0-1.

Sub: Barry Mulholland.

CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smyth; Conor Smith, Brian McDonnell, Craig Callan; Paul Crewe, Craig Long, Kevin Carroll; Gerard Curran, Conor Noonan; Gavin Gaffey 0-1, Robbie Curran 1-1, Oisin Finn; Liam O’Hanlon 0-2 (2p), Shay Coleman 0-2, Aodhan Kirk.

Subs: Jack Callan for K Carroll, Farouq Ibrahim for O Finn, Ellis O'Carroll for P Crewe, Tiernan Weldon for C Long, Francis Kirk for A Kirk, Brooklyn Cavanagh for G Curran.

(Powerscreen Paddy Sheelan Cup, Group D, Round 1 standings)