Louth GAA club | Division One round-up

Hunterstown Rovers 2-12 Sean O’Mahonys 0-4

Hunterstown Rovers moved top of the John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Louth Division One League table on score difference after recording their third successive win.

Rovers played host to Sean O’Mahonys on Friday evening and not only did they pick up the two points on offer, but the margin of victory was enough to send them clear of St Mochtas and Dreadnots who also have maximum points.

Despite ending up with just four points over the hour, it was the O’Mahonys who got off to a bright start as they landed the opening two scores.

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However, that was wiped out inside five minutes when Ryan Ward struck the first goal of the game, before adding two points.

Aaron Levins then raised a white flag before David Finn found the net to help his team lead by 2-6 to 0-2 at the break.

The Dundalk men were unable to muster any real challenge in the second half as they added just two points to their tally.

Meanwhile, Hunterstown cruised home as scores from Jason Monaghan, Glen Mathews and Dean Burns saw them home.

Hunterstown Rovers: Ryan Ward 1-4, Jason Monaghan 0-4 (1 2p), David Finn 1-0, Aaron Levins, Glen Mathews, Marc Ward and Dean Burns 0-1 each.

Sean O’Mahonys: Kevin Brennan; Ciaran Jameson, Chris O'Neill, Oisin Breen; Daniel Crawley, Aaron Boyle, Sean Cassidy; Brian McGuirk, Gareth Hall; Conor Finnegan, Ben McLaughlin, Luke Kelly 0-2; Terry Kelly  0-1, Thomas Rice 0-1, Kaden Fisher.

Subs: Thomas Cahill, Cathal Bradley.

(John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Louth Division One League table)

St. Mochtas 2-15 St. Joseph’s 1-14

In this Round 3 encounter in Cluskey Park on Friday night it was the more seasoned Division 1 outfit St. Mochtas who deservedly took the two points on offer and in the process put a halt to the Joes’ impressive start to the campaign.

Despite playing into the wind it was the Joes who had their best period of the game to open a 1-6 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

Alan Quigley and Craig Doherty had points on the board for the hosts with Dara Quinn and Jamie Farrell pointing for the Mochtas before Jack Mulligan hit the net for the Joes.

However, the game turned on 22 minutes when a Declan Byrne sideline ball found its way to the Joes net, followed by a Jamie Farrell point and the margin was down to two.

Despite a point from  Alan Quigley for the Joes the visitors finished the half on top with a point and two-pointer from Quinn to level the game at 1-7 apiece at the interval.

The Joes opened the second half brightly with two Alan Quigley pointed frees, however that was as good as it got for the Joes, with the visitors taking control of the game. 

The visitors opened up the Joes defence with Quinn followed by a Liam O’Flaherty goal to help their side lead by 2-10 to 1-10 at the end of the third quarter.

Declan Byrne then landed two two-pointers and although the Joes hit back with four late points, it was the visitors who held on comfortably for victory.

St Mochtas: Daire O’Shea; Andy Lennon, Darren McMahon, David Lennon; Conor McKenna, Oisín Callan, Jamie Farrell 0-2; Liam Lawlor, Gerry Garland 0-2; Gavyn Shortt, Liam O’Flaherty 1-0, Decky Byrne 1-5; Phily Englishby, Cormac Smyth 0-1, Dara Quinn 0-5. Sub: Andrew English for G Short.

St. Joseph’s: Adam Cassidy; Ciaran Johnston, Michael Staunton, Killian McDonald; Michael O’Brien, Gabriel Bell, David Kieran; Rian Devlin, Oisin McGuinness (0-3, 2p); Jack Mulligan (1-0), Ben Collier, Craig Doherty (0-2); Alan Quigley (0-7), Alan McKenna, Conall Smyth (0-2).

Subs: Conall McCaul, Evan McEnteggart, Rory McLoughlin, Daire Smyth, Cian Sheridan.

(John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Louth Division One League fixtures)

Nh Mairtin 1-12 Cooley Kickhams 0-14

Nh Mairtin maintained their unbeaten start to the Division 1 season when they edged out Cooley Kickhams in Monasterboice on Friday evening.

Ben Callanan grabbed the headlines as he struck a late point to snatch victory and move his side to five points in the table.

It was a disappointing outcome for the visitors who battled throughout and looked to have earned their reward. However, they were unable to hold out for a point as the wait for a first win of the year continued.

Cooley had the better of the first half but Val Leddy, who was in fine form for the Jocks on the night, grabbed the only goal of the game to send the hosts in at the break trailing by just 0-8 to 1-3.

Cian Connor once again caught the eye of the hosts and he kicked three two-pointers on the night to finish with 12 points to his name.

However, his side fell just short as the Mairtins fought back through Jack Lynch points before Callanan landed the winner. 

Nh Mairtin: Darren Morgan; Evan Whelan, Shane Morgan, Cian Sands; Craig Callanan, Sean Healy 0-1, Jake Neilon; Adam Booth, Joe McGrane 0-1; Eoghan Winters, Val Leddy 1-1, Enda McDonnell; Jack Lynch 0-6, Tom Gray 0-1, Ben Callanan 0-2.

Subs: Oisin Gray, Oran McDonnell.

Cooley Kickhams: Niall Brady; Sean Thornton, Dean McGreehan, Ronan McBride; Sean Hoey (0-1), Gerry Malone, Ian Arnold; Gerard White, Darren Marks; Niall Morgan, Jason Brady (0-1), Cormac Malone; Cian Connor (0-12, 3 x 2p), Mickey Rafferty, Enda O’Neill.

Subs: Richard Brennan, James O’Reilly, Michael Carron, Fionn O’Reilly, Darren O’Shaughnessy.

St. Patricks 0-13 St. Fechins 0-10

Both sides went into this game in Lordship in search of their first win of the league but a trio of two pointers from Pat’s goalkeeper, Martin McEneaney helped the home side claim the spoils.

Played in very wet conditions which lent to a short passing possession game from the home side, Brian Commons pointed from a placed ball to open the scoring. Fechins came back with points from Danny Burnell and Harry Haughney to put the Fechins ahead, a lead they would keep right up to the final quarter of the match.

Both sides were guilty of a number of wides but it was Burnell and notable youngster Aaron McGlew who had the visitors ahead 0-7 to 0-3 at half time.

McGlew opened the scoring with a pointed free but cancelled out the other end with the first of three booming frees from match-winner McEneaney. That inspired the comeback along with halftime replacement Eoin O’Connor.

The duo combined to win the game down the stretch as the hosts could not pick up their first points of the season as Jamie O’Hare picked up his first league win. 

St. Patricks: Martin McEneaney 0-6; Sean Holland, Rory Duffy, Daniel Tumulty; Darren O’Hanlon, Barry Dunne, Darren Connor; Padraig Duffy, Tom McCann; James Savage, Brian Commons 0-2, Aidan McCann; Conor McGuinness 0-2, Stefan Breen, Joe Connor. Subs: Eoin O’Connor 0-3, Cillian White, Ben McGuinness.

St. Fechins: Caelum Dolan; Paddy Keane, Shane Reilly 0-1, Robert McCarthy; Garbhan O’Reilly, Adam O’Neill, Ciaran McGinty; Harry Haughney, Colm Hackett; Colm O’Neill 0-1, Ryan Walsh 2-6, Danny Burnell 0-1; James McGlew 0-1, Evan Dolan 0-1, Mathew Flanagan.

Subs: Aaron McGlew 0-1 for Matthew Flanagan, Cian Gorman for Paddy Keane, Dylan Rice for Garbhan O Reilly, John Woods for Evan Dolan, Cathal O’Reilly for Colm O’Neill.

Dreadnots 0-17 Newtown Blues 0-8

Dreadnots continued their impressive start to the season as they made it three wins from three with a comfortable victory over Newtown Blues on Friday evening.

The game in Clogherhead saw the home side on top throughout and they ran out deserving winners to join St Mochtas and Hunterstown at the top of Division 1.

For the Blues it was another disappointing evening as the depleted side suffered a third straight defeat that leaves them rooted to the foot of the table.

Once again the Dreadnots displayed their eye for a two-pointer with Ciaran Cunnigham, Craig Shevlin, Conor Shevlin and Paraic Smith all finding their range for a side who had established a healthy 0-13 to 0-7 lead at the break.

It was always going to be a tall order for the Drogheda men in the second half and became even more difficult as they lost Colm Judge and Aidan O’Brien to red cards. The Blues managed just one more point as the Clogher side cruised to a comfortable win.

Dreadnots: Dylan Cassidy; Ciaran Caffrey, Padraig Rath, Aaron Scullion; Ciaran Cunningham 0-4 (2 2p), Callum Skinnader, Darragh Shevlin; Craig Shevlin 0-6 (3 2p), Gustas Knystavtas; Conor Clarke 0-1, Donnacha Hodgins, Conor Shevlin 0-3 (1 2p); Paraic Smith 0-2 (1 2p), Sam Reilly 0-1, Callum Shevlin.

Subs: David O’Brien for C Shevlin, Nathan Sutherland for S Reilly.

Newtown Blues: Ronan Browne 0-3; Joey Nally, Ciaran Cluskey Kelly, Stephen Kerr Rafferty; Dan McArdle, Eoin Branigan, Aidan O’Brien; Johnny McDonnell 0-1, Ian Connor; Jack Healy, Colm Judge, Eoin McCoy; Jame Kelly 0-3, Niall Devlin, Conor Moore 0-1.

Subs: Sean Cummins for J Healy, Ryan Nugent for E McCoy, Sean Carr for C Moore, Joe Harte for E Branigan.

St Marys 3-17 Geraldines 4-8

St Marys picked up their first win of the season when they came from behind to defeat Geraldines in Ardee on Friday evening.

While the winning margin was seven points in the end, the County Champions certainly didn’t have it all their own way as they had to fight back from a seven point deficit early in the second half.

The hosts got off to a flying start as they struck a goal and point in the early stages only for the Gers to hit back when Brian Devlin found the net from the penalty spot.

The visitors pushed on from there and a Cian Farrell goal along with points from John McCrohan and Brian Cafferty helped them lead by 2-6 to 1-5 at the break.

Shortly after the restart, the Gers added a third goal through Niall McDonnell to take a grip of the game. However, this time it was the Marys turn to hit back as they hit the net to cut the gap to four once again.

A fourth goal from Eoin McDonnell had the McGeough Park side leading by 4-6 to 2-7 and looking on course to claim a first win of the season.

However, the Marys hit back in style and two goals in quick succession saw them get back on terms and they went on to dominate the closing ten minutes and run out winners by seven points.

Geraldiness: Michael Rogers 0-2; Ryan Traynor, Daragh O Gradaigh, Paul Clarke; John McCrohan 0-1, Gareth Neacy, Cian Farrell 1-0; Eoin McDonnell 1-0, Brian Cafferty 0-4; Brian Devlin 1-0, Niall McDonnell 1-0, Tom Cunniffe; Danny Nordone, James Craven, David O’Connell 0-1.

Sub: Shane O’Hanlon for E McDonnell.