Louth GAA club | Division One round-up

Geraldines 2-10 Sean O’Mahonys 0-12

Geraldines picked up their first win of the season in their eighth attempt when they edged out Sean O’Mahonys at the Point Road, Dundalk, on Sunday afternoon.

Goals either side of the break from Gareth Neacy and Danny Nordone proved the difference as the Gers secured an important two points to close the gap to Newtown Blues who are second from bottom.

READ NEXT: Louth GAA club | Division Two round-up

The first half was a close affair but it was the home side who had the slight edge in front of the posts as Terry Kelly and Thomas Rice led their scoring.

However, the Gers kept in touch when Neacy scored the only goal of the half to go in level at 1-4 to 0-7.

The Gers have been unfortunate in recent games to come out on the wrong side of close games but in the second half, they looked determined to avoid a similar fate on this occasion.

With the O’Mahonys unable to find the same rhythm in attack, the Gers took advantage and a second goal through Danny Nordone helped them come out on top, with Jim McEneaney, Michael Rogers and John McCrohan all contributing points over the hour.

Geraldines: Cian O’Donoghue; Tom Cunniffe, Dara O Grádaigh, Jack McGailey; James Craven, Gareth Neacy, Tiernan Hand; Michael Rogers, Thomas McNamara; Brian Cafferty, John McCrohan, David O’Connell; Jack Traynor, Jim McEneaney, Danny Nordone.

Sean O’Mahonys: Kevin Brennan; Oisin Breen, Chris O’Neill, Tiarnan Cassidy 0-1; Brian McGuirk, Sean Cassidy, Aaron Boyle; Junior Shotayo, Gareth Hall; Terry Kelly 0-6, Ben McLaughlin, Thomas Rice 0-4; Luke Kelly, Conor Martin 0-1, Conor Finnegan.

Subs: Kayden Fisher for L Kelly, Daniel Crawley for J Shotayo.

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

St Patricks 1-17 Newtown Blues 1-9

St Patricks moved into the top half of the table thanks to an eight-point victory at home to Newtown Blues on Sunday afternoon.

The Drogheda men travelled with confidence high after two wins on the bounce to kick start their season. However, they were unable to match the hosts who turned in a fine first-half display to set them on their way.

Joe Connor got the Pats off the mark before James Savage scored the opening goal in the 10th minute, followed by a Martin McEneaney two-pointer to put their side firmly in charge.

The Blues did hit back with successive points but the home side were very much on top and scores from Sean Fearon, Tom McCann, Eoin O’Connor, Aidan McCann and a Darren Connor two-pointer had them leading by 1-10 to 0-3 at the break.

The Pats didn’t let up after the restart and a strong third quarter saw them consolidate their lead. Micheal O’Shaughnessy, Joe Connor and Darren O’Hanlon all found the target to prevent the Blues from getting a foothold.

The visitors did battle to the end and hit back with a goal along with the final three points but it was little more than consolation.

St Patricks: Martin McEneaney 0-3 (1 x 2p); Sean Holland, Ross Murphy, Daniel Tumulty; Darren O’Hanlon 0-1, Micheal O’Shaughnessy 0-3 (1 x 2p), Darren Connor 0-2 (2p); Padraig Duffy, Tom McCann 0-1; Sean Fearon 0-1, Joe Connor 0-2, Aidan McCann 0-2; Eoin O’Connor 0-2, Conor Grogan, James Savage 1-0.

Subs: Jack Elvin for D Tumulty, Stefan Breen for S Fearon, Cillian Keenan for A McCann, Rory Duffy for T McCann.

Newtown Blues: Johnny McDonnell; Joe Hart, Ian Connor, Joey Nally; Jack Healy, Paul Moore, Eoin Brannigan; Brian Kermode, Ryan Kelly; Jamie Kelly, Conor Moore, Lorcan McQuillan; Sean Cummins, Ross Nally, Eoin McCoy.

Subs: Ryan Nugent for P Moore, Paul Moore for I Connor, O Doherty for L McQuillan.

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

Cooley Kickhams 1-14 St Mochtas 0-15

Cooley Kickhams upset the formbook on Sunday afternoon when they travelled to Louth Village and secured an impressive two-point win.

The peninsula side have been inconsistent over the course of the season so far, but once again proved that on their day they can put it up to any team in this division.

In a contest that could have gone either way, it was a goal from sub Mickey Rafferty that proved the difference.

As a result of their second win of the campaign, Cooley moved up to six points and further away from the relegation zone, on a night when Cian Connor (7) and Enda O’Neill chipped in with vital points.

Ahead of the game, the Mochtas were tipped to pick up a victory that would have sent them top of the table but from the outset it was clear they were in a battle, and at the end of the first half, the teams were locked at seven points apiece.

The pattern repeated itself after the restart and while the game was delicately balanced throughout, Cooley saw Rafferty come off the bench to score the only goal and secure the win.

Cooley Kickhams: Niall Brady; Ronan McBride, Dean McGreehan, Ian Arnold; Gerry Malone, Darren Marks (0-2), Sean Hoey; James O’Reilly, Richard Brennan; Fionn O’Reilly, Michael Carron, Jason Brady; Cian Connor (0-7, 3 x 2p), Enda O’Neill (0-4), Brian Boyle.

Subs: Thomas McCarragher, Mickey Rafferty (1-1), Michael John Hanlon, Cormac Malone, Sean White.

St Mochtas: Daire O’Shea 0-2; Andy Lennon, Liam Lawlor, Conor McKenna; Daniel Craven 0-2, Ben Goss Kieran 0-1, Jamie Farrell 0-1; Sean Flynn, Gerry Garland 0-2; Dylan Farrell, Liam O’Flaherty, Decky Byrne 0-3; Owen Lennon, Cormac Smyth 0-2, Darren McMahon 0-1.

Subs: Dara Quinn 0-1 for L O’Flaherty, Phily Englishby for D McMahon.

Hunterstown Rovers 2-12 Dreadnots 1-13

Hunterstown Rovers confirmed their return to form with a second successive win as they held off the challenge of Dreadnots at home on Sunday afternoon.

The Clogherhead side went into the game hoping to halt their recent slide but despite being in the game right until the end, they were unable to prevent a fourth successive defeat.

Meanwhile for Rovers, their second win on the bounce keeps them very much among the challengers for top spot in the league.

It was the visitors who had the better of things in the first half when a goal from Ciaran Finnegan helped them to lead by 1-7 to 1-5 at half time, while a three-pointer from Cillian Taaffe kept Rovers very much in tough.

The hosts picked up the pace in the second half and a goal from Daithi Carroll helped them get on top, while Mark Ward kicked five points along with a brace apiece from James Rogers and Dean Burns to see their team complete the victory.

James Califf did his best to keep the Dreadnots in the game as he finished with five points, while Paraic Smith, Anthony Williams and Conor Clarke were also on target.

Hunterstown Rovers: Donvan Sheridan; Daithi Carroll 1-0, Patrick Taaffe, Adam O’Reilly; Colm Murphy 0-1, David Finn 0-1, Cillian Taaffe 1-0; Marc Ward, Shane Halpenny; Tony McKenna, Glen Mathews, Jamie O’Callaghan; James Rogers 0-2, Ryan Ward 0-5, Dean Burns 0-2.

Subs: Aaron Levins for J O’Callaghan, Cian Matthews for S Halpenny, Martin Lennon for C Murphy.

Dreadnots: Dylan Cassidy; Barry Faulkner, Conor Faulkner, Ciaran Caffrey; Anthony Williams 0-1, Ciaran Finnegan 1-1, Callum Skinnader; Gustas Knystavtas, James Califf 0-5; Ciaran Cunningham, Conor Clarke 0-1, Donnacha Skinnader; Donnacha Hodgins 0-1, Paraic Smith 0-2, Callum Shevlin 0-1.

Subs: Craig Shevlin for D Hodgins, Same Reilly for C Clarke, Conor Shevlin 0-1  C Caffrey.

St Marys 2-11 St Josephs 1-12

St Mary’s collected the two league points on offer in Cluskey Park on Sunday night, courtesy of goals in each half from Ronan Carroll and Conor Gillespie, with the second in 48 minutes proving decisive.

St Mary’s settled quickly as Carroll kicked the opening point after two minutes and it was Carroll again on five minutes who crashed the ball to the Joes net following good work by Daire McConnon.

On ten minutes Jonathan Commins found space in the centre to put Marys ahead by 1-2 to no score before Conal McCaul landed a two-pointer for the Joes.

The Joes added points from Conall Smyth and a McCaul free to leave two between the sides on 20 minutes.

Shane Matthews made it 1-3 for the Marys when he floated a point over from the right wing but the Joes finished the half strongly and an Oisin McGuinness goal helped them lead by 1-6 to 1-3 at the break.

Four points in a row at the start of the second half, one each from Josh Taaffe and Conor Gillespie and two from Ronan Carroll put the Marys ahead by 1-7 to 1-6.

A strong run from Gabriel Bell set up Craig Doherty for a Joes equaliser on 40 minutes. The sides then exchanged points to see the sides level at 1-9 each at the end of the third quarter. 

The outcome of the game was decided in the next three minutes; a Joes shot on goal flashed narrowly wide of the left post while a perfectly delivered ball into Conor Gillespie allowed him to drive the ball to the Joes net.

Daire McConnon edged Marys ahead by four on 21 minutes but the Joes battled back, with Ben McKeown pointing and Conall Smyth landing an excellent two-pointer to leave one between the sides with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

The Mary's defence held strong and it was Daire McConnon who fired over the final point on 62 minutes to give the Marys the victory. 

St Marys: James McGillick; Conor Keenan, Karl Faulkner, Noah Coyle; Fionn Coyle, Jay Crawley, Carl Gillespie; Eimhin Keenan, Evan Malone; Conor Gillespie 1-1, Jonathan Commins 0-2, Shane Matthews 0-1; Ronan Carroll 1-3, Daire McConnon 0-3, Josh Taaffe 0-1.

Subs: Paraic McKenny for N Coyle, Flynn Markey for J Commins.

St Joseph’s: Adam Cassidy; Ciaran Johnston, Michael Staunton, Rian Devlin (0-1); Ben McKeown (0-1), Gabriel Bell (0-1), David Kieran; Michael O’Brien, Conor Neary; Ben Collier, Oisin McGuinness (1-1), Craig Doherty (0-1); Alan Quigley, Conall McCaul (0-3), Conall Smyth (0-4).

Subs: Jack Mulligan, Adam Dullaghan.

St. Fechins 0-17 Naomh Mairtin 1-5

An emotionally charged St. Fechins took the local derby bragging rights over Naomh Mairtin with a storming finish in Beaulieu on Sunday afternoon. 

The tragic loss of Termonfeckin native Philip Devlin during the week focused the home side's minds as well as former manager Matty Rice's in the opposing changing rooms.

The winners struck the last seven points of the game to run out nine-point winners. While still joint second in the table, the losers found the range only once in the second half. 

Despite Tom Gray’s early goal, the Monasterboice outfit were well off the pace, while for the Fechins, both McGlews were relentless. Aaron impressed with frees while James shooting was the difference between the two local sides.

St Fechins: Kyle Meegan; Garbhan O'Reilly, Dylan Rice, Robert McCarthy; Danny Burnell, Ciaran McGinty, Lee Grifferty; Colm Hackett, John Woods; John O'Connell 0-2, Ryan Walsh 0-1, Colm O'Neill; James McGlew 0-4, Evan Dolan 0-1, Aaron McGlew 0-8.

Subs: Ronan Holcroft 0-1.

Naomh Mairtin: Darren Morgan; Shane Morgan, Thomas Sullivan, Mark Whelan; Craig Callanan, Jake Neilon, Finbarr Johnson; Adam Booth, Joe McGrane; Ben Callanan 0-1, Val Leddy 0-1, Enda McDonnell; Thomas McKiernan, Tom Gray 1-3, Jack Murphy.

Subs: Eoghan Callaghan for Finbarr Johnson, Cian Sands for Craig Callanan, Oisin Gray for Thomas McKiernan.