Louth GAA club | Division Two League round-up

Stabannon Parnells 1-13 O'Raghallaighs 0-9

Stabannon Parnells maintained their 100% start to the Louth GAA John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Division 2 League season with a victory over O Raghallaighs at home on Saturday.

The margin of victory means that the Mid Louth side leads the way at the top of the table ahead of Roche Emmets and St Fechins on score difference.

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Once again, the hosts were inspired by the scoring power of Harry Butterly and Patrick Reynolds, while sub Sean Culligan scored the only goal of the game to seal the win.

At the other end, Kyle McElroy was also in good form as he accounted for seven of his side’s points. His first-half scores helped keep the Raghs in contention as they trailed by just 0-7 to 0-5 at halftime.

The Drogheda men, who also had Josh Moore and Daniel Reilly on target, were unable to maintain their challenge in the second half as Culligan’s goal put the issue beyond doubt.

Stabannon Parnells: Ryan Halpenny; Daniel Clinton, Mark Byrne, Ciaran Titley; Johnny McGee (0-1) Bobby Butterly (0-1), Jake Corrigan; Colm Giggins (0-1), Harry Butterly (0-4, 2p); Patrick Reynolds (0-3), Conor Clinton, Tadgh Gorman (0-1); Barry McCoy, Ryan Shevlin, Charlie McBride (0-2).

Subs: David Cluskey for C Titley, Robert Callaghan for T Gorman, Sean Culligan (1-0) for C McBride, Max Halpenny for P Reynolds.

O'Raghallaighs: Connor Browne; Conor Higgins, Emmett King, Stephen Murphy; Daragh Smith, Pearse Branigan, Ruairi Moore; Danny Morgan, Olan Walsh; Daniel Reilly 0-1, Kyle McElroy 0-7 (2p), Senan McGinty; Ben Rogan, John Horan, Joshua Moore 0-1.

Sub: Barry Finnegan for J Horan.

St Fechins 1-15 St Kevins 1-12

St Fechins made it three wins from three with a hard-fought victory over St Kevins in Philipstown on Saturday evening, edging a tightly contested encounter thanks to a late Tom Meegan goal.

Kevins opened brightly with two early points, including one from a free, before James McGlew got Fechins off the mark from play.

The visitors then hit a strong spell, registering four unanswered points through Ryan Walsh (free), Harry Haughney, Shane Reilly, and Jake Flynn to lead 0-5 to 0-2 at the quarter mark.

Kevin's responded with a free, but points from Harry Haughney and Aaron McGlew kept Fechins in front. The home side finished the half strongly with three consecutive points to narrow the gap to 0-7 to 0-6 at the break.

Fechins were dealt a blow just before the interval when Colm O’Neill was shown a black card, leaving them to start the second half with 14 men.

St Fechins started the second period with points from James McGlew, Ryan Walsh (two frees), and Harry Haughney, only for the home side to find the net through Jacob Finlay.

With just four minutes remaining, Kevins looked set to snatch victory after hitting two points to move one in front.

But Fechins showed great composure and resilience, substitute Tom Meegan struck a decisive goal before Aaron McGlew converted a free on the final whistle to seal a dramatic three-point win.

St Fechins: Kyle Meegan; Robert McCarthy, Garbhán O’Reilly, Danny Burnell; Aaron McGlew 0-3, Ciaran McGinty, Colm O’Neill; Shane Reilly 0-1, Harry Haughney 0-3; James McGlew 0-2, Ryan Walsh 0-5, John O’Connell; Makey MacMahon, Matthew Flanagan, Jake Flynn 0-1.

Subs: Paddy Keane for C McGiney, Evan Dolan for M Flanagan, Tom Meegan 1-0 for M MacMahon.

St Kevin’s: Danny Crosbie; Caoimhin Prout, John Callaghan, Niall Gregory; Darren McMullan (0-1), Cameron Maher (0-2), Donnacha Boylan; Evan Maher, Brian Callaghan; Finn Carter, Cian Callan (0-2), Ciarán King; Keelan Maher (0-2), Lee Crosbie (0-5), Jacob Finlay (1-2).

Subs: Robbie Matthews for C King, Dylan Maher for N Gregory.

Kilkerley Emmets 2-9 John Mitchels 2-8

Kilkerley Emmets made it third time lucky as they got off the mark in Division 2 with a narrow victory over John Mitchels in Ballybailie on Saturday night.

A late goal and point from Tadhg McEneaney ensured that the visitors held off a spirited rally from the Mitchels.

The visitors got off to a bright start and took an early lead through points from Cathal Bellew (2) and Tadhg McEneaney.

However, the Mitchels gained a foothold in the game and landed 2-3 without reply as John Gallagher and Gareth Kane found the net.

Two points from McEneaney saw the Emmets reduce the gap, but it was looking good for the Mitchels at the break as they led by 2-4 to 0-5.

Ciaran Bellew and Tadhg Fitzgerald saw Kilkerley continue to claw back the lead before the former scored his side’s first goal.

McEneaney’s late scores pushed the lead out to four before Gallagher and Ruairi McCann cut the gap to one, but time ran out before the Mitchels could complete the comeback.

Kilkerley Emmets: Callum Mulholland; Oran McMahon, Ronan Deery, Kian Lennon; Ewan McEnteggart, Paddy Murtagh, Fintan Brady; Cormac Mallon, Cathal Bellew 1-2; Darragh Conlon, Ultan McEneaney, Tadhg Fitzgerald 0-1; Tadhg McEneaney 1-4, Cathal Bellew 1-2, Rian Hand.

Subs: Cormac Bellew for K Lennon; Cillian Mulligan for D Conlon; Conain Fox for U McEneaney; Aidan Corrigan for Rian Hand.

John Mitchels: David Anderson; Gareth Finnegan, Aaron Kane, Adam Finegan; Mikey Nulty, John Bingham, James Sands; Joe Mulholland, Eoghan McEneaney; Ruairi McCann (0-1), John Gallagher (1-5), Arthur Sands; Gareth Kane (1-2), Aaron Keely, Tristan Knowles.

Subs: Jake Gillespie for A Keely.

Roche Emmets 0-17 Dundalk Young Ireland's 2-10

A late point from DD Reilly proved the difference between the teams as Roche Emmets maintained their winning start to the Division 2 campaign at home to Young Irelands on Saturday.

While Reilly’s late score was vital, there was also a significant contribution from Shane Byrne, who landed three two-pointers, while Daire Reilly added a further five on a good night in front of the posts for Roche.

Daire Reilly was certainly on form in the opening quarter as he struck four points, including a two-pointer, only for the visitors to stay in touch with a Dean Maguire goal on 15 minutes.

However, with Sean and Liam Dawe on target, it was Roche who went in at the break with a 0-8 to 1-3 lead. That advantage was wiped out soon after the restart when sub Derek Maguire found the net.

Although it remained close for the remainder of the game with Ruairi Kelly keeping the Young Irelands in contention, it was Roche who edged it thanks to two doubles from Byrne and Reilly’s late point.

Roche Emmets: Senon Connolly; Dermot Carthy, Jack McKay, Gerard Browne; Fionn Connolly, Sean Dawe 0-1, James McDonnell; Liam Dawe 0-1, Ryan Martin 0-1; James Corcoran, Shane Byrne 0-6 (3x2p), Conor Carthy; Daire Reilly 0-5, Mark Byrne, DD Reilly 0-2.

Subs: Alex McArdle, Callum Grant.

Young Irelands: Fergal Sheekey; Peter McCourt, Ciaran Murray, Conn O’Donoghue; Tadhg Hoey, Brendan Prendergast, Cian O’Donoghue 0-1; Lee O’Donoghue, Peter Nixon; Jack Watters, Jordan O’Donoghue 0-1, Mark Lee; Liam McStravick 0-1, Ruairi Kelly 0-5, Dean Maguire 1-1.

Subs: Derek Maguire 1-0 for M Lee, Cian O Naraigh 0-1 for P Nixon, Ryan Clarke for J Watters.

Glen Emmets 3-21 St Brides 0-7

St Brides remain at the bottom of the Division 2 table after Glen Emmets recorded a comprehensive win in Páirc an Chuinnigh on Saturday.

The game opened with an early point from St Brides; however, Glen Emmets took control of the game after the initial conversion and dominated the first half.

Critical scores came right on the stroke of the end of the first quarter when Shane Curtis and Alex Carolan found the St Brides' net. This left Glen Emmets seven points ahead at the end of the first quarter.

The home side struggled to fight back, while the visitors continued to add to the scoreboard, and at half time, Glen Emmets led by 2-7 to 0-2. The second half was more of the same, as Glen Emmets picked up where they left off at half-time.

When Diarmuid Cullen found the St Brides net for the third time after ten minutes of play, there was no way back for the home side. St Brides did rattle off a number of points midway through the second half, but it was too little, too late.

Glen Emmets finished the game strongly with a number of well-taken points from Kealan O’Neill and James Butler. Man of the Match was James Butler, who racked up nine points on the night.

Glen Emmets: Ian O'Reilly; Emmet Delaney, Keith Boylan, Brien Maguire; Shane Curtis 1-0, Callum Wogan 0-3, Cian Talbot; Cathal Maguire, Darragh Russell; Diarmuid Cullen 1-1, Keefer Carolan 0-1, Conor Wogan; Alex Carolan 1-1, James Butler 0-9 (2x2p), Kealan O’Neill 0-6 (2p).

Subs: Paddy McHugh for D Cullen, Robbie Byrne for E Delaney, Alex Blakeman Fowler for A Carolan, James Breen for C Talbot, John O’Brien for C Wogan.

St Brides: Aaron Devin; Steven Hoey, Cillian Kirk, Kelvin Slowey; Oisin McBride, Ronan Bailey Sean Marry (0-2); Bernard Laverty, Ross Murnaghan; Andrew Smyth, Patrick Reilly, Morgan Tobin; Nathan Kirk (0-1), Donal McArdle (0-2), Sennan Hoey;

Subs: Mathhew Kerr (0-1), Kevin Hearty (0-1).