GAA Round Up | Division 2

John O'Neill Sand & Gravel Division 2

ST. BRIDES 1-9

DUNDALK GAELS 1-9

St. Brides struck a last-gasp goal at home to Dundalk Gaels to secure a remarkable fifth draw in eight Division 2 League outings.

The Dundalk men looked to be on course for the win when they led by three points in the dying moments. However, the Knockbridge side displayed their fighting spirit once again and struck a dramatic equalising goal through Kieran McArdle.

The match began with St. Brides’ Kevin Hearty scoring quickly within the first minute, a sign of the closely fought contest that was to follow. The Gaels responded in kind, with David McComish earning a point from play shortly after. Throughout the first half, the lead swapped hands multiple times, with Hearty particularly standing out for St. Brides.

The Gaels found their breakthrough with a goal from James O’Connell, after benefiting from a well-placed long ball by Dylan McKeown. Despite this, St. Brides closed out the half the stronger, kicking four unanswered point to lead at half time, 0-7 to 1-2.

The second half saw the Gaels stepping up their game. Dylan McKeown played a key role, successfully converting opportunities into points, both from frees and play. The visitors’ efforts seemed to be paying off with additional contributions from Gary Shelvin and later points from Liam O’Connor and Tom O’Connell.

The Gaels led by three points in injury time, however in a dramatic end to the match, it was Kieran McArdle’s goal for St. Brides in the final moments that levelled the score.

ST. BRIDES: Aaron Devin; Ross Murnaghan, Cillian Kirk, Kelvin Slowey;Robert McCaughey, Paddy Reilly, Ronan Bailey; Jake McNamara, James Costello; Richard Halpenny, Kevin Hearty (0-6), Donal McArdle; Micheal Keane, Kieran McArdle (1-2), Andrew Smyth (0-1).

DUNDALK GAELS: Aaron Culligan; Padraig Tinnelly, Tom Murphy, Jack Mullen; David McComish 0-1, James O’Connell 1-0, Shaun Duffy; Liam O’Connor 0-1, Sean McCann; Gary Shevlin 0-1, Dylan McKeown 0-6, Jordan Keating Chris Sweeney, Tom O’Connell, Tony McDonnell.

Subs: Eanna McArdle for C Sweeney, Alan Jumbo for J Mullen, Paul McCrave for T O’Connell.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 3-15

CLAN NA GAEL 2-13

Hunterstown Rovers kept their noses in front in Division 2 when they held off the challenge of Clan na Gael in a high-scoring encounter in Dundalk on Friday night.

Two goals from Ryan Ward along with another three-pointer from Patrick Taaffe did the damage for the visitors to ensure they maintained their two-point lead at the top of the table.

All three goals came in the opening half to put the visitors in the driving seat, but Shane Carroll hit the net at the other end to reduce the deficit to 3-7 to 1-7 at the break.

The second half saw the teams trade scores with Jamie O’Callaghan, Alan Landy and Martin Lennon on target for Rovers to see them maintain their advantage.

Gavin Gaffey brought his tally to four for the night while Carroll added a second goal to keep his side in touch. However, the hosts were unable to bridge the gap and Hunterstown ran out five-point winners.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Donovan Sheridan; Conor Reaburn, Micheal Reid 0-1, Cillian Taaffe; Daithi Caroll, Patrick Taaffe 1-0, James Russell; Jason Monaghan, Shane Halpenny 0-1; Jamie O’Callaghan 0-3, Aaron Levins 0-4, James Rogers 0-1; Dean Burns 0-1, Ryan Ward 2-2, Glen Mathews 0-1.

Subs: Alan Landy for D Burns, Martin Lennon 0-1 for G Mathews, Oran Martin for D Carroll, Paul Carrie for J Rogers, Senan Taaffe for C Taaffe.

CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smyth; Brian McDonnell, Jack Callan, Conal Smith; Paul Crewe, Micheal McDonnell 0-1, Craig Callan; Conor Noonan, Robbie Curran 0-1; Mark Lee, Liam O’Hanlon 0-2, Gavin Gafffey 0-4; Shane Carroll 2-1, Shay Coleman 0-1, Aodhan Kirk.

Subs: Mark McKeown for A Kirk, Farouq for M Lee, Mark Newell for G Gaffey.

KILKERLEY EMMETS 3-17

O RAGHALLAIGHS 2-10

Kilkerley Emmets maintained their pursuit of Hunterstown Rovers with a comfortable victory over O Raghallaighs in Pentony Park on Friday evening.

The Drogheda men went into the game boosted by a much-need victory in their previous outing but they failed to build on that momentum as the Emmets were in charge throughout.

The visitors came flying out of the blocks and had points from Shaun McElroy and Conal McEnaney before Fionn Cumiskey scored their first goal. Micheal Begley and Brian Brady added points for Kilkerley before a quickfire brace from Ewan McEnteggart sent his team in with a 3-7 to 0-5 lead.

The O Raghallaighs showed their determination in the early stages of the second half as they hit 1-2 without reply to give themselves hope.

However, the North Louth side regrouped and scores from Tadhg McEnaney, Aidan Corrigan and Kieran Murtagh helped their side come out on top despite a second goal for the hosts.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Ultan McEnaney;  Cormac Bellew,  Cillian Mulligan, Ronan Deery;  Conal Brady, Patrick Murtagh, Fintan Brady; Kieran Murtagh 0-1,  Cathal Bellew;  Brian Brady 0-2, Shaun McElroy 0-1,  Conal McEnaney 0-1; Tadhg McEnaney 0-4(1f), Micheal Begley 0-5 (2f), Fionn Cumiskey 1-2.  

Subs: E McEnteggart 2-0 for P Murtagh;  Aidan Corrigan 0-1 for S McElroy; Aaron Crawford for C McEnaney.

ST JOSEPHS 4-14

LANNLEIRE 0-7

St Josephs kept the pressure on the top two with a comprehensive win at home to Lannleire on Friday evening.

The Joes made their intentions clear with early points from Ben Collier, Oisin McGuinness and Jack Mulligan. A Darragh Malone point from a free had Lannleire on the scoreboard on nine minutes but Pearse Grimes Murphy, McGuinness and Conall Smyth responded to put their side 0-6 to 0-1 in front at the end of the first quarter.

The hosts upped the tempo in the second quarter and hit 1-2 from McGuinness along with two points from Murphy to lead by 1-10 to 0-2 at the break. Luke Boylan accounted for Lannleire’s second point.

Darragh Malone, who was excellent all through, pointed for Lannleire in the opening minute of the second half. The Joes quickly responded when Alan Quigley and Cormac McKeown combined to send Pearse Grimes Murphy through for a second Joes goal.

Goal number three for the Joes came on 45 minutes when the hard working Ben Collier worked his way in from the right corner, passing to Jack Mulligan to finish from close range.

The final quarter saw Oisin McGuinness add to the Joes tally with two long range pointed frees, with Darragh Malone striking a superb point from the left side line for Lannleire. Oran McParland added the fourth goal on 56 minutes to seal an impressive win.

ST JOSEPHS: Adam Cassidy; Rian Devlin, Aidan Kieran, Cormac McKeown; Killian McDonnell, David Kieran, Cian Sheridan; Conor Neary, Gabriel Bell; Alan Quigley, Conall Smyth, Jack Mulligan (1-2); Pearse Grimes Murphy (1-4), Oisin McGuinness (1-6), Ben Collier (0-2).

Subs: Cormac Marmion, Alan Lynch, Cian McGuinness, Oran McParland (1-0), Craig Doherty.

LANNLEIRE: Liam Callan; Jason Torris, Paul McGeough, Alex Carroll; Aaron McArdle, Paul Doyle, Matthew Malone; Kyle Van Rhyn, Caoimhin Maher; Briain McGuinness, Conor Dunne, Ryan McArdle; Luke Boylan 0-1, Darragh Malone 0-6, Ciarán Dunne.

ST KEVINS 2-12

GLEN EMMETS 1-12

St Kevins picked up a crucial victory in their battle against the drop when they defeated Glen Emmets in Philipstown on Friday night.

The three-point victory sees the hosts leap-frog both the O Raghallaighs and Lannleire as they move off the foot of the table.

Cameron Maher had a fine game for the hosts at centre-half as he contributed 1-4, while Lee Crosbie chipped in with 1-3, and Cian Callan added three points. Both goals came in the opening half that ended with the Kevins 2-5 to 0-7 in front.

A feature of the evening was a six-point haul for Emmets goalkeeper, Ian O’Reilly, as he continued his scoring streak. Alex Carolan scored the goal for the visitors while Same Kenny landed two points, but it wasn’t enough to deny the Kevins.

ST KEVINS: Danny Crosbie; Dylan Maher, Brian Callaghan, Sean Powderly; Niall Gregory, Cameron Maher (1-4), Darren McMullan (0-1); Evan Maher, Robbie Matthews; Jack Stokes (0-1), Cian Callan (0-3), Ciaran King; Keelan Maher, Lee Crosbie (1-2), Tom Matthews.

Subs: Andrew Hynes for Niall Gregory, Jacob Finlay for Robbie Matthews, Seanie Crosbie for Brian Callaghan.

GLEN EMMETS: Ian O’Reilly 0-6; Cathal Maguire, Andrew Mooney, Jamie Farnan; Keith Boylan, Euan English, Calum Wogan 0-1; Darragh Russell, Sam Kenny 0-2; Paddy McHugh, Jamie Gilkes, Ian Talbot; Brien Maguire 0-1, Alex Carolan 1-1, Diarmuid Cullen.

Subs: C Kelly for J Farnan, J Butler 0-1 for J Gilkes, T Grimes for D Russell, C Lynch for A Mooney.

John O'Neill Sand & Gravel Louth Division 2 Table