Louth GAA club | Division Three League round-up
O’Connells remain in a three-way tie for top spot in Division Three
Sean McDermotts 0-11 Westerns 1-7
Sean McDermotts got one over their neighbours, Westerns, in an entertaining Louth GAA John O’Neill Sand and Gravel Division Three League clash on Thursday night in Mountrush.
Four points apiece from midfielders Cormac Walsh and Emmet Duffy went a long way to helping the hosts to a victory that sees them continue their recent upturn in fortunes.
It was Duffy who opened the scoring on the night, but Westerns hit back with points from Cathal Kennedy and Emmet Smith in an end-to-end half.
A fine save from Anthony Durnin denied Duffy a goal, but at the other end, Cathal Kerr’s effort was deemed to have crossed the line, giving Westerns a 1-4 to 0-6 lead at the break.
The teams traded scores in the third quarter with Killian Crosbie and Ryan Duffy on target for the visitors, and, as the tension grew, the teams remained level for a ten-minute spell in the closing stages.
It was Kevin McMahon who broke the deadlock, and his side held out despite late chances for the Westerns to level. The Seans also had points from Dean Tuite and Taylor Adams.
Sean McDermotts: Finbar Moran; Luke Hoey, Matthew Little, Conor Walsh; Lorcan Donegan, David McArdle, Patrick Svender; Cormac Walsh 0-4 (2p), Emmet Duffy 0-4; Dean Tuite 0-1, Kevin McMahon 0-1, Taylor Adams 0-1; Cian Martin, Nathan Commins, Jack Melia.
Subs: Ronny Ruikis, Ian Corbally, David O’Neill.
Westerns: Anthony Durnin; Conor Smith, Connor McLellan, Joe Murphy; Roan Gallagher, Adam Duffy, Killian Daly; Matthew Kane, Mick Martin; Cathal Kennedy 0-3, Ryan Duffy 0-1; Killian Crosbie 0-2, Conor Kerr 1-0, Emmet Smith 0-1.
Subs: Aidan McGarrell, Cormac Callaghan, Pierre Drumgoole, Raymond Gallagher.
Wolfe Tones 1-10 Glyde Rangers 0-12
Wolfe Tones returned home from Tallanstown on Thursday night with another two points under their belts after securing victory by the narrowest of margins.
Rhys McGovern was the hero for the visitors as he scored the final point to make it seven wins for the season and leave his side just four points off top spot.
The win was all the more impressive considering that the Tones overturned a three-point halftime deficit despite playing the second period with 14 men.
Glyde had the better of the first half and landed nine points to put themselves in a good position.
However, Conor Farrell scored the only goal of the game to keep his side in touch at the break as they trailed by 0-9 to 1-3.
The Drogheda side responded to the challenge in the second half, and Eoghan Brennan brought his tally to four to give his team hope before McGovern landed the winning score.
Niall Smith, Dwayne Leavy, Ciaran Ellis and Lorcan Mallon were also on target for the winners.
Wolfe Tones: Seán McMahon; Shane Leslie, Dean Haggins, Niall Smith 0-1, Dwayne Leavy 0-1, Alan Fanning, Rhys McGovern 0-2; Mark Healy, Killian McLoughlan; Patrick Fanning, Eoghan Brennan 0-4, Seán Flanagan; Ciaran Ellis 0-1, Chris Cudden, Conor Farrell 1-0.
Subs: Lorcan Mallon 0-1, Cailean Gallagher Floody.
Glyde Rangers: Tadhg Carroll; Oisin Reenan, Jack McKeever, Mark McKeever; Darren McKeever, Gerard Bourton, Tadhg Kellett; Adam Sweeney, Sean Devaney; Leigh Byrne, Killian Scott, Lee Finnegan; Oisin Lynch, Olan Crosbie, Taylor Diamond.
Nh Fionnbarra 2-9 Nh Malachi 0-5
Nh Fionnbarra travelled to Shelagh to take on Nh Malachi in round 10 of the league, where they needed an improved final quarter display to ensure they remained top of the Division 3 table.
The Barrs controlled the majority of possession in the first half against a very strong wind.
The Mals, to their credit, had good defensive shape and made it difficult for the Barrs' attack to find any space, ensuring the sides went in level at half time, 0-4 points apiece, with Malachy Mackin and Donal Begley landing two-pointers for the hosts.
If the Togher men thought the wind was going to do the work for them in the second half, they were very much mistaken.
The Malachis took the lead with a point straight after the throw-in, following a powerful run from their midfielder, Jamie Kelly.
Unfortunately for them, this was to be their final score of the game. The Finbarrs struggled at the other end with six wides in a row, and it wasn’t until the 43rd minute when Pádraig Butterly put the ball over the bar to open their account for the second half.
The Barrs got their noses in front five minutes later with a two-pointer from play by Matthew O’Reilly, and they finally got their act together for the last 10 minutes and kicked 2-2.
The first goal came when Ciarán Markey palmed the ball to the net, before Jack Murtagh got the second with a tidy finish. James Markey made a positive introduction from the bench with a well-taken point, while Adam Hanratty, Matthew O’Reilly and Rory Smith were also on target.
Nh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan; Adam Kirwan, Ronan Callaghan, Máirtín Murphy; Chris McGlynn, Josh Crosbie, Adam Hanratty (0-1); Matthew O’Reilly (0-2), Rory Smith (0-1); Conor Osborne, Stephen O’Reilly, Pádraig Butterly (0-1); Jack Murtagh (1-1), Ciarán Markey (1-2), Jack Butterly.
Subs: James Markey (0-1) for S O’Reilly, Seán Boyle for J Crosbie.
Nh Malachi: Mark Meegan; Shea Burns, Kevin McShane, Shane Kirk; Donal Begley 0-2 (2p), Daniel Mulligan, Daithi Conway; Irla McMahon, Jamie Kelly 0-1; Darren Clarke, Andrew Begley, Matty Campbell; Paul Burke, Malachy Mackin 0-2 (2p), Jack Fagan.
Subs: Joey Hearty for D Begley, Dean Murtagh for M Mackin.
Lannleire 3-8 Na Piarsaigh Blackrock 2-10
Lannleire came out on top in a close Division 3 encounter at Pairc Uí Mhuirí as they retained their place at the top of the table.
There was little to choose between the teams throughout, but in the end, the hosts did enough to get over the line against a Na Piarsaigh Blackrock side who will be disappointed not to have taken anything from the game.
Goals from Darragh Malone, Kyle van Rhijn and Ian Mulroy proved decisive for the Mid Louth side as they prevailed by the minimum.
It was point-for-point for much of the first half, but the crucial score came via Malone’s goal as his side took a 1-5 to 0-5 lead into half-time.
The second half wasn’t short of goalmouth action as van Rhijn and Mulroy raised the green flag, while Michael Woods and Matt McLoon found the net at the other end to give their side hope.
However, the Dunleer held out on a night when Alex Carroll, Killian Gregory and Colin Murphy were among the points.
Ciaran Murphy top-scored for the Naps with four points; Robert Murphy and Joe Woods were among the scorers.
Lannleire: Conor Dunne; Paul Doyle, Laurence McEntee, Aaron McArdle; Alex Carroll (0-2), Briain McGuinness, Jack O'Connor; Kyle Van Rhijn (1-0), Mark Grogan; Darragh Malone (1-2), Killian Gregory (0-1), Brendan Cassidy (0-1); Bob Murphy, Ian Mulroy (1-1), Mark Dunne.
Subs: Colin Murphy (0-1) for M Dunne, Niall Lennon for B Murphy.
Na Piarasigh: Jordan Mackin; John Galligan, Darren McElhinney, Stephen McGuinness; Shane Roddy, Paul Mallon, Tommy Muckian; Michael Woods 1-1, Conal Shields 0-1; Jamie Fealy, Ciaran Murphy 0-4, Matt McLoon 1-1; Gerard Rice, Robert Murphy 0-2, Joe Woods 0-1.
Subs: Chris Kellet and Oisin Woods.
Clan na Gael 2-17 Annaghminnon Rovers 0-10
Clan na Gael remain firmly in the mix at the business end of Division 3 following this comfortable win over Annaghminnon Rovers at home on Thursday night.
The Dundalk men were always in charge, and a combined 1-9 from Liam O’Hanlon and Billy Smith ensured that their superiority was reflected on the scoreboard at the final whistle.
The Clans opened the scoring through Robbie Curran, and Billy Smith followed up with a brace before O’Hanlon’s goal put his side firmly in control.
Mark McGeown and Shane Carroll were also on the mark as their side went in with a 1-11 to 0-6 lead at the break.
Rory Phelan did his best to keep Rovers in touch as he landed five points, including a two-pointer, while Conor Russell added another.
It was more of the same in the second period as Clans extended their lead with an own-goal, while Sean O’Hanlon and Gavin Gaffey were also on target. At the other end, Dwayne Markey, Ronan McRedmond and Phelan pointed for Annaghminnon.
Clan na Gael: Sean Smith; Tiarnan Weldon, Gerry Curran, Ellis O’Carroll; Jack Callan, Conor Noonan, Craig Long; Robbie Curran 0-1, Stephen Coleman; Gavin Gaffey 0-1, Shane Carroll 0-2, Liam O’Hanlon 1-5; Mark Newell, Billy Smith 0-4, Mark McGeown 0-2.
Subs: Oisin Finn for J Callan, Sean O’Hanlon 0-2 for M Newell, A Carr for B Smith.
Annaghminnon Rovers: Shane Grimes; Chris Connolly, Ryan Cash, Tiernan O’Brien; James O’Connor, Dylan McArdle, Fergal Markey; Conor Russell 0-1, Colin Campbell; Sean Harte, Dwayne Markey 0-3, Ronan McRedmond 0-1; Rory Phelan 0-5 (2p), Ciaran O’Reilly, Michel Marron.
Subs: Nathan Buckley, Ronan Byrne.
St Nicholas 0-23 Dowdallshill 2-3
St Nicholas chalked up their sixth win of the Division 3 campaign when they proved too strong for Dowdallshill at home on Thursday evening.
The win keeps the Drogheda side very much in touch with the chasing pack in a season that has produced many positives thus far.
The hosts were impressive in front of the posts, and it was a particularly productive night for their leading scorers, Sam Reilly (7), Hayden Quinn (6) and Leo Quinn (5).
There were also scores from Fionn Meagher, Jamie O’Brien, Josh Byrne and Sonny Doyle in a game that saw the Nicks lead by 0-15 to no score at the break.
Dowdallshill battled throughout and will take some encouragement from the fact that they edged the second half on a scoreline of 2-3 to 0-8, but by that stage the result was beyond doubt.
St Nicholas: Shane Finegan; Lorcan Downey, Donal Carr, Darren Thornton; Alex Jordan, Roy Kierans, Senan Meagher; Sam Reilly 0-7 (2x2p), Hayden Quinn 0-6; Aaron Flanagan, Fionn Meagher 0-2, Leo Quinn 0-5 (2p); Lee Kavangh, Jamie O'Brien 0-1, Josh Byrne 0-1.
Subs: Nathan Murphy for D Thornton, Dylan Maguire for L Downey, Sonny Doyle 0-1 for L Kavanagh.
O’Connells 3-9 Cuchulainn Gaels 0-8
O’Connells remain in a three-way tie for top spot in Division 3 after coming through their clash with Cuchulainn Gaels in Omeath on Thursday evening.
The Bellingham side didn’t have it all their own way, but a strong second-half showing saw them make the journey home in positive mood after collecting a ninth win of the season, despite the best efforts of the battling Gaels.
The hosts took the game to their opponents from the opening whistle and looked to be heading into the break with an advantage on the scoreboard.
However, Jackie Agnew stepped up to convert a late penalty and send the teams in level at 1-3 to 0-6.
It was a different story in the second half as the O’Connells made full use of the wind advantage to take control.
Goals from Justin Cooney and Bernard Osborne saw them stretch the lead to ten points at the final whistle, while Niall Conlon finished with five points, and Evan Kearney added three.
O’Connell’s: Dylan Smith; Joshua Horwell, Jack McGeough, Adam Flynn; Emmet Byrne, Conor Culligan, Conall Clerkin; Cailum Woods, Sean Cairns; Jackie Agnew (1-1), Evan Kearney (0-3), Rian McKeever; Bernard Osborne (1-0), Niall Conlon (0-5), Justin Cooney (1-0).
Subs: Ciaran Kearney for C. Woods, Sean Geeney for A. Flynn