Round Up | Division 3

Division 3A

OLIVER PLUNKETTS 0-14

O’CONNELLS 0-12

Oliver Plunketts remain unbeaten in the 3A league after they had two points to spare over the previously unbeaten O’Connells at The Grove on Saturday evening.

The visitors got the first point of the game from Sean Callaghan but the home side landed the next two, both from Robert Quigley. Points from Kristian Nolan for the Drogheda side and Emmet Byrne for O’Connells maintained the home side’s one point lead.

However, the Plunketts went in front with scores from Nolan and Gary Keogh to make it 0-4 to 0-3 after 18 minutes. The Bellingham team then hit a bit of a purple patch and got the next four points from Bernard Osborne and the other three from Quigley.

Goalkeeper Luke Haggans put over an excellent 45 and Callaghan got his second point of the game to cut the lead to one. Quigley got his sixth point of the half just before Jamie Byrne claimed the last point of the half to leave the score at the break 0-8 to 0-7.

The men from Mell were out of the blocks better at the start of the second half, landing the first three points from Sean Boyle, Keogh and a Nolan free. Harry Kierans put over a point to leave one between the teams before Nolan landed another free to leave the score 0-11 to 0-9 for the visitors.

The Drogheda side were reduced to 14 for ten minutes when Cillian Smith received a black card in the 46th minute, but points from Quigley and Nolan both frees maintained the status quo.

Substitute Evan Kearney left one point between the sides when he put over a good long range effort with just over five minutes to go. Nolan got his sixth point of the game for the Plunketts but half back Liam Kiernan scored a good point for the

Bellingham side to keep the margin to one 0-13 to 0-12.

With their team back to 15 players the Drogheda side finished the game better and sub Ben Boyce increased their lead to two points. Jamie Byrne got his second and the last point of the game that sealed the victory for the Plunketts and maintained their winning start to the league.

OLIVER PLUNKETS: Luke Haggans 0-1; Cillian Matthews, David McTaggart, Ricky Bateson; Barry Reynolds, Gary Keogh 0-2, Cillian Smith; Jamie Byrne 0-2, Shaun Smith; David Lambe, Kristian Nolan 0-7, Niall Murtagh; Sean Boyle 0-1, Sean Callaghan 0-1, Adam Smith.

Subs: Sean Rice for D. Lambe, Ben Boyce 0-1 for S. Callaghan.

O’CONNELLS: John Brennan; Sam Shearman, Conor Byrne, Jack McGeough; Emmet Byrne 0-1, Stuart Osborne, Liam Kiernan 0-1; Cailum Woods, Justin Cooney; Bernard Osborne 0-1, Jackie Agnew, Harry Kierans 0-1; Andrew Sharkey, Robert Quigley 0-7, Niall Conlon.

Subs: Evan Kearney 0-1 for N. Conlon, Sean Cairns for A. Sharkey, Nathan Carragher for S. Shearman.

The Division 3A game between Nh Fionnbarra and Na Piarsaigh was abandoned following an injury to a Barrs player.

Division 3B

NH MALACHI 4-13

DOWDALLSHILL 0-4

Nh Malachi bounced back from their defeat to St Nicholas as they recorded a comprehensive victory over Dowdallshill in Division 3B.

The Dundalk men travelled on the back of a heavy defeat the previous week and were hoping for a better showing. However, it proved to be another difficult night as the hosts dominated throughout.

Ronan McElroy proved that he still has an eye for goal as he bagged a hat-trick, while Michael McLoughlin also found the net.

Meanwhile, Paudie Moley (5) and Darren Clarke (4) were the top point scorers, while Conor Nicholson and Andrew Begley also got in on the act. David Campion, Jack McGailey, Stephen Murray and Donal Magennis were on target for the Hill.

DOWDALLSHILL: Ridwan Bodunrin; Ken Edu, Sean Duffy, John McKenny; Keenan McGavisk, Jack McGailey 0-1, Donal Magennis 0-1; Peter Hughes, Stephen Murray 0-1; Kevin McGonagle, David Campion 0-1, Tommy Craig; Cian Kieran, Thomas McKenny, Cian Griffin. 

NH MALACHI: Ronan McElroy 3-0, Paudie Moley 0-5, Darren Clarke 0-4, Michael McLoughlin 1-0, Conor Nicholson 0-2, Andrew Begley 0-2, David Begley 0-1.

CUCHULAINN GAELS 2-11

ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS 1-10

Cuchulainn Gaels claimed their first league points of the Division 3B season when they proved too strong for Annaghminnon Rovers in Omeath on Saturday.

Adam Sharkey was the two-goal hero for the winners on a night when James Sharkey also made a telling contribution of five points.

For Annaghminnon it was another setback following their lively start to the season as they have now lost two league games. The hosts looked up for this game from the outset and Sharkey’s first goal helped them to a healthy 1-8 to 1-2 lead at the interval, with Paul Tierney finding the net to keep Rovers in touch.

The visitors were unable to mount any real comeback in the second period despite Dwayne Markey and Rory Phelan bringing their totals to the night to four points apiece. Gaels always looked in control and Sharkey’s second green flag ensured they came out on top.

CUCHULAINN GAELS: Shea Quigley; Peter Morgan, Sean Brennan, Euan McArdle; Seamus McCabe, Martin Hynes, James Keenan; Larry Brennan, Rammie Phillips 0-1; Philip McGovern, Micheal McCabe 0-1, Adam Sharkey 2-0; Stephen Mullen 0-1, Conor King 0-3, James Sharkey 0-5.

Subs: David McQuaid for R Phillips, Rowan Mulligan for P Morgan, Cian McDonald for S Mullen.

ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS: Ciaran O’Reilly; Chris Connolly, Niall Brennan, Padraig Russell; Nathan Buckley, Eddie Finnegan, Paul McArdle; Conor Russell, Dylan McArdle; Colin Campbell, James O’Connor 0-2, Rory Phelan 0-4; Dwayne Markey 0-4, Paul Tierney 1-0, Padhraic Corrigan.

Subs: Mark Hoey, Aidan Lee Martin 0-1.

WESTERNS 3-10

WOLFE TONES 0-13

The Westerns saw their impressive start to the season continue as they accounted for the challenge of Wolfe Tones in Division 3B on Saturday.

The game in Reaghstown proved to be an entertaining one but it was the hosts’ ability to find the net that proved decisive. Killian Crosbie continued his fine form with another two goals while Ryan Duffy chipped in with another. Crosbie struck the first goal of the game and Duffy followed up to make it 2-6 to 0-5 at the break.

The Westerns were firmly in control at that stage but the Tones hit back and added eight points after the break. However, the home side were not to be denied and Crosbie’s second goal ensured they held out for victory.

WESTERNS: Killian Crosbie 2-1, Emmet Smyth 0-4, Ryan Duffy 1-0, Patrick Kerley 0-3, Cathal Kennelly 0-1, Ciaran Scriven 0-1.

ST NICHOLAS 3-10

SEAN MCDERMOTTS 1-12

St. Nicholas made it three from three with a nervy win in Páirc MacDiarmada on Saturday evening. The Nicks raced into an early lead with a fisted goal from Fionn Meagher and two Paudi Downey frees before Lee Kavanagh found the net from the penalty spot following a foul on Sheehan.

The Seans stayed in contention with three points from play and a free, but a Phillip Kirwan point and another Meagher goal had the visitors up by 10 at the break – 3-5 to 0-4.

The lead was extended early in the second half with another three Downey frees and a Kavanagh point. The home side then dominated the final quarter adding 1-6 to no reply. Two fine saves from Nicks keeper Shane Finegan late in the half, helped St. Nicholas hold on for another two league points.

ST NICHOLAS: Shane Finegan; Stephen Finegan, Alex Finegan, Caebhan Housidari; Rian Farrell, Ruairí Hanlon, Aaron Flanagan; Cian Flynn, Sam Reilly (0-1), Phillip Kirwan (0-1), Lee Kavanagh (1-1), Con Sheehan; Fionn Meagher (2-0), Paudi Downey (0-7) Shane Downey.

Subs; Conor Faulkner for Housidari, Hayden Quinn for Kavanagh, Ciaran O'Brien for Kirwan, Josh Byrne for S Downey.