Pat Gogan’s goal not enough for brave Duleek side

DECLAN SHEILS IS A PROUD CAPTAIN AS THE WOLFE TONES SEE OFF ST FURSEY’S IN THE FEILE NA NGAEL FINALS

LOUTH minors travelled north for a challenge and were unlucky not to win.

The visitors were on top throughout the first half and led 1-5 to nil at the interval They still led well entering the closing stages (1-10 to 1-4), but allowed Down in for two goals. To their credit however they came back and Dawe had the equaliser on time. Their best players were Gerard Clinton, Dessie Callaghan. Colm Ross, Peter Fitzpatrick and deputy ‘ keeper, Sean O’Reilly. They had their scores from P. Fitzpatrick 1-1, K. Dawe 0-3; S. Thornton 0-2; D. Maguire 0-2, P. J. Callan 0-1 and N. Healy 0-1.

TONES OFF TO KILKENNY

Wolfe Tones hurlers qualified for the national Feile na nGael finals by beating St Furseys by 8-1 to 0-0.

This is Furseys first year in the competition and they lacked the eperience to beat their opponents.

Best for Tones were D. Lennon, J. Cooney, E. Doyle and Brian Byrne. For Furseys P. Mulvihill. J. Owens. . . D. Rogers and G Stewart tried hard.

Scorers for winners: A. Branagan 3-0; A. Carr 2-0: D. Sheils 1-1: B. Byrne and B McDonnell 1-0 each. . Mr P. Hartnett, Dundalk, refereed.

After the game Mr Pat Guthrie, secretary of the national Feile na Gael hurling festival, presented the trophy for the Louth area to Tones captain Declan Sheils.

LOUTH UNDER 14S

The Wee County side make their debut when they travel to Meath on Saturday. The side has had a number of trials and coach Br. McSbane and his fellow selectors are confident that the team will do well. They finished their preparations on Wednesday last when they selected their standard bearers from the following —R. McCormack, D. McKenna, A. McCoy, O. Leavy (Ardee); E. Doyle, B. Judge, A. Loughran (N. Blues); P. King. S. Malone (St. Brigids), K. Geraghty, S. Gavin (Collon) J A. Duffy, K. McDonnell (St. Furseys), M. McDermott, D. Matthews (Gaels), J. Woods, C. Loughran (Roche), A. Rice, J. Clinton (Eire Og), P. Hughes (Clans) , K. Synnott (O’Raghallaighs). D. McCarthy ( Valley Rangers), C. Sullivan (Glen Emmets), P. Kneel (Kilkerley), G. Carolan (St. Nicholas). M. Matthews (Tones), P. McCarragher (Cooley and P. Kiernan (Stars).

ST KEVIN’S PROVE BEST

The closeness of the scoring made up for the indifferent standard of play in Friday evening’s Ranafast Cup game at Staabnnon in which visiting St. Kevins defeated Parnells by 2-7 to 1-8 after trailing 0-6 to 0-2 at the half way mark. St. Kevins scores : Eugene . Lane 0--1, Tommy Maguire 1-1, Colm Walker 1-0, Anthony McCullough and Tom Taaffe 0-1 each.

This success was engineered in the main by defenders, Francis Campbell, Patsy Dunne and Michael McGahon; John McGrane (midfield). and E. Lane and David Rogers (attack).

Stabannon’s best were Gerard and Brian Reynolds, Peter McShane and Gerry Burke. Scorers : Paul Fleming 0-1. G. Reynolds 0-4, and John Joe Connolly 1-0.

DOUBLE FOR MATTOCK

Mattock Rangers maintained their strong challenge in the Ranafast Cup with a brace of wins over the week-end. On Friday evening at home, they defeated Naomh Mairtin 1-13 to 2-8 and followed this up with a decisive 4-9 to 1-1 success over Glen Emmets at Tullyallen on Sunday evening.

FINBARS ARE BEST

The Togher side Naomh Fionnbara recorded their first win in the Ranafast Cup when defeating O’Raghallaighs by 1-7 to 1-4 on Thursday at Drogheda. The teams were evenly matched and in the end the failure of the homesters forwards in front of goal proved the deciding factor. The winners led at the interval by 0-5 to 0-1.

Naomh Fionnbara were well served in defence by P. Sharkey (goal). P. Byrne. P. Callan and J. Byrne. M. Hand was their best forward with B. Tiernan and V. Sharkcy also in the picture. David Leavy was outstanding in goal for the losers. Pat Carroll, P. Smith and P. Carr gave little away in defence. F. Keller (up to his retirement through iniury) and B. Coyle were competent midfielders. G. Morgan R. McDonnell and J. Downey were the pick of the forwards.

The winners scores came from M. Hand 1-2, B. Tiernan 0-3. and U. Sharkey 0-2. M. McGuigan 1-0 and G. Morgan, B. Coyle, B. Hand and J. Downey (0-1 each) compiled the losers total.

PJ CALLAN IN TOP FORM

Some brilliant passages of piay in the Macardle Cup meeting of Naomh Mairtin (the holders) and Lannleire at Monasterboice with the Dunleer side getting the verdict by 2-7 to 2-5 after a 1-3 to 1-0 interval lead. This was a thriller, with both sides rising to.the occasion in great style.

Lannleire, bidding for runner-up position, had stouthearted performers in R. Kieran. A. Landy, F. Clare, B. Faulkner G. Reynolds, P. J. Callan, H. Corrigan. T. O’Hare and G. Dowd.

N. Mairtin had comparable performers in N. Healy, D. Healy Noel and Jimmy Bcrrill, P. Sullivan, M. Burke, R. McCormack, J. McGovern and J. Smith.

Lannleire’s first half marksmen — P. J. Callan, 1-1; G. Dowd and Declan Corrigan. 0-1 each; D. Corrigan, B. Faulkner, F. Clare and P J. Callan had further points in the 2nd half when G. Dowd slotted home the other goal. Naomh Mairtin replies — N. Bcrrill 1-2 J. Berrill 1-2 and J. McGovern 0-1.

HUNTERSTOWN ACE BALFE

Hunterstown Rovers 0-10 Westerns 1-3

The winning habit stayed with Hunterstown Rovers (last season’s defeated finalists), when they met Westerns in the Macardle Cup (Junior 1 F.L.). Playing confidently all through Rovers got the verdict by 0-10 to 1-3

The mid-week success over Westerns was Hunterstown’s fifth on the trot and bolsters their chances of going one better than in 1978. They had led 0-7 to 1-1 at the interval.

T. Balfe was top scorer with 6 points. The other flags came from Jim Balfe (2), R. Davis and N. Carrie (1 each). On a well balanced side, impressive performers were K. Levins. D. Keogh, Jim Matthews, Kieran Matthews- and N Carrie.

The Reaghstown team’s best were Brendan Matthews, Smith brothers, T. Beirne and Mick Clare, and their scorers were Owen Duffy 1-0, Martin Fitzpatrick, John Maguire and M. Clarke, 0-1 each.

YOUNG JUDGE ABSENT

Newtown Blues 4-7 St. Fechins 0-4

Blues were well worth their fine win over a depleted St. Fechins side at the C.B.S. sportfield last Tuesday.

While the Termonfeckin side were minus: some of their regulars, it must not be forgotten that Blues were short one of the county’s most exciting players, young Eugene Judge who was, on the writer’s opinion, unfairly - dismissed during the u-21 championship tie against Longford.

This game showed the Blues at their very best with Dessie Callaghan, Jackie Hanratty and Dessie Murray tearing the St. Fechin’s defence to shreds. At midfield Dessie Murray and M. Rossiter dominated for the 60 minutes. One had to feel sympathetic to the losers who, while they were completely out of it, they never resorted to foul tactics to try to gain the upperhand. They had a great worker in P. Briscce but missed their two countymen, Johnny McDonnell and Matt McDermott.

STABANNON WIN

Stabannon Parnells maintained their strong challenge in Junior One of the F.L. (Macardle Cup) with a decisive 5-6 to 1-1 success on Friday evening over Wolfe Tones at Drogheda.

In knocking up another impressive tally, the winners were particularly well served by T. Callaghan, Gerry Burke; M. Bray, Peter McShane and John Joe Connolly. Tones had earnest triers in T. Smith, M. McDonnell. G. Kelly, G. Carolan and A. Thornton.

DULEEK GO UNDER DUNSHAUGHLIN 1-8 DULEEK -. 1-7

A point two minutes from the end gave Dunshau&hlin a surprise victory in this S.F.C game at Seneschalstown.

The winners were boosted by an outstanding display from former countyman Noel Curran at full forward while John Forde, Pat O’Briea and John Jennings also showed well.

Duleek led by 1-4 to 0-4 at half-time thanks to a fisted Pat Gogan goal after 20 minutes. But Dunshaughlin had the better of matters in the second fcalf with their goal coming from Ollie Bowe. Scorers: Dunshaughlin — J Forde 0-3, O. Bowe 1-0, J Walsh 0-2 . M. O’Sullivan . P O’Brien, G. Dowd 0-1 each Duleek — S. Lane 0-3, P. Gogan 1-0, T. Cudden. P. Carolan 0-2 each.