OMINOUS DREADNOTS TOP GROUP

THE

before midfielders Crhis Mulroy and MJ Hanlon swapped points at either end.

But the first inkling of the goal threat Dreadnots posed came on the quarter hour mark when Neil Gallagher made a superb reaction save to deny Richard Kirwan.

But Gallagher’s goal was breached three minutes later when a tame Peter Kirwan shot was deflected to Conor Campbell, who caught another lucky break when his shot squirmed under Neil Gallagher and trickled over the line.

Cooley were possibly a bit unfortunate to be trailing at that stage, but they were soon back in front as Emmet Rogan and Shane Marks made it 0-6 to 1-2.

But Dreadnots were now looking a lot more menacing in attack themselves.

The drew level through Peter Kirwan and fell behind again to a Michael Rafferty point, but they closed out the half well, taking a slender lead with points from Richard Kirwan and Paraic Smith, 1-5 to 0-7.

Conor Rafferty levelled proceedings up agains with a brilliant free kick straight after the break, but Dreadnots were now in the zone and as they ran at the Cooley defence, the frees started to flow.

There’s few can punich indiscipline like Smith and Califf and they slotted over a brace for dead balls apiece.

Conor Raffery and Anthony Williams then swapped points, but Cooley would go a fulll 15 minutes before Brian White kicked their next score. In the meantime Dreadnots edged further ehad through another Califf free and as the closk ticked into injury-time, there was four between the sides, 1-11 to 0-10.

Dreadnots made absolutely certain in time added on with Richard Kirwan firing in their second goal and Califf finishing off a spell of keep-ball with a late point. DREADNOTS: Kenneth Shevlin; Brian Gargan, Padraig Rath, Derek Shevlin; Anthony Williams 0-1, Cian Mc Evoy, Dermot Campbell; James Califf 0-4 (3f), Fergal Mc Guigan; Cathal Lynch, Paraic Smith 0-4 (3f), Conor Campbell 1-0; Peter Kirwan 0-1, Richard Kirwan 1-1, Chris Mulroy 0-1. Sub: Ronan Califf for C Campbell(53), Darragh Shevlin for C Lynch (53), Ryan Gargan for A Williams (60+), Luke Judge for Fergal Mc Guigan (60+ BC).

COOLEY KICKHAMS: Neil Gallagher; Alan Page, Keith White, Patrick Mc Grath; Shane Marks 0-2, Peter Thornton, Conor Mc Guinness; MJ Hanlon 0-1, James Mc Shane; Darren Marks, Michael Rafferty 0-1, Conor Rafferty 0-3; Ciaran Sheelan 0-1, Michael Kane Emmet Rogan 0-1. Subs: Gerry Malone for MJ Hanlon (ht), Brian White 0-1 for M Kane (ht), Michael Carron for G Malone (37), Thomas McGuinness for E Rogan (55), David Hughes for J McShane (59).

REFEREE: Jonathon Conlon Pictures: Ken Finegan