Joes finish strongly in derby duel

DIVISION 2 FOOTBALL LEAGUE Plunketts bounce back see off Roche

OLIVER Plunketts put a disappointing Paddy Sheelan Cup campaign behind them when they made a winning start to their Division 2 League campaign at home to Roche Emmets on Sunday morning.

The Faughart side were making their return to the Division 2 ranks following their promotion last season but they were unable mark the occasion with victory as the Drogheda men claimed a four-point success.

It what proved to be an evenly contested encounter throughout, the Plunketts came from behind at the break with Cian Brady’s second half goal proving decisive.

The teams traded scores for much of the first half but it was Roche who went in at the break with the slight edge as a goal from Kevin Callaghan helped them lead by 1-5 to 0-7.

The close nature of the contest helped produce an entertaining second half but it was the hosts who gradually got on top. Brady’s goal helped give them a bit of breathing space and despite the best efforts of Barry O’Hare for the visitors it was enough to see them claim victory.

OLIVER PLUNKETTS: Steven Beirth; Cillian Matthews, David McTaggart, Barry Reynolds; Gary Keogh, Ben McKenna, Josh Cormican; Robert Brodigan 0-1, Trevor Walsh 0-4; Niall Murtagh, Adam Brodigan 0-1, Cian Matthews; Cian Brady 1-5, Emmet Kelleher 0-2, Sean Rice. Subs: Andy Morgan 0-1 for S Rice, James Guinn for N Murtagh, Dean Carolan for E Kelleher, Kevin Keogh for A Brodigan.

ROCHE EMMETS: Sean O’Hare; Andrew Carroll, Liam Rice, Dermot Carthy; David O’Connell, Harry O’Connell, Shane Byrne 0-2; Dan O’Connell 0-1, David Quigley; Liam Dawe, Liam Carthy 0-1, Conor Carthy; Kevin Callaghan 1-1, Eugene Murray, Barry O’Hare 0-5. IN this Division 2 League opener in Dromiskin both sides had their chances to take the points on offer, but with the sides level on 50mins it was the Joes who hit four of the last six points to win out by two.

The Joes opened the scoring with a Jack Mulligan point following good work by Cian McGuinness and David Kieran. On nine minutes the Joes raised the only green flag of the game when a side line ball from Alan Quigley was punched to the net by Alan McKenna.

Alan Quigley added a second Joes point from a 45 and it was 22 minutes before Robert Quigley had the O’Connells on the board. Excellent fielding by David Kieran setup Daire Smyth that led to a converted 40m free from Alan Quigley. The O’Connells narrowed the margin with points from a Robert Quigley 13m free and Stefan O’Hanrahan strike to leave the half time score, St. Josephs 1-3, O’Connells 0-3.

The Joes aided by the breeze had the first score of the second half from a fine Craig Doherty effort. The O’Connells took control in midfield and Stuart Osborne pointed before Quigley struck three to level the game at 1-4 to 0-7.

Emmet Byrne and Alan Quigley traded scores to leave the game delicately points with ten minutes to play.

Alan McKenna edged the Joes in front before Daire Smyth and Robert Quigley swapped scores to leave just one point between the sides with two minutes left on the clock. Two excellent points from Alan McKenna and Alan Quigley had the Joes up by three. The final score of the game came from Robert Quigley but it wasn’t enough to save his side. ST JOSEPHS: Seamus Quigley; Darragh Smyth, Shane McQuillan, Stefan Potts; David Kieran, Cian McGuinness, Jack Mulligan (01); Adam O’Connor, Killian Staunton; Conor Neary, Daire Smyth (0-1), Craig Doherty (0-1); Alan Quigley (0-4), Alan Lynch, Alan McKenna (1-2). Subs: Peter Brennan, Oisin McGuinness, Robbie Neary.

O’CONNELLS: Stuart Reynolds; Micheal Cairns, Conor Byrne, Liam Kiernan; James Clerkin, Salem Rifaie, Jackie Agnew; Stuart Osborne 0-2, Sean Cairns; Conor Kiernan, Dean Stanfield, Stefan O’Hanrahan 0-1; Robert Quigley 0-6(4f), Paul McKeever, Emmet Byrne 0-1. Subs: Sean Connolly for P McKeever, Dean Corrigan for M Cairns.