Ragh’s title credentials pass major examination
DIVISION 2 FOOTBALL LEAGUE Fechins play-off hopes still alive
ST Fechins turned in a solid display to see off the challenge of St Mochtas at Beaulieu on Friday evening.
Although the Mochtas opened the scoring just after the throw-in but it was the Fechins who began to take control of the game with scores from Niall McDonnell and Ronan Holcroft.
Eamonn O’Neill and Declan Byrne were busy at the other end but Bevan Duffy, Karl McDonnell and Brian Devlin were all on target to help the home side lead by 0-9 to 0-5 at half time.
O’Neill and Byrne helped the Mochtas score the first three points of the game to get right back into contention but points from Ronan Holcroft, Karl McDonnell, Brian Devlin steadied the ship.
The Fechins retained control from that stage of the game and went on to complete the win with the help of scores from Jamie King and a longrange free from goalkeeper Niall McDonnell.
ST FECHINS: Niall McDonnell 0-2; Leo McGrane, Niall McCabe, Colm O’Neill; Niall Carolan, Paul Mathews, Matthew Flanagan; Bevan Duffy 0-2, Brian Devlin 0-3; Niall Devlin, Donal Ryan, Harry Haughney; Karl McDonnell 0-2, Ronan Holcroft 0-6, Jamie King 0-2. Subs: Eoghan Duffy, Paul Dillon.
ST MOCHTAS: Fergus English; David Lennon, Philip Englishby, Cormac Callan; Conor Garland, Andrew English 0-1, Barry Mulholland; Emlyn Clerkin, Eamonn O’Neill 0-5; Jamie Farrell, Gerry Garland, Brendan Duff; Declan Byrne 0-5, Danny Kindlon, Darren McMahon 0-1. Subs: Liam McGranaghan for P Englishby, Cormac Smyth for B Duff. O Raghallaighs strengthened their position at the top of Division 2 with a narrow win over rivals Hunterstown Rovers on Friday night.
As a result, the Drogheda side are now four points clear of their opponents and Kilkerley Emmets who were also defeated on the same evening.
After suffering their first defeat of the season in the previous outing, Hunterstown came into this game determined to bounce back and keep their promotion hopes alive.
It was going according to plan in the first half as points from Ryan Burns, Tony McKenna and Brendan Lennon along with a goal from Alan Landy had them leading by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.
The O Raghllaighs responded to the challenge in the second half and increased their threat in attack with Ruairi Moore in fine form as he finished with nine points to his credit.
Hunterstown kept their hopes alive when Burns added a second goal on 45 minutes. However, the Drogheda men were not to be denied and a goal from Olan Walshe seeing the teams draw level in the closing minutes, with Ruairi Moore clinching an impressive ninth point to claim the game for the North Roaders.
RAGHALLAIGHS: Joe Flanagan; Stephen Murphy, Ciaran Brassil, Tomas Callan; Eoin Moore, Dean Byrne, James Moonan; Alan Doyle, Robert Mulroy; Jack Carr, Barry Flanagan (0-2), Olan Walsh (1-0); Chris Smith (0-2), Ben Rogan (0-2), Ruairi Moore (0-9). Subs: Cillian Curran, Len Murphy, Daniel Morgan, Sean Grennan, Kevin McGee, Ciaran Reilly, Matthew Moore, Tom Mullins, Conor Higgins, James Morgan.
OHUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Niall Carrie; Brian Matthews, Richie Taaffe, Martin Lennon 0-1; Conor Matthews, Patrick Taaffe, Robbie McNiece; Tony McKenna 0-1, Mark Brennan; Paddy Mooney, Paul Carrie, Brendan Lennon 0-1; Alan Landy 1-3, Ryan Burns 1-3, Glen Matthews 0-2. Sub: Robbie Brennan for M Brennan. O’CONNELLS picked up their first away win when they had six points to spare over Kilkerley Emmets on Friday evening.
Tadhg McEnaney got the opening point of the game for the home side but the visitors replied with their first goal from Sean Connolly. Two minutes later Conlon got their second goal and from the resulting kick out the ball was blocked by Connolly who then passed to Conlon and he laid it off to Quigley for their third goal of the game after seven minutes.
Shane Lennon pointed two frees to reduce the margin and the sides shared the next four points to leave the score 3-2 to 0-5 with ten minutes to go in the half. The Bellingham team finished the half stronger and points from Quigley, Conlon and an excellent 45 from Connolly left the score at half time 3-5 to 0-5 in favour of the visitors.
Lennon got the first point of the second half but Conlon replied for the O’Connells. Conal McEnaney put over a great 45 for the home side and three more points from Dan McKeown and a brace from Tadhg McEnaney reduced the deficit to five. Conlon put his team six in front but the Emmets went straight down the field and a cross field ball from Sean Hand found substitute Ciaran McGlynn and he shot to the net to leave three between the teams at 3-7 to 1-10 with just over ten minutes remaining. Picture: Ken Finegan
The Bellingham boys steadied the ship when they landed the next three points from Conor McGill, Dean Stanfield and Conlon to put the margin at six again. Halfback Cillian Kampes pulled one back for the home side but a brilliant 45 from Quigley and he landed another free a few minutes later just about sealed the victory for the O’Connells.
Tadhg McEnaney got the last point of the game in injury time but it’s the Bellingham team that move on to ten points with their first away win in the league.