Irelands on course

Kevin’s in the hunt

YOUNG Irelands continue to lead the way in Division 3 after a very comfortable victory over Sean McDermotts in Dundalk on Friday.

The result keeps the Irelanders two points ahead of the chasing pack and was based on an impressive first half display that saw them build up a 13-point lead at the break.

Dean Maguire got the ball rolling for the hosts as he found the net on seven minutes while Cian O’Donoghue and Mark Kilgannon followed suit before the break to help their side lead by 3-6 to 0-2.

Despite Patrick Osborne, David O’Neill and David McArdle kicking the McDermotts points, there was no let-up in the second half as Sean McLaughlin added a fourth goal to complete a comfortable win.

DUNDALK YOUNG IRELANDS: Iffee Kwuele; Stephen Bellew Ciaran Murray, Peter McCourt; Shadam Azeez, Derek Maguire, Cian O Naraigh 0-1; Derek Rogers 0-2, Aidan Sheeky 0-3; Dean Maguire 1-2, Dermot Mone, Peter Nixon; Cian O Donoghue 1-0, Mark Savage 0-1, Jordan O’Donoghue 0-4. Subs: Mark Kilgannon 1-0 for P Nixon, Alan Minto for S Bellew, Sean McLaughlin 1-0 for D Mone, Aaron Fee for C O’Donoghue, Oisin McCabe for P McCourt, Alan Hanks for J O’Donoghue.

SEAN MCDERMOTTS: Stephen Carey; Kevin McGahon, Sean McMahon, Daniel Connors; Emmet Duffy, Peter Osborne, Ian Corbally; Patrick Osborne 0-2, Declan Carroll; Martin Duffy, Lorcan Myles, David O’Neill 0-1; Kevin McMahon, Tony Kelly, David McArdle 0-1. ST Kevins kept their hopes of Division 3 honours alive when they came from behind to defeat neighbours Stabannon Parnells in Philipstown on Friday evening.

This victory leaves the Kevins just two points adrift of leaders Young Irelands and level with second placed Na Piarsaigh.

The home side got off to a good start with a goal from Cian Callan, but Stabannon bounced back and found the net through Liam Giggins to lead by 1-5 to 1-4 at the break.

The game was in the balance throughout the second half but ultimately it was decided by a goal from substitute Aidan Craven midway through the second period.

Points from Aonghus Giggins kept the Parnells in touch but it wasn’t enough to prevent the hosts from claiming victory.

ST KEVINS: Eoin McKenna; Matthew Downes 0-1, Barry Byrne, Aaron Roche; Aaron Khan, Enda McKenna, Patrick Duff; Sean Callan, Lee Crosbie; Dylan Maher, Seanie Crosbie, James Clarke; Paul Duff, Cian Callan 1-3, Patrick Clarke 0-3. Subs: Aidan Craven 1-1 for Paul Duff, Danny Crosbie for Enda McKenna.

STABANNON PARNELLS: Anto Byrne; Alan Lynch, Sean Halpenny, Mick Lynch; Thomas Campbell, Niall Cluskey 0-1, Ken Lynch; Brendan O’Kane, Colm Giggins 0-1; Liam Giggins 1-0, Aonghus Giggins LANNLEIRE were given a real fright on Thursday night at Dowdallshill, only securing victory late on against a battling home side who belied their lowly league position.

Lannleire enjoyed a flying start to the game as a brace of goals from Bob Murphy helped them to a 2-3 to 0-0 lead after eight minutes.

However, the hosts came storming back and goals from Noel Finnegan, Johnny Burke and Gerry McShane ensured it was all-square at the break, 2-6 to 3-3.

Lannleire edged ahead by the three quarter mark, 2-10 to 3-6, but could have conceded a fourth goal but for a fine stop by John King. With the result in the balance it was Lannleire who rose to the challenge and closed the game with a flurry of scores from Briain McGuinness, Killian Gregory, Colin Murphy, Alan Murphy and Gary Monaghan to win by six points.

LANNLEIRE: John King; Thomas Doyle, Jason Torris, Caoimhin Maher; Paul Doyle, Ian Mulroy 0-1, Ciaran Dunne; Andrew Dowd, Pierce Hawkins 0-1; Briain McGuinness 0-1, Colin Murphy 0-5, Gary Monaghan 0-1; Alan Murphy 0-3, Bob Murphy 2-0, Killian Gregory 0-3. Subs: Shane Kennedy for C Dunne, Brendan McEvoy for T Doyle.

DOWDALLSHILL: Emmet O’Brien; Ian McElroy, Paul Flynn, Sean Duffy; David McCrave, Jack McGailey, Luke O’Brien; Ciaran Thornton, Justin Halley; Danny Kerr, Noel Finnegan (1-4), Dermot Smith; Johnny Burke (1-0), Paul Gill, Gerry McShane (1-2). Sub: Dylan McDonnell.