‘Bridge inflict first defeat on champs

KNOCKBRIDGE NAOMH MONINNE 4-12 3-9

THE concession of two second half goals proved crucial as county champions Naomh Moninne suffered their first defeat in this year’s senior league at the hands of Knockbridge at Clan na Gael Park on Friday night.

Goals from Gareth Hall and a Sean Byrne penalty had Knockbridge leading by 2-1 to 1-2 on the quarter hour with the Moninne goal scored by Stephen Rafferty.

The sides exchanged the next two points before the village outfit accounted for the next five points including two from Hall from play. The experienced Johnny Carter struck for the Dundalk sides second goal on 27 minutes but further points from Ronan Mulholland and Kevin McNally had Knockbridge leading by 2-9 to 2-3 at the break.

Brian Brady’s side had the better of the opening exchanges on the resumption scoring 1-4 without reply with Rafferty grabbing his second goal of the encounter to lead by 3-7 to 2-9. The visitors replied with a point of their own before Moninne went two up with a brace of Ronan Geoghegan pointed frees.

Knockbridge then struck with two quick fire goals from Gareth Hall and Andrew Smith to knock their opponents for six and they went on to seal the victory with points from Sean Byrne and Sean Marry.

KNOCKBRIDGE: James King; Stephen Hoey, James Searson, Sean Marry (0-1); Mick Lundon, Andrew Smith (1-0), Ronan Mulholland (0-1); James Costello, Robert Wallace; Sean Byrne (1-5), Kevin McNally (0-2), David Kettle (0-1); Ciaran Dean, Gareth Hall (2-2), Tony Teefey. Sub Sean Brennan for K McNally.

NAOMH MONINNE: Donal Connolly; Donal Lee, Chris Lennon, James Murphy; Mattie Fee, John Martin, Philip Englishby; Darren O Hanrahan (0-1), Feidhelm Joyce (0-1); Stephen Ryan, Johnny Carter (1-0), Ciaran McGlynn (0-3); Ferdia Hoare, Ronan Geoghegan (0-4), Stephen Rafferty (2-0).