Lannleire cruise to opening round win over St Nicks
LANNLEIRE cruised to an opening round victory over St Nicholas on Friday night in Stabannon to head Group D on score difference from Naomh Malachi, whom they face this weekend.
This was always going to be a big ask for St Nicholas and despite holding their own in the opening minutes they were simply blown away by the Dunleer men.
With four different goal scores and nine players hitting the target in total it was a productive night’s work for Lannleire, but they will face stiffer challenges in their final two games in this section as they bid to emerge as group winners.
Bob Murphy started the rout with a goal after just five minutes and Lannleire rattled the Nicks net twice more before the interval through Briain McGuinness and Ian Mulroy.
They adjourned with a commanding 3-8 to 0-5 lead, leaving the Nicks with merely pride to play for after the interval.
However, two bookings and the obligatory red for Brian Carter added insult to injury for the Rathmullen outfit and Lannleire didn’t let up as Brendan McEvoy slotted home the fourth goal soon after.
Roy Kierans gave the Nicks something small top cheer about in the closing stages, but it could be a long campaign for the Drogheda men, who face Sean McDermotss this weekend in round two. LANNLEIRE: Liam Callan, Thomas Doyle, Paul McGeough, Chaoimhin Maher, Jason Torris, Briain McGuinness 1-2, Ian Mulroy 1-3, Paul Doyle, Pearse Hawkins 0-2, Paul Callan 0-1, Cillian Gregory, Alan Murphy 0-1, Colin Murphy 0-8, Bob Murphy 1-1, Brendan McEvoy 1-0. Subs: Garry Monaghan for Alan Murphy, Andrew Flanaghan for Chaoimhin Maher, Shane Kennedy for Cillian Gregory, James Torris 0-1 for Ian Mulroy, Cathal Grimes for Thomas Doyle, Shane O’Brien for Briain McGuinness.
ST NICHOLAS: Jason O’Boyle, Teige Kelly, Darren Thornton, Andrew Starrs, Alex Finnegan 0-1, Declan Heeney, Ciaran O’Brien, Johnny Carter, Brian Carter, Jason Maguire, Philip Kirwan, Kevin Walsh 0-4, Roy Kierans 1-1, John Heeney, Vinny O’Hare. Subs: Keith McCloskey for Philip Kirwan, Nuel Onianwa for John Heeney.
REFEREE: Anthony Briscoe (Stabannon Parnells)