Burst gets Roche over the line
Third tier title is for Young Irelands to lose
1-0 - with the windy conditions not aiding point-scoring.
On the restart O Raghallaigh’s came out fighting and after a couple of purple patches they eventually levelled the game with 10 minutes to go - 3-1 to 2-4.
However, the introductions of the powerful Niall Connolly and Ciaran Levins gave the Roche lads fresh impetus in the latter stages and they drove on and hit the remaining scores of the game to see off a gallant challenge.
It wasn’t just about the players who featured on the night, though, as the likes of Ciaran and Donagh Conlon, Conor Litchfield, the skilful Alex Mc Ardle and the dynamic duo Kyle Callan and Conor Clarke all contributed massively to a great team effort throughout the season. A WIN over Naomh Malachi in their final game will see Dundalk Young Irelands crowned Division 3 champions and secure a return straight back to Division 2.
A 2-13 to 0-3 win over Wolfe Tones last Thursday night kept the Irelanders on top of the table and if they win their final game away to the Mals they cannot be caught.
Their rivals are now waiting for unlikely slip-up and Na Piarsaigh are best placed to take advantage of a final round shock, although mathematically St Kevin’s can also reach 20 points.
Na Piarsaigh could pass their neighbours if they win their two remaining games, but if they don’t get a favour from the Mals, Young Irelands will be crowned champions as they hold the all-important head-tohead advantage.
The race for play-off places is also pretty much done and dusted.
Assuming Young Irelands take the title and automatic promotion spot, the aformentioned Na Piarsaigh and St Kevin’s will be joined in the play-offs by fourthplaced Lannleire.
Naomh Malachi and Stabannon Parnells still have an outside chance of forcing their way into the reckoning, but they would need Lannleire to lose both of their final two games and the Dunleer men face bottom side St Nicholas in their final game.
As it stands Lannleire will face Glen Emmets in the play-offs, while St Kevin’s and Na Piarsaigh will battle it out in the other semi-final.
DIVISION3TABLE
PW Dundalk YI 11 10 Na Piarsaigh 11 9 St. Kevins 11 9 Lannleire 10 7 Nah Malachi 11 6 Stabannon P 11 6 Westerns 11 5 John Mitchels 11 4 S McDermotts11 4 Wolfe Tones 11 4 Dowdallshill 11 1 Cuchulainn G 11 1 St Nicholas 11 0 D 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 L SD Pts 1 174 20 1 107 20 2 77 18 3 23 14 4 37 13 4 -10 13 6 5 10 6 -3 9 6 -21 9 6 -43 9 9 -76 3 9 -113 3 10-157 1