Blues up their game to see off Ardee men

PADDY SHEELAN CUP & KEVIN MULLEN SHIELD QUARTER-FINALS Holcroft shines for St Fechin’s

NEWTOWN Blues qualified for the semi-final of the Paddy Sheelan Cup after scoring an eight-point victory over St Marys on Tuesday night.

The game in Newfoundwell proved to be a close affair in the opening half but the county champions took control in the second period before running out comfortable winners.

Both teams went into the match on the back of some good form in the group stages and that was reflected in a first half that proved to be a competitive encounter.

It was the Ardee side who had the better of the game in that opening period with Ronan Carroll leading the way on the scoring front.

However, the Blues kept in touch when a goal from Declan McNamara cut the gap to 0-7 to 1-3 at the break.

It was a different story in the second half, however, as the Drogheda men upped their game and outscored the visitors by 12 points to three to claim a comfortable victory.

ST Fechin’s came out on top in the quarter final of this Paddy Sheelan Cup clash at home to neighbours O Raghallaighs with Ronan Holcroft scoring eight points for his side on his return from inter-county duty.

The hosts opened the scoring with four unanswered points, from Sean Kerrisk, Niall Devlin and midfielders Joe Corrigan and Jamie McDonnell. The visitors got their first score on seven minutes with a point from a free and managed to clock up three more in the first half (two more from frees) while a goal 23 minutes in kept them in contention.

Meanwhile the home side, despite a number of wides, clocked up a further seven points to lead by 0-11 to 1-4 at half time.

The Fechins made changes in the second half and continued to find the target, while goalkeeper, Niall McDonnell made a number of saves to stave off a comeback from the visitors.

ST FECHINS: Niall McDonnell; Cian Gorman, Donal Ryan, Danny Burnell; Adam O’Neill, David Lally, Pauric O’Donohue; Joseph Corrigan (0-3), Jamie McDonnell (0-1); Brian Devlin, Niall Devlin (0-1), Matthew Flanagan (0-2); Sean Kerrisk (0-2), Ronan Holcroft (0-8), Colm O’Neill.

SUBS: Ryan Walsh (0-1) for J McDonnell, Alex Smith for B Devlin, David Collier for P O’Donohue, Conor Sweeney for C O’Neill.