Churchill and Scartaglin begin to pull clear in Group A

DIVISION FIVE GROUP A

WE are edging close to the first two sides from this group to go into the promotion battle being confirmed as Scartaglin and Churchill made it four wins from four at the weekend meaning one further success for both should be enough to put them through. The St Brendans side inflicted a 23-point hammering on Knocknagoshel and scored six goals in the process with three of their goals coming in the first period. Ivan Parker scored two in the first period as part of a personal hat-trick with JJ Prior getting their other goal in putting their side 3-8 to 0-1 ahead at the break as a Killian O’Connor free was Knocknagoshel’s sole first period score.

Conor Sheehan, John and Michael Walsh made Knock’s efforts a bit more competitive in the second period as John scored their only goal in proceedings but Prior scored a second goal, alongside a Chris Hurley green flag and Parker’s own hat-trick to leave it 6-15 to 1-7 at the final whistle. Victory at home to Austin Stacks B the next day would make it hard to see Churchill denied going forward to contest promotion in the next phase.

Scartaglin are in a similar situation after beating Stacks themselves by 10 points at the weekend. An eighth minute goal from Niall Casey sent Scart on their way to another win after both sides had shared opening points. 1-6 to 0-5 was their halftime advantage as Shay Walsh converted a penalty for their second goal and a 2-13 to 0-9 win in which Eddie Horan and Mike Coakley scored three points each. Alan Duggan scored four of Stacks’ efforts, Theo Diggin two as they needed some from their next fixture with Churchill to stay in control of their chances of making the promotion phase.

Asdee are third in this group but they could have picked up a third win had John C O’Connor not scored a late equaliser for Kerins O’Rahillys B in a 0-14 to 2-8 draw. Eoin Tydings’ goal had given Asdee a lead of 1-6 to 0-7 at the break and even though Stacks levelled proceedings with 10 minutes left, Mike Breen scored a second Asdee goal before Darragh and Shane McElligott along with Ryan O’Carroll and O’Connor came up with the scores to give Strand Road their first point of the campaign.

Kilgarvan took advantage of some absentees for Valentia meanwhile in getting their first win with a 1-13 to 0-9 over the South Kerry side. Daniel Casey scored the game’s only goal in the first period to put the Kenmare District side 1-5 to 0-7 ahead but six consecutive points were crucial for Kilgarvan in winning by seven points. Four points each for Andy Quigley and Paul O’Connor were one of the few highlights for Valentia with Brendan Falvey getting their otherscore.