Jocks run halted

KILKERLEY EMMETS 6-9 NH MAIRTIN 3-16

NH Mairtin’s winning start to the season came to an end in a thrilling game at Kilkerley on Saturday night despite the fact that they finished with a total of 3-16.

In a game that saw the teams share nine goals, it was a late effort from Tadgh McEneaney that proved decisive as the hosts won by two points.

IT rained goals in the opening half as the Jocks retired with a 2-10 to 3-2 lead.

It was looking good for the Mairtins when points from Whelan and Rooney increased the gap to seven points, but remarkably the Emmets came storming back with an unanswered 2-2 as Lennon and James Fegan raised the green flag.

Brian Berrill pointed on 45 minutes to level the game at 5-4 to 2-13 to set up a tense final quarter.

A point from Sean Hand helped the hosts edge ahead but it looked as if the Monasterboice men might snatch their fourth successive win when sub Mark McCullough put his side ahead at 3-15 to 5-7.

However, Kilkerley weren’t finished and snatched victory when Tadhg McEneaney fired home his side’s sixth goal of a dramatic game before a Shaun McElroy point sealed victory.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Rian Hand; Dylan Lynch, Adam Shields, Ciaran Clarke; Cillian Kampes, Alan McGeough, Cormac Bellew; James Shields, Ciaran Bellew; Shaun McElroy 0-1, Sean Hand 0-1, James Fegan 1-0; Tadgh McEneaney 1-3, Shane Lennon 2-4, Daniel McKeown 2-0. Subs: Conal McEneaney for J Shields, Connor Kirk for Cormac Bellew.

NH MAIRTIN: Jamie Mulholland; Paul Berrill, Thomas Sullivan, Jack McCarville; Padraig McDonagh, Benny Reilly, John Clutterbuck; Val Leddy, Mick Fanning; Stephen Campbell 0-2, JP Rooney 1-2, Conor Healy 0-1; Conor Whelan1-4, Brian Berrill 0-5, Paddy Usher 0-2. Sub: Subs: Gavin Mooney for Val Leddy, Mark McCullough (1-0) for P Usher, Paul Campbell for B Reilly.