Irelands hold out for their first win

YOUNG IRELANDS 1-10 GLEN EMMETS 1-8 YOUNG Irelands picked up their first win of the season when they held on to win by two points at home to Glen Emmets on Saturday evening.

A strong first half display helped the Dundalk men to claim a vital victory in their battle to avoid the drop as they moved clear of bottom side, Na Piarsaigh.

The opening period was dominated by the home side and a goal from Dean Maguire put the Irelanders into a commanding 1-5 to 0-1 lead at half time.

The Glen Emmets got back into the game in the second half and closed the gap with the help of a Sean Byrne goal.

However, in a tense finish the Young Irelands did just enough to hold out for an extremely welcome victory.

YOUNG IRELANDS: Kevin Keelin; Peter McCourt, Aaron Rogers, Robbie Farrell; Alan Flood, Peter Nixon 0-1, Shane O’Connell; Gerard Nixon 0-1, Derek Rogers 0-1; Jordan O’Donoghue 0-1, Johnny Lynch, Dermot Mone 0-3; Cian O Naraigh 0-1, Dean Maguire 1-2, Ciaran Murray. Subs: Sean McLaughlin for S O’Connell, Sean Laverty for J Lynch.

GLEN EMMETS: Conor Kelly; Shane Noone, Tom Grimes, Niall Hackett; Joe Farrelly 0-1, Stephen Healy, Ronan Carr; Mark Garvey, Robbie Byrne 0-1; Brendan Monaghan; Liam Cusack, James Butler 0-3; David Bracken, Sean Byrne 1-1, Damien Grimes. Subs: Evan English 0-1 for Niall Hackett, Derek Johnston 0-1 for B Monaghan, Jamie Farnan for S Healy.