JOHN SAVAGE

COOLEY Kickhams provided stout resistance for as long as they possibly could, but a late surge from Naomh Mairtin sealed top spot in Group C and a mouth-watering quarter-final showdown with Dreadnots.

The Jocks were nowhere near as fluent as they had been at the same venue against Dundalk Gaels eight days earlier, but after taking the lead at the end of the opening quarter, they never

They couldn’t shake off a determined Cooley side until late in the day, but Kickhams must nonetheless brace themselves for a relegation play-off scrap for the third year running.

The Peninsula outfit started brightly and led by 0-4 to 0-2, but with JP Rooney in sparkling form, the Jocks slowly reeled them back in.

The Monasterboice men had to battle hard to establish a 0-9 to 0-6 lead approaching half-time, but Brian White’s third score of the evening kept Cooley in touch at the interval.

White - who was later black carded for dissent at a crucial juncture - and Ciaran Sheelan were lively up top for Kickhams, while Darren Marks, Peter Thornton and Aoghan McGuinness picked up plenty of ball around the middle.

After starting like a train against Dundalk Gaels, the Mairtin’s struggled to find the same rhythm, but Rooney and the lightning quick Paudie McDonagh kept them ticking over.

But after the break, the Jocks took a firm grip on the contest