Saints brush Jocks aside to march to summit

ST MARYS NAOMH MAIRTIN 3-18 2-15

ST MARY’S claimed the honours in a top-of-the-table clash at Pairc Mhuire on Wednesday night to move a point clear at the top of the Division 1 table.

In what was expected to be a very tight affair, the Marys proved too strong on the night and first-half goals from Robbie Leavy, John Bingham and Alan Kirk had them firmly in command.

Although Daire McConnon opened the scoring after two minutes, it was the Mairtins who had the best of the early exchanges as scores from Brian Berrill and Sam Mulroy helped the visitors take a 0-3 to 0-1 lead.

However, points from John Bingham and Alan Kirk helped restore the home side’s advantage before Leavy struck the first goal of the game to make it 1-4 to 0-3.

Bingham added the second major soon after as the hosts threatened to pull away.

Louth forward Sam Mulroy fired in a goal at the other end to keep the Jocks in touch, but the Marys signed off on the opening half with a healthy 3-9 to 1-8 lead after Kirk bagged his side’s third goal.

Any hope of a Mairtins fightback effectively disappeared in the opening minutes of the second period as the hosts scored four points without reply to lead by an impressive 3-13 to 1-8.

The Monasterboice men were merely playing for pride after they slipped 13 points behind, but they still battled bravely to the end, with JP Rooney scoring a consolation goal late on.

ST MARYS: Peter Duffy; Brendan Matthews, John Bingham 1-1, Barry McCoy; Conor Keenan, Eimhin Keenan 0-1, Kian Moran 0-1; Robbie Leavy 1-0, Ronan Carroll 0-4; Dean Matthews 0-3, Daire McConnon 0-4; Mark Fay, Alan Kirk 1-4, Jamie Rooney, Niall Eccles. Subs: Cian Commins for J Rooney, Ryan Rooney for R Carroll.

NAOMH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Thomas Sullivan, Mick Fanning, Paul Berrill; Padraig McDonagh 0-2, Benny Reilly, Jack McCarville; Val Leddy 0-1, Wayne Campbell (0-1), Conor Healy, Sam Mulroy 1-7 (0-6f), Stephen Campbell; Brian Berrill 0-2, JP Rooney 1-1, Brian McQuillan 0-1. Subs: John Clutterbuck for S Campbell, Alan Downey for T Sullivan, Gavin Mooney for J McCarville, Luke Harrington for V Leddy, Mark McCullough for P McDonagh, Francis McCullough for S Mulroy.