Battling win keeps Kilkerley hopes alive

KILKERLEY EMMETS CLAN NA GAEL 2-15 1-12

KILKERLEY Emmets boosted their hopes of Division 1 survival when they came from five points down at the break to defeat Clan na Gael on Friday evening.

Emmets hit 3-13 the previous week but it wasn’t enough to win, this time registered 2-15 and got the crucial victory with Shane Lennon once again showing what a class act he still is as despite being double marked for the most part, he clocked up 2-8. Lennon’s form along with the team dominating the whole second half and holding Clans to a single point - from JJ Quigley on 34 minutes - was what brought a third league win for Emmets.

The Dundalk men will be bitterly disappointed with the result, particularly after playing so well in the first half. However, the second period was a complete contrast as they suffered a complete collapse as Kilkerley took over.

It was Shane Lennon who got his side off the mark with two points, but the Clans soon gained the upper hand and with the help of points from Conall McKeever, Mark McGeown and Micheal McDonald they went 0-7 to 0-4 in front.

Lennon then converted from a penalty to level the scores, but the Clans dominated the closing stages and a goal from Conall McKeever saw his side lead by 1-11 to 1-6 at the break.

At that stage the Dundalk men looked on course for victory but Kilkerley responded to the challenge and when Lennon hit the net early in the second half his side was back in contention. The Clans were unable to respond and the Emmets completed the victory with the help of points from Tadgh McEneaney, Alan McGeough and Daniel McKeown.

KILKERLEY: Darren Meehan; Niall Mulholland, Alan McGeough 0-1, Barra McCarthy; Rian Hand, Shaun McElroy 0-1, James Bellew; Ciaran Bellew, James Fegan; Daniel McKeown 0-1, Sean Hand, Connor Kirk; Tadhg McEneaney 0-4, Shane Lennon 2-8, Ciaran Clarke. Subs: Conal McEneaney for C Kirk

CLANS: Sean Smith; Ian Carr, Leo Martin, Donal Boyle; Kevin Carroll, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Micheal McDonald 0-1; Robbie Curran, Conor Noonan; Conall McKeever 1-2, Mark McGeown 0-2, Paul Crewe; Billy Smith 0-4, Mark Newell 0-2, Paul Gore. Subs: Craig Long for K Carroll, JJ Quigley 0-1 for C Noonan, Ray McCabe for M McGeown, Stephen Coleman for P Gore, Drew Duffy for P Crewe.