O’Connell’s ensure survival
O’CONNELLS YOUNG IRELANDS 1-14 2-7
O’CONNELLS preserved their division two status with a hard fought four-point victory over the Young Irelands at the Upper Marshes on Sunday evening.
The ‘Bellingham team got off to a flyer in the first minute when Robert Quigley side-stepped his man and shot to the net.
But with their survival hopes in the balance, Young Irelands hit back and a Dean Maguire goal helped to restore parity.
The visitors upped the nate again, however, and adjourned at half-time with a 1-6 to 1-4 cushion.
At the very start of the second half a long ball found Mone on his own one-on-one with the keeper but the former Louth goalkeeper Stuart Reynolds made a magnificent save.
The game was then delayed for about 20 minutes after an injury to Ireland’s Robbie Farrell who was taken to hospital by ambulance.
When the action resumed two quick points for O’Connells by Quigley and Conlon increased their lead to four but that was down to two after points from Mone and Maguire.
Conlon again pointed to put his team 1-10 to 1-7 in front going into the last ten minutes but the sides were level a couple of minutes later when a long ball was parried into the path of Mone who ran on and made no mistake firing to the net.
Quigley landed his second 45 and further points from Conlon and Paul McKeever and Conlon again sealed the victory for the Bellingham team who are now guaranteed Division 2 football next season.
O’CONNELLS: Stuart Reynolds; Salem Rifaie, John McLoughlin, Jason Carroll; Emmet Byrne 0-1, Jackie Agnew, Keith Woods; Sean Cairns, Dean Stanfield; Dean Corrigan, Paul McKeever 0-1, Stuart Osborne; Robert Quigley 1-5(1f,2 45, Conor McGill, Niall Conlon 0-7(4f. Subs: Conor Culligan for S. Cairns, Sean Connolly for D. Corrigan.
DUNDALK YOUNG IRELANDS: Fergal Sheeky; Peter McCourt, Kevin Keelan, Robbie Farrell; Aidan Sheeky, Peter Nixon 0-1, Shane O’Connell; Andrew Nixon, Derek Rogers; Dermot Mone 1-3(2f, Dean Maguire 1-2(45, Johnny Lynch 0-1; Aaron Rogers, Sean McLaughlin, Jordan O’Donoghue. Subs Peter Flynn for R. Farrell, Simon Flynn for D. Rogers.