Mary’s secure top spot in table

ST MARYS SEAN O’MAHONYS 1-17 1-11

ST Marys finished top of the Division 1 League following a six-point victory over Sean O’Mahonys at Ardee on Saturday evening.

When the teams met in the championship group stages it was the O’Mahonys who prevailed by a point but on this occasion the Marys proved too strong and emerged with a victory that ensures they will take on Nh Mairtin in the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup semi-final.

The home side played with the greater desire in the early stages and with Mark Fay, Jamie Rooney and Paudy Clarke on target, they kicked the first six points of the game.

The O’Mahonys finally got off the mark but any hopes of a comeback were dashed when John Bingham got in for the first goal of the game to see his side lead by 1-12 to 0-4 at half time.

The Dundalk side upped their game in the second half but despite outscoring their opponents by 1-7 to 0-5, they never looked like getting within striking distance of the Marys.

Alan Kirk, Daire McConnon and Ronan Carroll kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Ardee men after the break and that ensured the were comfortable winners in the end despite the fact that Ben McLaughlin hit the net for the O’Mahonys.

ST MARYS: Peter Duffy; David Carroll, Barry McCoy, Karl Faulkner; John Bingham 1-2, Eimhin Keenan 0-1, Kian Moran; Daire McConnon 0-1, Robert Leavy; Brendan Matthews, Ronan Carroll 0-4, Mark Fay 0-2; Alan Kirk 0-2, Paudy Clarke 0-2, Jamie Rooney 0-3. Subs: Conor Gillespie for K Moran, Ross Gaynor for K Faulkner, Shane Carroll for R Leavy.

SEAN O’MAHONYS: David Dowling; Chris O’Neill, Pat O’Brien, Colin Finan; Niall McLoughlin, Kyle Carroll, Liam Dullaghan 0-1; Shane Brennan, Conor Martin; Stephen Fisher 0-2, Conor Finnegan 0-2, Johnny Connolly; Ben McLaughlin 1-2, Conor Crawley 0-2, Vinny Smith 0-1. Subs: John O’Brien, Eoin Hanratty 0-1.