Jocks bag final O’Donnell spot
NAOMH MAIRTIN CLAN NA GAEL 2-18 2-8
NAOMH Mairtin came out on top in this battle for the remaining Cardinal O’Donnell Cup semi-final place as a strong second half performance saw them book a meeting with Dreadnots.
Both teams went into this game at Monasterboice with designs on making the top four and as a result the first proved to be an entertaining affair.
The Dundalk men were hoping to make up for their disappointing championship showing and were in a good position when Billy Smith scored their first goal followed soon after by a second from Micheal McDonald.
However, the Mairtins were not to be outdone and two goals from Stephen Campbell before the interval and a late point from Sam Mulroy saw the Jocks lead by 2-7 to 2-6 at half time.
Spectators who expected more of the same in the second half were to be disappointed as it proved to be a one-sided affair with the Mairtins very much in command. Mulroy brought his tally to eight points while Wayne Campbell and Eoghan Callaghan were also on target in this ten-point win.
NAOMH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Padraig McDonagh, Mick Fanning, Paul Berrill; Thomas Sullivan, Adam Winters, John Clutterbuck; Wayne Campbell 0-2, Conor Morgan 0-1; Brian McQuillan, Eoghan Callaghan 0-1, Conor Healy 0-2; Jack Murphy 0-1, Sam Mulroy 0-8, Stephen Campbell 2-2. Subs: JP Rooney 0-1 for B McQuillan, Eoghan Winters for A Winters, Jack McCarville for J Clutterbuck, Alan Downey for P Berrill, Francis McCullough for Conor Smyth for W Campbell.
CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smith; Tiarnan Reilly, Donal Boyle, Kevin Carroll; Craig Long, Paul Crewe 0-1, Micheal McDonald 1-0; Ray McCabe, Robbie Curran 0-5; Gerard Curran, Billy Smith 1-1, Chris Noonan; Mark Newell 0-1, Mark McGeown, Jason Cullen. Subs: Stephen Coleman for T Reilly, David McGeown for C Noonan.