Five-star Moninne get back in the hunt
CHAMPIONS Naomh Moninne got themselves back into contention to retain the Paddy Kelly Cup thanks to this five goal salvo that saw them get the better of Mattock Rangers in this round two clash of the Senior Championship played in Darver on Thursday night.
A slow start from the Dundalk outfit saw them trail the Collon side by three points to no score after 11 minutes with two of these points being scored by midfielder Gary Rellis.
Having missed their first round clash the previous week, young Padraic Fallon made a welcome return to the Moninne starting 15 where he featured at full forward and he grabbed their first goal from the left of the post on 12 minutes.
The sides shared the next two points before the impressive Philip Englishby fired over his second point of the half which was soon added to by a second Fallon goal on 28 minutes 2-2 to 0-4.
Rellis responded with his third point of the half and in added time Darren O Hanrahan scored a good point to leave the Black and Amber side leading 2-3 to 0-5 at half time.
Moninne outscored their opponents by four points to one in the opening five minutes of the second half to extend their lead to seven with a brace of points a piece from Philip Englishby and Ronan Geoghegan.
The hard working Stephen Rafferty added a terrific long range point before Feidhelm Joyce struck for the winners third goal on 39 minute to effectively end the match as a contest.
To their credit Mattock fought on gamely and they struck three unanswered points from the sticks of Michael Callan, Tony Corcoran and Gary Rellis. Goal number four for Brian Brady’s side arrived on 52 minutes when Darren O Hanrahan got the last vital touch from close range to a long delivery from the right wing by Darren Geoghegan.
Their fifth goal was scored by substitute Daire Flanagan on 58 minutes when he fired home past keeper Ken Tobin on the half volley from the right of the post. Mattock did manage a late consolation goal in added time when Patrick Birch netted following a goal mouth scramble.
The final whistle was greeted by a relieved Moninne support who will now hope that their side can get the better of Knockbridge in the last round of games this Thursday night. Knockbridge made it two wins from two with a 1-14 to 1-11 victory over St Fechins in the second game of the double header at the mid Louth venue.
NAOMH MONINNE: Donal Connolly; Donal Lee, Chris Lennon, Paul Challoner; Mattie Fee, Oisin Drumm, Stephen Rafferty (0-2); Philip Englishby (0-4), Feidhelm Joyce (1-0); Ronan Geoghegan (0-2), John Martin, Ciaran McGlynn; Darren O Hanrahan (1-2), Padraic Fallon (2-0), Darren Geoghegan (0-1 free). Subs: Daire Flanagan (1-0) for P Fallon (40), Stephen Ryan for C McGlynn (45), Conal McEneaney for F Joyce (26), Ultan McEneaney.
MATTOCK RANGERS: Ken Tobin; Ciaran Maguire, Eoin McKeon, Darren Reid (0-1); Declan Madden, DaryL Gerrard, Jonathon Matthews; Jason Condon (0-2), Gary Rellis (0-5, 3 frees), Finn Madden, Graham Condon (0-1), Cillian Hickey; Patrick Birch (1-0), Tony Corcoran (0-1), Michael Callan (0-1). Sub – Kevin Conway for F Madden (30).
REFEREE: Gerry Keoghan (Meath).
• Knockbridge made it two wins from two with a 1-14 to 1-11 victory over St Fechin’s in the second game of the double header at Darver.