Rovers prevail in top of table clash

DIVISION 2 HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 3-5 ST JOSEPHS 1-8

IN this top of the table clash it was the home side, Hunterstown Rovers that came out on top courtesy of three first half goals and a second half that saw them hold the visitors to a single point.

Hunterstown had the ball in the Joes net within the first minute when Dean Burns’ shot for a point dropped into the top right corner of the net. The Joes responded well, through Alan Quigley, Oisin McGuinness and Alan McKenna to level the game.

On 16 minutes Hunterstown raised a second green flag through Ryan Ward only for the Joes to respond in kind when Conall McCaul hit the net.

The hosts hit the front again when Patrick Taaffe struck their third goal but the Joes finished the half strongly and a point from McCaul sent the teams in level at 3-1 to 1-7.

Despite being reduced to 14, it was Rovers who had the better of the third quarter as they hit points through Martin Lennon, Glen Mathews and Micheal Reid to lead by 3-4 to 1-7.

The final quarter saw just two scores - Dean Burns extending the Hunterstown lead to four on 48 minutes before Conor Neary struck a late consolation for the visitors.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Donovan Sheridan; Cillian Taaffe, Micheal Reid 0-1, Shane Halpenny; Daithi Carroll, Patrick Taaffe 1-0, David Finn 0-1; Jason Monaghan, Marc Ward; Jamie O’Callaghan, Aaron Levins, James Russell; Dean Burns 1-1, Ryan Ward 1-0, Glen Mathews 0-1. Sub: Martin Lennon 0-1.

ST JOSEPHS: Adam Cassidy; Rian Devlin 0-1, Michael Staunton, Cormac McKeown; Killian McDonnell, Gabriel Bell, David Kieran; Conor Neary 0-1, Alan McKenna (0-1); Alan Quigley 0-1, Conall Smyth, Pearse Grimes Murphy; Oisin McGuinness 0-2, Ben Collier, Conall McCaul 1-2. Subs: Jack Mulligan, Evan McEnteggart, Cormac Marmion, Alan Lynch.

KILKERLEY EMMETS 0-11 STABANNON PARNELLS 1-6

KILKERLEY Emmets maintained their pursuit of Division 2 leaders, Hunterstown Rovers, with a narrow victory over Stabannon Parnells on Saturday evening.

The game in Kilkerley saw the visitors continue to display their good run of form but in the end the hosts did just enough to secure a fifth win of the season.

Stabannon made their intentions clear from the outset as they kicked the opening two points of the game. However, Kilkerley hit back and scores from Micheal Begley (2), Shaun McElroy and Conal McEnaney to lead by 0-4 to 0-3 at the break.

Two points from Harry Butterly helped get Parnells back on level terms in the third quarter but scores from Tadhg McEnaney and Ewan McEnteggart put Kilkerley ahead by five. Stabannon refused to give up and a goal from Sean Reynolds followed by a point saw the gap reduced to one.

In a tense finish, it was the Emmets who had the final say as a point from Conal Brady saw his side win by two.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Ultan McEnaney; Cormac Bellew, Cillian Mulligan, Ronan Deery; Conal Brady 0-1, Patrick Murtagh, Fintan Brady; Kieran Murtagh, Cathal Bellew; Conal McEnaney 0-1, Shaun McElroy 0-1, Brian Brady; Tadhg McEnaney 0-3, Micheal Begley 0-3, Fionn Cumiskey 0-1. Subs: Darragh Conlon for C McEnaney; Conor Quigley for S McElroy; E McEnteggart 0-1 for R Deery.

STABANNON PARNELLS: Páirc Malone; Barry McCoy, Eamonn Callaghan, Alan Reynolds; Daniel Clinton, Niall Cluskey, David Cluskey; Ryan Shevlin (0-1), Dylan Shevlin; Jake Corrigan, Bobby Butterly (0-1), Johnny McGee (0-1); Sean Reynolds (1-0), Robbie Callaghan, Harry Butterly (0-3). Subs: Mark Byrne for E Callaghan, Padraig Reynolds for R Callaghan.

CLAN NA GAEL 3-7 GLEN EMMETS 0-12

CLAN na Gael picked up an important victory that moves them further away from the foot of the table as they proved too strong for Glen Emmets in Tullyallen.

Goals from Liam O’Hanlon, Shay Coleman and Farouq proved the difference between the teams in what was a closely contested game.

The hosts made a bright start with points from Jamie Gilkes, Brian Maguire and Calum Wogan, but O’Hanlon got the Clans back in the game with a goal on 24 minutes.

Boosted by that score, the Dundalk men went into the half time break with a 1-5 to 0-6 lead as Robbie Curran and Shane Carroll were also on the mark.

Glen Emmets levelled early in the second half through James Butler and Paddy McHugh, while goalkeeper Ian O’Reilly brought his tally to four followed by a Butler score to put their side one ahead on 52 minutes.

However, the Clans finished with a flourish and hit the net through Shay Coleman on 54 minutes before Farouq came off the bench to add the third in the final minute to seal victory.

CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smyth; Brian McDonnell, Gerard Curran, Craig Callan; Paul Crewe, Micheal McDonnell, Jack Callan; Robbie Curran 0-1, Conor Noonan; Mark Lee, Liam O’Hanlon 1-3, Gavin Gaffey; Shane Carroll 0-2, Shay Coleman 1-0, Aodhan Kirk. Donal Boyle for G Curran, Conor Smith for M Lee, Farouq 1-1 for A Kirk, Mark Newell for S Carroll.

GLEN EMMETS: Ian O’Reilly 0-4; Emmet Delaney, Andy Mooney, Jamie Farnan; Calum Wogan 0-1, Evan English, Cathal Maguire; Darragh Russell, Sam Kenny; Paddy McHugh 0-1, Jamie Gilkes 0-1, Cian Talbot; Brien Maguire 0-1, James Butler 0-4, Diarmuid Cullen. Subs: K Boylan for D Russell.

DUNDALK GAELS 2-10 ST KEVINS 1-8

DUNDALK Gaels picked up a much-needed victory when they got the better of St Kevins at The Ramparts on Saturday evening.

It was a big win for the hosts who leap-frog their opponents in the table with the Kevins now finding themselves bottom of Division 2.

With both teams struggling at the wrong end of the table there was a lot at stake in this clash and as a result the first half proved to be a tense affair. The teams traded points for much of the first period but it was a goal from Liam O’Connor that separated the teams as the Dundalk men went in with a 1-4 to 0-5 advantage.

Despite the Kevins hitting the net through Cian Callan, the Gaels always appeared to be in control and a second goal from O’Connor ensured the hosts claimed the vital win.

DUNDALK GAELS: Aaron Culligan; Padraig Tinnelly, Tom Murphy, Jack Mullen; David McComish, James O’Connell 0-1, Luke Murray; Liam O’Connor 2-0, Sean McCann; Gary Shevlin 0-2, Shaun Duffy, Jordan Keating; Chris Sweeney, Tom O’Connell 0-3, Tony McDonnell 0-3. Subs: John O’Hare 0-1, Paul McCrave, Eanna McArdle, Alan Jumbo, Luke Conlon.

ST KEVINS: Danny Crosbie; Sean Powderly, Brian Callaghan, Dylan Maher; Niall Gregory, Cameron Maher 0-2, Darren McMullan 0-2; Evan Maher, Robbie Matthews;

Keelan Maher, Cian Callan 1-1, Jack Stokes 0-1; Joe McArdle, Lee Crosbie 0-2, Tom Matthews. Subs: Jacob Finlay for R Matthews, Emmet Byrne for S Powderly, Cormac Rogers for J McArdle.

YOUNG Irelands struck twice in injury time to claim a share of the spoils at home to St Brides on Saturday night, and remain in contention for league honours.

Points from Liam McStravick and Cian O’Donoghue sealed a dramatic comeback that ensured the Knockbridge side have drawn their fourth game of the campaign.

There wasn’t a lot between the teams in the opening half with Sean Murphy and Caolan McCabe on target for the hosts, while Paddy Reilly and Kevin Hearty among the scores for the Brides. Kieran

McArdle had the final say of the half to edge the visitors into a 0-5 to 0-4 lead at the break.

The Irelanders struck three points at the start of the second half but they were cancelled out when Reilly scored the only goal of the game on 42 minutes.

The Brides continued to press and points from Michael Keane and Hearty looked to have won it for their side, but the Dundalk men struck late to claim a point. YOUNG IRELANDS: Fergal Sheekey; Jack McArdle, Ciaran Murray, Sean Murphy 0-2; Jamei Browne 0-1, Derek Maguire 0-1, Brendan Prendergast 0-1; Ruairi Kelly 0-1, Peter Nixon 0-1; Cian O’Donoghue 0-1, Jordan O’Donoghue 0-2, Liam McStravick 0-3; Dermot Mone, Caolan McCabe 0-1, Cian O Naraigh. Subs: Jack Watters for J McArdle, James Prendergast for C McCabe.

ST BRIDES: Aaron Devin; Brian Faul, Cillian Kirk, Ross Murnaghan; Ronan Bailey, Paddy Reilly 1-1, Robert McCaughey;

James Costello, Kelvin Slowey; Richard Halpenny, Kevin Hearty 0-3, Michael Keane 0-1; Laurence Steen, Kieran McArdle 0-3, Andrew Smyth.

O RAGHALLAIGH’S picked up their first win since the opening day of the season when they hit back to claim victory over Lannleire in Dunleer on Saturday.

The home side looked on course to build on their midweek win over Dundalk Gaels as they led by four at the break, but the Drogheda men hit back to secure the victory.

Following their five-goal salvo on Tuesday, Lannleire took just 11 minutes to find the net when Darragh Malone raised the green flag, while scores from Paul Callan and Pierce Hawkins put them in control.

O Raghallaigh’s didn’t get off the mark until the 23rd minute but points from Ben Rogan (2) and Ruairi Moore cut the gap to 1-5 to 0-3 at half time.

The second half saw the visitors continue that momentum, led by Rogan who finished with nine points. They gradually chipped away at the lead and scores from Barry Flanagan and Olan Walsh helped them win by four. Liam Callan and Ian Mulroy scored two each in the second half for Lannleire.

O RAGHALLAIGH’S: Joe Flanagan; Tim Curran, Alan Doyle, John Mathews; Lucas Carton, Danny Morgan, Emmet King; Conor McGinty 0-1, Eoin Moore; Reece Connell, Ruairí Moore 0-4, Joe Meegan; Ben Rogan 0-9, Barry Flanagan 0-1, Olan Walsh 0-1.

LANNLEIRE: Liam Callan 0-2, Jason Torris, Paul McGeough, Alex Carroll; Mark