Louth GAA club: Division Three round-up

St Nicholas 1-11 Westerns 0-8

St Nicholas began their Louth GAA club season on a winning note, coming out on top at home to the Westerns on Saturday evening. 

On a windy Saturday evening in Jimmy Pentony Park, it was St Nicholas who came out on top of last season’s top two from Division 3B.

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In the proverbial game of two halves, the Nicks raced into a lead with the wind at their backs with points from Lee Kavanagh, Caebhan Housidari and the impressive Fionn Meagher.

The visitors' kickout was under serious pressure, and following a steal from St Nicholas, Meagher found the back of the net to extend the lead.

Points from Paudi Downey and a two-point conversion from Alex Finnegan had the home side up by nine at the break.

The men from Reaghstown were more direct in the second half, putting pressure on the Nicks full back line but some resolute defending limited the Westerns to single points and no chance of goals to narrow the gap.

Points from Shane Downey, another Paudi Downey free and a late Cian Flynn point ensured the two league points stay in Drogheda along with last season’s Division 3B title.

St Nicholas: Shane Finegan; Stephen Finegan, Ruairí Hanlon, Barry Woods; Aaron Flanagan, Cian Flynn (0-1), Dylan Brogan; Phillip Kirwan (0-1), Alex Finnegan (0-2, 2p); Shane Downey (0-1), Paudi Downey (0-2), Hayden Quinn; Fionn Meagher (1-2), Lee Kavanagh (0-1), Caebhan Housidari (0-1).

Subs: Lorcan Downey for F Meagher; Luagh Meagher for D Brogan; Sean Hoey for L Kavanagh; Sean Lynch for B Woods; Darren Thornton for Stephen Finegan.

(John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Division Three table)

Wolfe Tones 2-17 Naomh Malachi 0-3

Wolfe Tones continued their fine early season form to take care of Naomh Malachi. Despite the disappointment of the Kevin Mullen Shield loss the week previous, the winners got on with it and took it out on the visitors.

Straightway there was impact all over the field. With all six starting forwards getting in on the act, the Drogheda men were in pole position to start the league in eye-catching fashion.

Garrett Cooney is at full forward the focal point of all good moves. While David Begley continued to lead for Mals, they were overrun and Joe Comiskey found the net.

The good vibes from John Garvey’s side shone and none more so than the performance of two debutants Daniel Molloy and Eoin Clinton, the latter hitting the net for the impressive winners.

Wolfe Tones: Jonathan Lynch; Danny Byrne, Sean McMahon, Davy Bolger; Sean McQuail 0-1, Alan Fanning 0-1, Rhys McGovern; Paddy Fanning 0-1, Mark Healy 0-1; Taidgh Rock 0-1, Dwayne Leavy, Liam Gaffney 0-1; Garrett Cooney 0-5, Joe Comiskey 1-2, Darren Weldon 0-2. Subs: Nial Smith, Eoin Clinton, Sam Kelly, Daniel Molloy 1-0.

Naomh Malachi: Darrin Kearney; Conor Begley, Stephen Burns, Jamie Kelly; Darren Clarke, David Begley 0-1, Irla McMahon; Kevin McShane, Daniel Mulligan; Stephen Kelly 0-2, Andrew Begley, Matty Campbell; Collie Ronney, Pierce Caherty, Donal Begley.

Subs: James McShane for I McMahon, Gary McShane for C Rooney, Shane Rogers for M Campbell, Paul Burke for J Kelly. 

(John O'Neill Sand and Gravel Division Three fixtures)

John Mitchels 2-13 Lannleire 1-14

John Mitchels made a winning start to the new Division 3 campaign when they edged out Lannleire at home on Saturday evening.

In a lively encounter the hosts did just enough to come away with the points as goals either side of the break from Gareth Kane and John Gallagher proved the difference.

The opening period was evenly matched with the teams finding their range with some well-taken points. However, it was Kane who fired in the only goal of the half to send his team in with a 1-8 to 0-8 at the break.

Lannleire came out for the second half in determined fashion and a goal from Darragh Malone on 38 minutes kept his side right in the mix.

The game was in the balance right until the end but ultimately it was a second goal from Gallagher that helped his team over the line.

John Mitchels: Mickey Quinn; Mitchell Keenan, Shane Crosson, Aaron Kane; Cole Leavy, Mikey Nulty, Jake Gillespie; Trevor Matthews (0-2), John Bingham (0-2); Adam Keenan (0-2), John Gallagher (1-3), James Sands; Tristan Knowles (0-1), Gareth Kane (1-3), Sean McNeice.

Sub: Jamie Durnin for S McNeice.

Lannleire: Connor Dunne; Laurence McEntee, Darragh Goodman, Jack O’Connor 0-1; Alex Carroll, Jason Torris, Matthew Malone; Briain McGuinness, Kyle van Rhyn 0-1; Mark Grogan, Caoimhin Maher, Colin Murphy 0-2; Brendan Cassidy 0-1, Bob Murphy 0-3 (1 2p), Darragh Malone 1-6.

O’Connells 3-19 Dowdallshill 1-9

O’Connell’s started their Division 3 league campaign with a victory after taking down Dowdallshill at The Grove on Saturday evening.

The game started slowly for O’Connell’s, with two Cian Geeney points the only highlights of the opening 10 minutes.

This changed when the ball fell to Robert Quigley in front of the goal, with the talismanic forward finding the back of the Dowdallshill net.

From there, O’Connell’s kicked on to extend their lead with scores from Geeney and a pair of two-pointers from Robert Quigley either side of the visitors’ only point of the first half.

By the time the ball fell to Bernard Osborne to add the game’s second goal in the 20th minute, leaving the score line 2-7 to 0-1, the game was firmly within grasp for the home side.

O’Connell’s would go on to add five more points before the break to leave the halftime score at 2-12 to 0-1.

Despite the visitors starting the second half with a much higher intensity and pulling back a goal through Gavin Baxter, Robert Quigley ensured there was to be no comeback, scoring 1-6 on his own to keep O’Connell’s in firm control.

Points from Harry Kierans and Jackie Agnew rounded out what was a good display for O’Connell’s for the Bellingham side, while Eoin Maguire chipped in with six points for the visitors along with two from Cathal Byrne.

O’Connell’s: Ciáran Kearney, Adam Flynn, Jack McGeough, Tadgh Kearney, James Walsh, Stuart Osbourne, Nathan Carragher, Justin Cooney, Cailum Woods, Harry Kierans (0-1), Robert Quigley (2-12, 2 x 2p), Alan McGovern, Cian Geeney (0-3), Evan Kearney, Bernard Osborne (1-2).

Subs: T.J Conlon for E. Kearney, David Hoey for C. Woods, Conall Clerkin for A. McGovern, Jackie Agnew (0-1) for C. Geeney, Leo Walsh for B. Osborne.

Dowdallshill: Emmet O’Brien, Gary Corrigan, James Woods, Kevin McGonagle, John McKenny, Gavin Baxter (1-1), Feidhlim O’Callaghan, Stephen Murray, Justin Halley, Ray Campbell, Paul Flynn, Tommy Craig, Donal Magennis, Eoin Maguire (0-6, 3 x 2p), Cathal Byrne (0-2).

Subs: Cian Kieran for R Campbell, Niall McDonagh for J McKenny, Thomas McKenny for T Craig. 

Annaghminnon Rovers 3-13 Sean McDermotts 3-11

Annaghminnon Rovers came through an entertaining Division 3 game at Pat Holland Park as they held off the challenge of Sean McDermotts to get their season off to a winning start.

In an exciting second half, it looked as if the Seans had grabbed the initiative but they were hit by a sucker punch as the hosts hit three goals in quick succession to claim victory.

A brace from Shane Grimes and another from Paul Tierney made the difference for an Annaghminnon side inspired by a fine performance from Conor Russell.

The first half proved to be a relatively low-key affair but it was Rovers who held the upper hand and thanks to scores from Rory Phelan and James O’Connor they led by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break. At the other end, Daniel Commins kept the Seans in contention.

The Mountrush side showed great determination at the start of the second half as goals from Commins and Emmet Duffy saw them take charge.

However, Rovers were in no mood to give up without a fight and turned the game on its head once again with three goals to send them on their way to victory.

Annaghminnon Rovers: Ciaran O’Reilly; Christopher Connolly, Nathan Buckley, Paudi Russell; Tiernan O’Brien, Colin Campbell, Fergal Markey; Conor Russell, Dylan McArdle (0-1); James O’Connor (0-3), Rory Phelan (0-5), Aidan Lee Martin (0-1); Paul Tierney (1-0), Shane Grimes (2-0), Dwayne Markey (0-2).

Subs: David Marron (0-1), Micheal Marron, Cathal McMahon, Ronan O’Reilly.

Sean McDermotts: Noel Tuite; Sean McMahon, Conor Walsh, Danny Reilly; Matthew Little, Nathan Commins, David O’Neill, David McArdle (0-1), Ian Corbally; Donnacha McCourt, Emmet Duffy (1-1), Danny Commins; Kevin McMahon, Daniel Commins (1-8, 3 x 2p), Peter Tuite (1-1). Subs: Sean Martin for C Walsh, Pat Osborne for N Commins.

Glyde Rangers 3-16 Cuchulainn Gaels 1-5

Glyde Rangers came flying out of the blocks in Division 3 on Saturday evening as they brushed aside the challenge of Cuchulainn Gaels in their opening game of the campaign.

The game in Tallanstown was severely affected by the wind and the home side made full use of the elements to take a firm grip of the game as they established an 18-point lead at the interval to leave no way back for the Omeath men.

Cormac Lundon, Killian Scott and Leigh Byrne all raised green flags for Glyde in the opening half to take full control.

Although the Gaels found the net at the other end, they were left facing an impossible task in the second half as they trailed by 3-12 to 1-0 at the break.

The Omeath men did hit back with five second-half points but Glyde responded with four of their own to complete a comfortable win with Ciaran Sheridan top-scoring with seven points, while Lee Finnegan added a further four.

Glyde Rangers: Oran Matthews; Mark McKeever, Jack McKeever, Shane Byrne; Shane Mullany, Fiachre Sheridan, Darren McKeever; Ciaran Sheridan 0-7, Adam Sweeney; Cormac Lundon 1-1,  Killian Scott 1-0, Ged Bourton; Leigh Byrne 1-1, Lee Finnegan 0-4, Aaron Myles.

Subs: Conor McCullagh 0-1, Olin Crosbie, Oisin Lynch, Oisin Reenan.

Cuchulainn Gaels: Seamus Quigley; Euan McArdle, Sean Brennan, Luke McGovern; Philip McGovern, Martin Hynes, Seamus McCabe; Micheal McCabe, Dylan Lynch; Adam Sharkey, James Sharkey, Rammie Phillips; Cian McDonald, Aodhan O’Hanlon, David Reilly.

Nh Fionnbarra 1-17 Na Piarsaigh Blackrock 1-6

An unexpectedly one-sided affair concluded with an 11-point victory for the away side at a sun-soaked Pairc N tAthair Ui Dubhthaigh on Sunday evening.

Naomh Fionnbarra started with intent as Jack Regan pointed directly from the throw-in. It was a sign of things to come as 'Barrs controlled the game from start to finish.

The half time score 1-2 to 0-8 flattered the home side as in reality 'Barrs were worth more than this lead but poor shooting let the away side down at times.

The aforementioned Jack Regan score from the off was added to by scores from Jack Murtagh (3), Stephen O'Reilly (2), and Jack Butterly and Gary Matthews.

Na Piarsaigh battled throughout and were rewarded with a goal from James Mahoney before the break. That goal, scored 20 minutes into the first half was to be their last score until 20 minutes into the second half.

By that stage, the game was over as a contest as points from Jack Murtagh, Jack Butterly, Michael McArdle, Collie McGrane and Josh Crosbie had the Togher men well ahead.

A sublime team goal epitomised both the work rate of the 'Barrs team as goalkeeper Fionn McQuillan's laser-like kickout found the impressive Jack Regan who immediately launched a foot pass to Michael Mc Ardle on the 40.

McArdle skilfully played a ball over the out-rushing defence to Jack Butterly who still had it all to do before beating the last man and launching a low drive to the bottom left corner.

Although the game was beyond then, Na Piarsaigh rallied in the closing stages to kick the last four 4 scores of the game including an audacious two-pointer from well outside the 40 metre arc. 

Nh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan; Jake Young, Ronan Callaghan, Stephen Doyle; Josh Crosbie, Collie McGrane, Adam Hanratty; Gary Matthews, Jack Regan; Cormac McArdle, Jack Butterly, Stephen O'Reilly; Jack Murtagh, Michael McArdle, Conor Osbourne.

Subs: Chris McGlynn for S Doyle, Andy McCann for G Matthews, Colum Kierans for C McArdle, Matthew O’Reilly for J Butterly.

Na Piarsaigh Blackrock: Jordan Mackin; Chris Kellet, Shane Roddy, James McCartney; John Galligan, Joe Woods, Michael Woods; Conall Myles, Ciaran Murphy 0-2; James Mahoney 1-0, Calum Smith 0-1, Tommy Muckian; Jamie Fealy 0-2, Robbie Murphy 0-1, Gerard Rice.

Subs: Eoin Farrell, Oisin Woods, David Boyle, Ronan McCartney.