GAA Round Up | Division 3A & 3B
Late drama as Barrs draw at Na Piarsaigh
John O'Neill Sand & Gravel Division 3A
NH FIONNBARRA 0-8
NA PIARSAIGH 1-5
Hugh Osborne scored a late point to secure what could prove to be a vital draw for Nh Fionnbarra at home to Na Piarsaigh on Saturday night.
That equaliser ensured that the Barrs remain three points clear of Na Piarsaigh who remain at the foot of the table after this Division 3A back fixture.
With much at stake in this clash, it is no surprise that it proved to be a very cagey affair from with outset. With defences on top, scores were at a premium and points from Na Piarsaigh’s Ciaran Murphy and David Boyle ensured that the teams went in at the break level at two points apiece.
The scoring rate did improve in the second half and it looked as if Joe Woods’ goal would prove the difference between the teams. However, the Barrs kept in touch with points from Cormac McArdle and Ciaran Murphy before Osborne landed the equaliser.
NH FIONNBARRA: Fionn McQuillan; Leo Kelly, Stephen Doyle, Colin McGrane; Sean Boyle, Chris McGlynn (0-1), Ronan McCreesh; Adam Hanratty (0-1), Ronan Callaghan; Jack Murtagh, Kalum Regan, Cormac McArdle (0-2); Thomas McCreesh (0-1), Conor Osborne (0-1), Hugh Osborne (0-1).
Subs: Michael McArdle for R Callaghan, Ciaran Murphy (0-1) for L Kelly, Jack Regan for R McCreesh.
NA PIARSAIGH: Aidan Marks; James Mahony, Joe Woods 1-0, Tomas Muckian; Chris Kellett, Shane Roddy, Steven McGuinness; Michael Woods, Mark O’Hare; Robert Murphy, David Boyle 0-1, Ronan McCartney; Ciaran Murphy 0-1, Gerard Rice, Darren Muckian.
Subs: Robert O’Hanlon 0-3, Sean Connolly, DJ Griffin, James McCartney, Seamus Connelly, Gavin McGee.
John O'Neill Sand & Gravel Division 3B
WOLFE TONES 1-15
WESTERNS 2-8
Western's opportunity to tighten their grip at the top of Division 3B was scuppered by an excellent Wolfe Tones performance as the Drogheda side made it six wins on the trot.
The hosts led comfortably in the opening half and could have been further ahead such was their dominance with Eoghan Brennan and Rory Taaffe on song.
Second half strikes from James Maguire and Cathal Kennedy suddenly gave the visitors a lead against the run of play but Sean McQuail struck a huge point to stem the tide and push the Tones over the line. The losers will look to win their key game in hand Wednesday night against Naomh Malachi.
WOLFE TONES: Alan Sweeney; Danny Byrne, Kevin Brady, Rhys McGovern; Sean Flanagan, Alan Fanning, Seán McQuail 0-1; Mark Healy, Dean Haggins; Dwayne Leavy, Eoghan Brennan 0-4, Sam Kelly; Liam Gaffney 0-2, Rory Taaffe 0-4, Garrett Cooney 0-2.
Subs: Darren Weldon 1-0 for S.Flanagan, Niall Smith for Cooney, Eoghan O’Shea for Healy.
WESTERNS: Terry Sweeney; Andy Murray, Ray Quinn, Adam Duffy; Mick Martin, Conor McElleand, Cathal Kennelly 1-0; Finn Duffy, James Maguire 1-5; Rory Duffy, Joe Durnin, Patrick Kerley; Aidan McGarrell, Killian Crosbie 0-1, Anthony Durnin.
Subs: Dylan Ogle, Ciaran Scriven, B Duffy, B Coyle; Connor Smith, Chris Kerr 0-2, Connor Smith.
ST NICHOLAS 2-7
SEAN MCDERMOTTS 1-5
St Nicholas went joint top of Division 3B with a workman like victory over Sean McDermotts at Jimmy Pentony Park. Goalkeeper Shane Finegan will get the plaudits with treble strikes from placed balls.
Every score counted as the cagey affair began with an Emmet Duffy goal and a Philip Kirwan response to make it 1-5 to 1-3 in the hosts' favour at half time.
In the second half, with top spot on offer, Karl O’Connor’s side were guided over the line by Finegan’s accuracy and Sam Reilly slamming home for the ascending Nicks.
ST NICHOLAS: Shane Finegan 0-3; Stephen Finegan, Alex Finegan, Caebhan Housidari; Aaron Flanagan, Ruairí Hanlon, Dylan Brogan; Sam Reilly 1-0, Cian Flynn; Philip Kirwan 1-1, Roy Kierans, Hayden Quinn; Paudi Downey 0-3, Lee Kavanagh, Brian Carter.
Subs: Declan Heeney, Tadgh Martin.
SEAN MCDERMOTTS: Danny Reilly; Conor Walsh, David McArdle, Ian Corbally; Danny Commins, Niall Babington 0-1, Kevin McMahon 0-1; Patrick Osborne, Sean McMahon; Peter Tuite, Emmet Duffy 1-1, Matthew Little; Dean Brennan, Tony Kelly 0-1, Ian McDonald.
Subs: Connor Farrell, Cormac Walsh 0-1, Declan Carroll
ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS 2-13
CUCHULAINN GAELS 1-10
In form Annaghminnon Rovers got off to a bright start and condemned Cuchulainn Gaels to their eighth loss of the season. Glenn Burden’s side have now put a squeeze on the top 4 in Division 3B.
Rovers led 2-6 to no score after 20 minutes but Omeath kicked five with no reply before half time through James Sharkey. The Markey brothers notched the two goals between them this week.
Despite a Cian McDonald goal after half time there would be no dramatic finish as Rovers eased over the line thanks to James O’Connor and Dwayne Markey
ANNAGHMINNON ROVERS: Shane Grimes;Tomás Byrne, Eddie Finnegan, Tiernan O’Brien; Nathan Buckley, Colin Campbell 0-2, Paul McArdle; Conor Russell, Dylan McArdle; Fergal Markey 1-0, Rory Phelan 0-3, Paudi Russell; Mark Hoey; James O’Connor 0-3, Dwayne Markey 1-5.
Subs: Richie Ashfield, Aidan Lee Martin.
CUCHULAINN GAELS: Niall King; Rowan Mulligan, Seán Brennan, Seamus McCabe; James Keenan, Martin Hynes, Eamonn Donnelly; Larry Brennan, Phillip McGovern 0-1; Mícheál McCabe 0-1, David McQuaid, Cian McDonald 1-1; James Sharkey 0-6, Conor King 0-1, Stephen Mullen.
Subs: Eoin McDonald for Stephen Mullen.