Louth Division 1 Roundup: Ardee victory keeps pressure on leaders Naomh Mairtin

ST MARYS 1-14

DREADNOTS 0-11

St Mary’s took advantage of their Thursday evening throw-in to move level, at least temporarily, with Nh Mairtin at the top of the Division 1 table.

The County Champions made it six wins from seven outings when they came from behind to defeat Dreadnots at Pairc Mhuire.

A goal from Ronan Carroll in the third quarter proved crucial as the hosts dominated the second half to claim a six-point victory.

There was little to choose between the teams in the opening half as Carl Gillespie and Darren Clarke were among the scorers for the Marys. However, the Dreadnots ended the half with a one-point advantage as points from Dean Hyland and Darragh Shevlin helped them to a 0-6 to 0-5 lead.

The Ardee men regrouped after the restart and moved quickly to take the lead before Carroll’s goal on 40 minutes put them in the driving seat.

His side pushed on from there and despite a late rally from, the Clogher side were unable to get back into the game as the Marys held out for the victory.

ST MARYS: James McGillick; Dvid Rooney, Tiernan Corrigan (0-1), Rory Cousins (0-1); Kian Moran, Carl Gillespie (0-3), Conor O’Brien; Cillian Keenan, Conor Gillespie; Paudy Clarke, Darren Clarke (0-4), Dean Matthews; Cian Commins, Ronan Carroll (1-3), Ciaran McConnon (0-2). Subs: Wayne Matthews.

DREADNOTS: Dylan Cassidy; Aaron Scullion, Barry Faulkner, Calum Skinnader; Cathal Lynch (0-1), Conor Faulkner, Darragh Shevlin (0-3); Cian McEvoy, Ciaran Finnegan (0-1); Conor Shevlin (0-1), Owen Murphy, Sam Reilly; Dean Hyland (0-4), Carl Monaghan, Padraig Rath. Subs: David O’Brien (0-1), Ciaran Caffrey, Fergus Browne, Ciaran Cunningham.

ST PATRICKS 0-14

SEAN O’MAHONYS 2-7

In a tight contest at the Point Road on Saturday evening, St Patricks did just enough to hold on for a one-point victory with Aidan McCann’s late point proving decisive.

The Lordship side’s third victory of the campaign moves them up into joint fourth place in the table and well clear of the relegation battle.

Despite conceding the first point to McCann, the O’Mahonys began well and added the next two points to take an early lead.

However, the Pats took control and kicked seven successive points through Jason Woods, Cathal Grogan, Joseph Connor, Tadhg O’Connor and McCann before a late O’Mahonys point cut the gap to 0-8 to 0-3 at the break.

Once again, the O’Mahonys began the half well and kicked four of the first six points to give themselves hope before a goal from Ben McLaughlin on 23 minutes got them right back into the game.

However, the visitors composed themselves and added points from Conor Grogan, Cathal Grogan and McCann to open up a four-point gap which was enough to see them over the line despite a late goal from Conor Mackin.

ST PATRICKS: Martin McEneaney 0-1; Daniel Tumilty, Kevin Toner, Ruairi O’Hagan; Conor Grogan (0-1), Barry Dunne, Joseph Connor (0-1); Matt Pagni, Martin Breen; Aidan McCann (0-3), Adam Finnegan, Tadhg O’Connor (0-2); Jason Woods (0-4), Cathal Grogan (0-2), Sean Fearon. Subs: Danny O’Connor for T O’Connor, Darren Connor for S Fearon.

SEAN O’MAHONYS: Eddie Maguire (0-1); Rob Galligan, Chris O’Neill, Ciaran Jameson; Conor Finnegan, Keith McLaughlin, Sean Cassidy; Thomas Rice (0-1), Conor Martin; Brian McGuirk, Tiarnan Cassidy, Conor Mackin (1-1); Terry Kelly (0-3), Stephen Kilcoyne, Junior Shotayo (0-1). Subs: Mark Traynor for S Kilcoyne, Ben McLaughlin (1-0) for Mark Traynor, Gareth Hall for T Cassidy, Tiarnan Cassidy for K McLaughlin, Oisin Breen for C O’Neill.

ST BRIDES 4-10

GERALDINES 0-11

St Brides had a comprehensive win over arch-rivals and neighbours Geraldines on Saturday night at Seamus Mhic hEochaidh Park. However, at half time it did appear the home side would prevail as they held a three-point lead.

The visitors took the lead early on through a Kieran McArdle point, but this was cancelled out soon after by Beanón Corrigan before McArdle got his side in front again on six minutes.

However, the Haggardstown men moved up a gear with three unanswered points before McArdle reduced the deficit on 17 minutes. 

The Gers added two further minors before Emmet Kirk registered his first score on 21 minutes. Both sides each raised the white flag again and the hosts concluded the scoring prior to the interval with a point from midfielder Matt Corcoran to make it 0-8 to 0-5 for the home team.

The 'Reds' must have received an inspiring half time talk as after the restart they were quickest out of the blocks with Emmet Kirk firing over a fine point. His brother Nathan found the net shortly after to give the Knockbridge side the lead for the first time in half an hour. 

The Geraldines levelled proceedings soon after through John McCrohan, but this was as good as it got for the home side.

St Brides dominated after this and were helped when the opposition were reduced to 14 players for an off the ball incident when substitute Conor Rafferty received his marching orders.

St Brides tagged on another three goals through Emmet Kirk and McArdle (2), and five points to run out comfortable winners.

ST BRIDES: Sean Marry; Padraic Mackin, Cillian Kirk, Ronan Bailey; Sean Brennan, Ross Murnaghan, Evan Wynne; Bernard Laverty, Liam Molloy; Stephen Hoey, Kieran McArdle (2-4), Daniel McArdle; Nathan Kirk (1-1), Emmet Kirk (1-5), Neil Thornton. Subs: Paraic Rutledge, James Costelloe.

GERALDINES: Des Reenan; Tom Cuniffe, Gareth Neacy, Paul Clarke; Dara O Gradaigh, Beanón Corrigan (0-3), Thomas McNamara; Matt Corcoran, Paddy Hoey (0-1); Brian Cafferty, James Craven (0-1), John McGrohan (0-1); Francis Lynch, Jim McEneaney 0-5, Neil Gartlan. Subs: Conor Rafferty, Barra Duffy, Jamie Callan.

ST FECHINS 0-18

NEWTOWN BLUES 1-12

St Fechins produced a fine overall display at home to Newtown Blues on Saturday evening as they recorded their third victory of the Division 1 season.

This was a mid-table clash with both sides hungry for the points, and it was the home side that showed the initiative in the first quarter with points coming from Neal Hodgins, Ryan Walsh, and Joe Corrigan.

Heading into the second quarter Blues pointed from a free followed by two more from play but St Fechins showed the strength and depth of their scoring ability with points coming from Harry Haughney, Ryan Walsh (2f), Brian Devlin (0-3), Eoin Hackett and Niall Devlin coming up to the halfway mark.

It looked to be a comfortable lead heading into the break when the Blues worked the ball up the field and Declan McNamara found the back of the Fechins net to cut the gap to 0-10 to 1-3.

Blues came out all guns blazing, pointing four unanswered scores to draw the match before the next four points were shared to leave the game in the balance.

Blues again went ahead but points from substitute Evan Dolan, Ryan Walsh (3f) and Ronan Holcroft put the Fechins back in the lead and they held out in the end to claim a three-point victory.

ST FECHINS: Niall McDonnell; Cian Gorman, David Lally, Danny Burnell; Neal Hodgins (0-2), Aaron McGlew, Harry Haughney (0-1); Eoin Hackett (0-1), David Collier; John O’Connell, Colm O’Neill, Joe Corrigan (0-1); Ryan Walsh (0-6), Brian Devlin (0-3), Niall Devlin (0-2). Subs: Ronan Holcroft (0-1) for J Corrigan, Eoghan Duffy for D Collier, Evan Dolan (0-1) for B Devlin, Lee Grifferty for C O’Neill.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Johnny McDonnell; John Connolly, Ciaran Cluskey Kelly, Evin McConnon; Stephen Kerr Rafferty, Emmet Carolan, Iollain Farrell; Alan Connor (0-2), Ian Connor (0-3); Jamie Kelly (0-2), Conor Branigan (0-3), Zack Levins; Conor McGuirk (0-1), Declan McNamara (1-0), Emmet Murray (0-1). Sub: Ciaran McCann for Z Levins.

NAOMH MAIRTIN 1-11

MATTOCK RANGERS 0-6

Naomh Mairtin made the short trip home from Collon with two more points as they maintained their 100% record with ease against an understrength Mattock Rangers side.

The hosts provided some resistance in the opening ten minutes as they led by four points to one and deservedly so, with James Caraher and Cathal Fleming impressing.

The league leaders however got into their groove and led 0-6 to 0-5 by half time thanks to a well taken brace from Val Leddy.

The second half was a dominant one for the visitors. Outscoring the hosts 1-5 to 0-1, Declan McCoy’s side choked the life out of the game in the second period. Stephen Campbell ended the drab affair with a late goal.

NAOMH MAIRTIN: Joe Gordon; Shane Morgan, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Smith; Evan Whelan, Jack Murphy (0-1), Craig Callanan; Wayne Campbell, Dara McDonnell (0-2); Ben Callanan (0-1), Val Leddy (0-2), Stephen Campbell (1-0); Conor Whelan (0-4), Craig Lynch (0-1), Darragh Dorian. SUBS: Mick Fanning, Joe McGrane, Mark McCullough, Jack Lynch.

MATTOCK RANGERS: Stephen Smith; Ben Markey, Cillian Hickey, Alan Caraher; Pauric Bannon, Ryan Leneghan, Ronán Kilbane (0-1), Cathal Fleming (0-2) Jason Condon; Caolan Nulty, Aaron O’Brien, Darren Henry; Robert Holmes, Shane Hickey (0-1), James Caraher (0-2). SUB: Adam Flynn. 

ST MOCHTA’S 4-15

O’RAGHALLAIGH’S 2-13

St Mochta’s kept pace at the top of Division 1 with a well-earned victory over O’Raghallaigh’s at Jimmy Pentony Park on Thursday night.

The free-flowing affair was a slow burner with the sides going point for point before opening up ahead of the interval. With the game poised at 0-5 apiece, Conor Garland made the breakthrough.

Ronan ‘Smiley’ Philips copied the Davy Fitzgerald template by playing two goalkeepers with the Louth U20 net minder impressing around the midfield and Joe Flanagan back in between the sticks for the second game in a row.

After Garland's net buster, Cormac Smyth got the first of his two goals on the night to give the visitors ultimate control. Despite Eoin Moore’s best efforts, the Ragh’s trailed off the pace and Declan Byrne and Smyth closed the win out with ease.

ST MOCHTA’S: Jason Callan; Oisin Callan, Ben Goss Kierans, Liam Lawlor; Andrew Lennon, Andrew English, Conor Garland (1-0); Sean Flynn (0-1), Darren McMahon; Danny Kindlon, Jamie Farrell (0-2), Gerry Garland, Cormac Smyth (2-2), Liam O'Flaherty, Declan Byrne (1-9). SUBS: Eamon O Neill for Liam O'Flaherty, Owen Lennon for Conor Garland, Ryan Cash for Goss Kierans, Gavyn Shortt for Andrew English. 

O’RAGHALLAIGH’S: Joe Flanagan; Matthew Moore, Scott Byrne, Kevin Magee; Joe Meehan, Emmet King, James Smyth; Eoin Moore, Connor Browne; Cillian Curran, Danny Morgan, Connel Rice; Baz Flanagan, Kyle McElroy, Ben Rogan.