Louth Division 2: O’Connells are relegated while Kilkerley close in on promotion

HOLLYWOOD DEVELOPMENTS DIVISION 2A ROUND 14

KILKERLEY EMMETS 2-13

ST KEVINS 3-8

Kilkerley Emmets stretched their lead at the top of Division 2A with a two-point win over title rivals, St Kevins in Kilkerley.

With Cooley also winning on the night, securing the maximum points from this contest was vital and they still hold all the aces in the race for promotion.

Shane Lennon came off the bench to grab a brace of goals as his side overturned a one-point deficit in the third quarter.

Kilkerley got off to a bright start with Liam Crawley and Conor Quigley on target before Cian Callan scored the first goal of the night for St Kevins.

TJ Doheny added a second goal to send his team in with a 2-4 to 0-9 lead at the break.

When Lee Crosbie found the net from a penalty, the Philipstown side were six points to the good. However, Lennon then took centre stage and struck 2-1 without reply, including a penalty, before a late Tadhg McEnaney score sealed victory.

COOLEY KICKHAMS 1-10

CLAN NA GAEL 0-10

Cooley Kickhams kept the pressure on Kilkerley Emmets at the top of the table with a 1-10 to 0-10 over Clan na Gael in Dundalk.

The result leaves The Peninsula men just a point off first, while leaving the Clans second from bottom.

On a night when Liam O’Hanlon kicked six points, it was the Clans who had the better of the first half and led by 0-6 to 0-3 at the break in what was a tightly fought but low scoring start to proceedings.

Kickhams fought back in the second half and scored the only goal of the game through Michael Rafferty, the green flag being a decisive factor as they clinched maximum points to keep in the hunt for promotion.

Robbie Curran, Paul Crewe and Mark McGeown were also on target for the Clans, who will hope to end the season on a high note and find their nest form ahead of a gruelling Intermediate Championship campaign which starts next month.

ROCHE EMMETS 0-11

YOUNG IRELANDS 0-6

Roche Emmets made it back-to-back wins in Division 2 when they defeated Young Irelands by 0-11 to 0-6 at Pairc Eire Og.

At the end of a tight first half, Roche held a slender 0-5 to 0-4 lead but they upped the pace in the second period and deservedly took maximum points.

Barry O’Hare chipped in with four points, while Glen Stewart and subs, Sean Dawe and Liam Dawe were also on target.

Ruairi Kelly, Peter McStravick and Jamie Browne were on target for a Young Irelands side whose hopes were hampered by the loss of Derek Maguire to a second yellow card.

The loss leaves them bottom of 1B, a single point behind local rivals Clan na Gael, while Roche firmly hold onto third position, in a table where just four points separates sixth from third.

DIVISION 2B ROUND 14

ST JOSEPHS 3-12

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 0-15

St Josephs stretched their lead at the top of the Division 2B table to five points thanks to a 3-12 to 0-15 win away to nearest rivals, Hunterstown Rovers, a team that had slowly been building momentum ever since the league spit a couple of weeks prior.

A storming first half display set the Joes up for victory, but they had to withstand a gallant second half rally from the hosts.

The Joes had the perfect start with an early goal from Ben Collier and straight from the kick-out, Alan Quigley added a second. Oisin McGuinness fired in a third goal to make it 3-7 to 0-3 at the break.

Hunterstown upped the intensity in the second half and dominated the scoring with Glen Matthews (5) and Paul Carrie their top-scorers, while Jamie O’Callaghan, David Finn and James Rogers were also among the points.

Fresh off his campaign with the Louth Seniors, Conall McCaul scored five points for the winners, as Jack Mulligan and Conor Neary were also on target in an impressive showing for the men from Darver and Dromiskin.

GLEN EMMETS 1-10

O’CONNELLS 1-6

Glen Emmets took advantage of Lannleire’s inactivity on the night to move above the Dunleer side in the table thanks to a 1-10 to 1-6 win over O’Connells in Tulyallen.

It was another disappointing night for the visitors as the result confirms their relegation to Division 3 for next season.

Sean Woods got the O’Connells off to a great start with a goal inside the opening minute while Cailum Woods and Conor Culligan added to the tally before the break as their side led by 1-4 to 0-to leave the Castlebellingham based club in good position in what really was a do or die clash in the fight for survival.

Alex Carolan, Andrew Mooney and Evan Kearney kept the hosts in touch, leaving the game far from concluded as we entered into what was a crucial 30-minute period for both teams’ league seasons.

It remained tight for much of the second half and with two minutes remaining, the teams were level at 0-9 to 1-6.

When it mattered most, it was county star Conor Grimes that stepped up to the plate when the tie was in the melting pot, as he duly won and converted a penalty to put his side in command before Alex Blakeman Fowler landed the final score to secure a hard fought four-point victory.

Round 15 Fixtures Tues 1st August:

Roche Emmets vs Clan na Gael

St Kevins vs Young Irelands

Cooley Kickhams vs Kilkerley

Emmets vs Cooley Kickhams

St Josephs vs Glen Emmets

Lann Leire vs Hunterstown Rovers

O’Connells vs Dundalk Gaels

(All 8PM Throw ins).

Round 16 Fixtures Sat 5th August:

St Kevins vs Cooley Kickhams

Kilkerley vs Roche Emmets