Division 2 Roundup: Dundalk Gaels victory sees them continue promotion push

HOLLYWOOD DEVELOPMENTS DIVISION 2 ROUND 6

ROCHE EMMETS 2-10 YOUNG IRELANDS 0-12

Young Irelands lost further ground at the top of the Division 2 table when they lost out away to Roche Emmets on Friday night.

In what was a close encounter throughout, it was the hosts who just about shaded it in the end with a late goal from Shane Byrne finally sealing the win.

Liam McStravick had the visitors off the mark after four minutes, but Roche took control as Barry O’Hare struck a brace before Dan O’Connell found the net on nine minutes.

With Ryan Rice and Byrne on target, the Faughart side maintained that advantage at the break, while at the other end Ruairi Kelly and Dermot Mone were among the points as they kept the deficit to 1-7 to 0-6 at the break.

The visitors made a bright start to the second half as points from Cian O’Donoghue and Kelly saw them battle back.

The game was in the melting pot right to the end as O’Hare brought his tally to seven for Roche, but it was Byrne who had the final say as his goal secured a third win of the season for his side.

ROCHE EMMETS: Evin Quigley; Conor Callan, Caoimhin Reilly, Adam McKay; Harry O’Connell, James McDonnell, Sean Dawe; Glen Stewart, Ryan Rice (0-2); Mark Byrne, Shane Byrne (1-1), Jack McKay; DD Reilly, Dan O’Connell (1-0), Barry O’Hare (0-7). Subs: Daire Reilly, Fionn Conlon.

YOUNG IRELANDS: Fergal Sheekey; Lee O’Donoghue, Ciaran Murray, Conn O’Donoghue; Liam McStravick (0-2), Cian O Naraigh; Sean Muprhy, Ruairi Kelly (0-4); Dermot Mone (0-1), Cian O’Donoghue (0-1), Jack McArdle; Derek Maguire (0-2), Dean Maguire, Jordan O’Donoghue (0-1). Sub: Lee Duffy for Derek Maguire.

ST KEVINS 2-17 KILKERLEY EMMETS 0-15

St Kevins moved into third place in the Division 2 table thanks to this impressive victory away to Kilkerley Emmets on Friday evening.

A second half blitz in which the Philipstown side scored 2-5 in a 10-minute spell that saw them concede just one point, proved decisive as they chalked up their third win of the campaign.

For the home side, it was another disappointing outing as their slump in form continued despite the fact that Tadhg McEnaney and Micheal Begley registered six points apiece on the night.

It proved to be a tight contest for much of the opening period as the Kevins had points from TJ Doheny (3), Cian Callan (2), Patrick Clarke, Tom Matthews, Sean Meade and Evan Maher to lead by 0-9 to 0-8 at the break. Begley (4), McEnaney (3) and Conall McEnaney were on target for the Emmets.

The game remained in the balance in the early stages of the second half, but the Kevins turned up the pace in devastating style as goals from Callan and Matthews during that ten minute spell saw them take firm control of the game.

The hosts were unable to recover from the scoring burst and the Kevins held out for a comfortable win.

ST KEVINS: Danny Crosbie; Dylan Maher, Seanie Crosbie, Finbarr Lynch; Darren McMullen, Cameron Maher (0-1), Joe McArdle; Brian Callaghan, Evan Maher (0-2); Patrick Clarke (0-2), Shane Meade (0-2), Caolan McMullen; TJ Doheny (0-5), Cian Callan (1-6), Tom Matthews (1-1). Subs: Keelan Maher for P Clarke, Sean Powderly for C McMullen.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Ultan McEnaney; Kyle Cotter, Cillian Mulligan, Cormac Bellew; Ewan McEnteggart, Cathal Bellew, Conal Quinn; Fintan Brady, Brian Brady; Conall McEnaney (0-1), Sean Hand, Cormac Mallon; Tadhg McEnaney (0-6), Micheal Begley (0-6), Andrew McGuill. Subs: Conall Quigley (0-2) for C McEnaney; Ciaran Clarke for A McGuill; Fionn Cumiskey for C Mallon.   

ST JOSEPHS 1-12 CLAN NA GAEL 2-9

In a highly competitive sixth round match, the sides were level nine times in all, six times in a very tight first half where for the most part it was score for score.

Despite the Joes holding the upper hand for long periods of the second half, there was always an air of inevitability that this game would end up level.

The very impressive Billy Smith, who proved dangerous throughout, opened the scoring for the Clans with a fine point under pressure in the second minute. The Joes worked their way forward, David Kierans move along the end line and winning a 13m free which was converted by Jack Mulligan.

The Clans took the lead from a forward mark by Shane Carroll, the Joes equalising with a point from Ben Collier. A swift move upfield by the Clans, found target man Smith and he made it 0-3 to 0-2 on eight minutes.

Both sides were off target with a number of chances before Alan McKenna pointed to leave the scores tied at three points each at the end of the first quarter.

Billy Smith and Killian Staunton traded a brace apiece, before two more efforts from Smith were cancelled out by Ben Collier and Conor Neary to see the teams’ level at seven points each at the break.

The Joes scored the first four points of the second half through Craig Doherty (2), Alan Quigley, and Staunton. However, the Clans hit back to level when Conor Noonan’s point was followed by a goal from John Byrne to make it 0-12 to 1-9.

The team’s then traded points before Gabriel Bell burst through to find the net and put the Joes three clear.

However, the hosts could not close out the game and it was the Clans, in what proved the final attack of the game, who got the equaliser in a goalmouth scramble on 64 minutes. Shay Coleman forced the ball to the net, leaving the sides level for the ninth time.

ST JOSEPHS: Steven Carron; Ben Mulligan, Aidan Kieran, Byron Carolan; Cian Sheridan, Killian Staunton (0-1), David Kieran; Gabriel Bell (1-0), Conor Neary (0-2); Jack Mulligan (0-2), Craig Doherty (0-2), Alan McKenna (0-1); Daire Smyth, Ben Collier (0-3), Sean Allen. Subs: Alan Quigley (0-1), Conall Smyth, Alan Lynch.

CLAN NA GAEL: Sean Smith; Conor Smith, Gerard Curran, Brian McDonnell; Paul Gartlan, Craig Long (0-1), John Byrne (1-0); Conor Noonan (0-1), Paul Crewe; Gavin Gaffey, Shane Carroll (0-1), Mark Lee; Mark McGeown, Billy Smith (0-6), Ciaran O’Connor. Subs: Shay Coleman (1-0) for S Carroll, Liam O’Hanlon for G Gaffey, Mark Newell for C O’Connor.

DUNDALK GAELS 5-22 O’CONNELLS 0-6

The Division 2 league leaders, Dundalk Gaels, maintained their winning way with an easy victory over O’Connells at The Grove on Friday evening.

The visitors dominated the opening 20 minutes and had 1-9 on the board before the home side registered their first score.

The goal was scored by full forward Thomas O’Connell and he also got three points along with other points from Liam O’Connor, Mark Hanna, Kyle Rafferty, Jordan Keating and a brace from Mark McCabe.

Emmet Byrne got the Bellingham side on the board and Dean Stanfield got their second point of the game. Eamonn Kenny and Conor Kiernan swapped points before the Gaels got the last three points of the half from O’Connell, Rafferty and Jack Mullen to leave the score at the break 1-13 to 0-3.

Jackie Agnew got the first point of the second half, but normal service resumed as the visitors scored 1-4 without reply, the goal coming from McCabe.

Bernard Osborne got the O’Connells fifth point of the game, but The Ramparts side added another 2-5 with five minutes to go, the goals coming from James O’Connor and substitute Aaron Culligan.

Agnew put over an excellent 45 for the home side but Liam O’Connor got the last score of the game, another goal to wrap up the scoring for the night.

DUNDALK GAELS: Adrian Rafferty; James Lynch, Oisin Murray, Paul McCrave; Jack Mullen (0-1), James O’Connell (1-1), Kyle Rafferty (0-2); Mark McCabe (1-2), Jordon Keating (0-1); Liam O’Connor (1-3), Eamonn Kenny (0-1), Luke Murray; Mark Hanna (0-1), Thomas O’Connell (1-9), Shaun Duffy. Subs Aaron Culligan (1-1) for E Kenny, Tom McDonagh for M Hanna, Tom Murphy for M McCabe, Stephen Murphy for S Duffy, John O’Hare for T O’Connell.

O’CONNELLS: John Brennan; Jack McGeough, Conor Byrne, David Hoey; Jackie Agnew (0-2), Conor Culligan, Emmet Byrne (0-1); Cailum Woods, Sean Cairns; Dean Stanfield (0-1), Bernard Osborne (0-1), Alan McGovern; Padraig McCahey, Conor Kiernan (0-1), Cian O’Dwyer. Subs: Dalton O’Brien for A McGovern, Jake Kearney for S Cairns.

GLEN EMMETS 0-8 LANNLEIRE 0-8

Lannleire picked up their first point of the Division 2 season when they struck an injury-time equaliser against Glen Emmets at Cusack Park last Thursday evening.

Killian Gregory was the hero for the visitors as he found his range from a free in added time and in the process denied the visitors their second victory of the season.

The Emmets are fast becoming the draw specialists of the division, as this was the third time they ended level as they moved on to five points.

The Dunleer men had the better of the first half and they ended the opening period leading by 0-6 to 0-3, with Alex Carolan (2) and Sam Kenny scoring for the Emmets.

The Tullyallen men hit back in the second period and with Kenny, Cian Talbot, Carolan, Keith Carolan and Evan English on target, as they looked to have won it.

However, the Dunleer men had the final say with an equalising point to see them move off the bottom of the table.

GLEN EMMETS: Damien Grimes; Emmet Delaney, Andrew Mooney, Keith Boylan; Robbie Byrne, Cathal Maguire, Conor Kelly; Cian Talbot (0-1), Sam Kenny (0-2); Evan English (0-1), Eoghan Maguire, Sean Byrne; Alex Carolan (0-3), Kealan O’Neill, James Breen. Sub: K Carolan (0-1) for J Breen.

LANNLEIRE: Liam Callan; Jason Torris, Paul McGeough, Laurence McEntee; Alex Carroll, Briain McGuinness, Caoimhin Maher; Pierce Hawkins, Kyle Van Rhijn; Killian Gregory (0-3), Bob Murphy (0-1), Paul Callan (0-3); Darragh Malone, Conor Dunne, Ian Mulroy (0-1). Subs: Luke Dunne Boylan for C Dunne.

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COOLEY KICKHAMS 0-10 HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS 1-7

Having served up a classic in the Intermediate semi-final last season, Cooley Kickhams were once again made to share the spoils at home to Hunterstown. A late Ryan Ward goal at the death saw Rovers claim an unlikely point.

Cooley were the better side on the night and will feel annoyed at the concession of the late equaliser. Ward came off the bench to scramble home a long direct ball into the square.

The point gained has Hunterstown now ahead of Kickhams in the table, although the Peninsula men have a game in hand.

It should have never been that way, such was the form of key forwards Michael Rafferty and Brian White. With the win looking to go the way of the hosts, Hunterstown to their credit never gave up. Paul Carrie typified that fighting spirt long before the dramatic finale.

COOLEY KICKHAMS: Neil Gallagher; Ian Arnold, Ronan Mc Bride, Gerry Malone; Sean White, Fearghal Malone, Darren Marks; Cormac Malone, Dean McGreehan; Enda O Neill (0-2), Brian White (0-2), Michael Carron (0-1); Cian Connor (0-3), Michael Rafferty (0-2), Patrick Johnston. SUBS: Brian Boyle, Patrick Hanlon, Callum O Hanlon, Gerard Hanlon.

HUNTERSTOWN ROVERS: Niall Carrie; Finn Kelly, Paddy Taaffe, Conor Reaburn; Cillian Taaffe, Dáithí Carroll, David Finn; Tony McKenna, Shane Halpenny (0-1); Glen Matthews (0-1), Paul Carrie (0-2), Colm Murphy; Richie Taaffe, James Rogers (0-2), Dean Burns (0-1). SUBS: Caolan McCabe for C Taaffe, James Russell for Reaburn, Adam O’Reilly for P Taaffe, Jamie O’Callaghan for Murphy, Ryan Ward (1-0) for Matthews.