Steelstown hopes ended by defeat at Lavey

Steelstown 0-12

Late goals from Segdae Melaugh and Niall Duggan sealed Lavey’s win against a resurgent Steelstown on Sunday.

It books Lavey’s quarter-final spot against All-Ireland champions Glen but it sent Steelstown out of the championship with Ballinascreen’s win over Newbridge seeing them book the final qualification spot.

Steelstown were two points ahead after a cagey opening with scores from Diarmuid Baker and a mark from Ben McCarron.

It was a game of patience, or packed defences and runners looking for openings but it was the kicking from outside the cover that opened it up.

Declan Hughes and Niall Toner hit scores to level the game before Fintan Bradley gave Lavey a lead an on their way to a 0-6 to 0-5 interval advantage.

Ryan Devine levelled the game early in the second half before the game’s first key moment when Lavey hit the net for the first time. Ryan Mulholland and Patrick McGurk broke inside before the inrushing Naithan Scullion finished to the net for a 1-6 to 0-6 lead.

McMonagle began to pull the strings for Steelstown with Neil Forester kicked a score off either foot to bring the Brian Ógs back into the game.

With time almost up, with Steelstown ‘keeper McKinney pushed out they lost possession and it was Segdae Melaugh who smashed to the net for a 2-9 to 0-11 lead.

McCarron had a close range free but with almost the entire Lavey on the line, it was deflected over for a point.

In the last play, a Kevin O’Neill catch from the kick-out led to Fintan Bradley’s perfect pass and Niall Duggan banged in the third goal with the last kick.

Scorers:

Lavey: Naithan Scullion, Niall Duggan, Segdae Melaugh 1-0 each, Fintan Bradley, Niall Toner 0-2 each, Ryan Mulholland, Declan Hughes, Kevin O’Neill, Jamie Duggan and Patrick McGurk 0-1 each

Steelstown: Ryan Devine (1f, 1m), Cahir McMonagle 0-3 each, Neil Forester 0-2, Diarmuid Baker, Donncha Gilmore, Ryan Devine and Eoghan Concannon 0-1 each

Louis Regan; Aidan Toner, Conor Mulholland, Naithan Scullion; Segdae Melaugh, Ciaran Hendry, Ryan Mulholland; Rory McGill, Kevin O’Neill; James McGurk, Niall Toner, Patrick McGurk; Jamie Duggan, Fintan Bradley, Declin Hughes

Subs: Niall Duggan for J McGurk (43), Ryan McGill for J Duggan (55), Marc McGurk for Melaugh (INJ 61)

Steelstown: Mickey McKinney; Eoin Canavan, Ryan McCloskey, Gerard Walsh; Shane O’Connor, Diarmuid Baker, Odhran Campbell; Donncha Gilmore, Ryan Devine; Callum Deery, Ben McCarron, Oran McMenamin; Eoghan Concannon, Cahir McMonagle, Neil Forester

Subs: Gareth Logue for Concannon (47), Cathal Derry for Canavan (47), Ruairi McShane for Callum Deery (55)