NEFL lose out to slick LSL opponents

The North East Football League's opening game in the FAI Oscar Traynor Trophy competition ended in defeat when they lost out 1-3 to the Leinster Senior League at the MDL this evening.

The game was played a fast tempo but it was the the visitors who proved more clinical when it came to taking their chances.

The LSL showed plenty of early promise and it was no surprise when they went ahead with Gerard Shortt firing low to the net.

Then just before the interval the NEFL conjured up an equaliser when Duleek's Barry Kavanagh showed the instincts of a goal-poacher by slotting home from close range.

The goal gave David Doyle's side real hope that they might achieve a victory but in the opening seconds of the second-half the LSL scored again this time Daniel Matthews finding the target.

The NEFL produced spells of good football in the second-half with Kavanagh and OMP's Ryan Murphy spurning good opportunities.

In the closing stages the LSL broke from defence and secured victory with another goal from Matthews.

Cormac Reid, Conor Branigan, Shaun Doyle and Robbie Dillon were among those to play well for the NEFL who have yet to take on the Carlow and Kilkenny leagues in their group.  

NEFL - Conor Gilsenan (Navan Cosmos); Paul Delaney (Navan Cosmos), Stefan McKevitt (Quay Celtic), Shaun Doyle (Cosmos), Robbie Dillon (Cosmos), Keith Finnegan (Bellurgan), Conor Branigan (Duleek), Cormac Reid (Duleek), Barry Kavanagh (Duleek), Conor Walsh (Navan Cosmos), Colm Carney (Navan Cosmos). Subs - Killian Corcoran (Navan Cosmos) for Carney 32 mins, Ryan Murphy (OMP) for Finnegan 63m, Arnold Rukensas for Walsh 80m.