Feis Cup round-up as sides jostle for semi-final spots

FEIS CUP

VITAL GOALS AT CRUCIAL TIMES STEER O'MAHONYS TO VICTORY

Navan O'Mahonys....3–8

Dunshaughlin.........1-12

Goals at crucial junctures and some late, late last ditch defending were the perfect ingredients as Navan O'Mahonys secured their second win over Feis Cup Group A with a narrow victory over pointless hosts Dunshaughlin.

Dunshaughlin started well and led by 0-2 to 0-1, but every time they got a some momentum going they were hit by a sucker punch and it was 2007 Allstar Stephen Bray who set up Eoin Joyce to hit the first blow and secure a 1-2 to 0-3 water break lead for the visitors.

When play resumed Dunshaughlin again played all the football, hitting three successive points to retake the lead, but as the half wound down a swift O'Mahonys counter-attack saw Ronan Clarke embark on a surging run before firing to the net for a 2-3 to 0-7 interval advantage.

Again, Dunshaughlin restarted positively when a long speculative effort ended up in the back of the net to restore their lead.

However, the lead didn't last long as a Niall McGrane long ball was carried over the goal line by the Dunshaughlin goalkeeper and with Joyce and Bray adding points O'Mahonys were 3-6 to 1-8 ahead at the second water break.

Shane McCarthy extended that lead with a point, but Dunshaughlin were always in contention with four successive points boosting their cause. However, Joyce settled O'Mahonys and even though they lost Conor Finnegan to a second yellow card they defended stoutly to hold on for just their second win of the campaign.

Navan O’Mahonys - Colm Honan; Sam Formosa, Mike O’Reilly, Paddy Dillon; James O’Reilly, Alan Forde, Aodhan Mallon; Conor Finnegan, Niall McGrane (1-0); Brian Dillon, Stephen Bray (0-1), Ruairí Smyth; Ronan Clarke (1-1), Eoin Joyce (1-4), Sean Walsh (0-1). Subs - Shane McCarthy (0-1) for Smyth, Sean Smyth for Walsh, Niall McKeigue for McGrane, Eimhin Power for B Dillon, Jack Bellamy for Forde.

MCGOVERN GOAL CRUCIAL AS DONAGHMORE/ASHBOURNE REMAIN ON TRACK

Donaghmore/Ashbourne.....1-14

Moynalvey............................1-7

Donaghmore/Ashbourne maintained their push for a place in the Feis Cup semi-finals with victory over Moynalvey who have now lost two-in-a-row.

The winners started well and had points on the board early on from Andrew Tormey, Stephen Carton (free) and Daragh McGovern.

Moynalvey finally opened their account with a point and after both sides were guilty of some wayward shooting it was Moynalvey who edged ahead with a goal.

Excellent goalkeeping from the host's netminder kept Donaghmore/Ashbourne at bay, but as the half wore n the visitors added points from Stephen Carton, Dylan Brady and Leo Reilly to lead by 0-7 to 1-3 at half-time.

Moynalvey retook the lead when play resumed, but Simon Wilson and Conor Carton settled Donaghmore/Ashbourne and even though Moynalvey added two more points from frees it was the visitors who finished strong with Daragh McGovern firing a brilliant goal to put the issue beyond doubt.

Stephen Carton added to his tally to make it five on the night, while James Crumlish also added to the tally.

Rodney Jones, David Carr and Conor Carton also impressed for the winners.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne - Jack Hannigan; Rodney Jones, Jason Boland, Conor Carton (0-1); Sean Curran, Thomas McGovern, David Carr; Andrew Tormey (0-1), James Redmond; James Crumlish (0-2), Daragh McGovern (1-1), Leo Reilly (0-1); Dylan Brady (0-2), Simon Wilson (0-1), Stephen Carton (0-5 ). Subs - Jack Giles for T McGovern, Kevin Fenton for Reilly, Evan Quinn for Curran, Cillain Hogan for Crumlish, Luke Wilson for Brady, Luke Andrews for Carton.

BALLINABRACKEY UNDONE BY LATE RATOATH WINNER

Ratoath...............0-13

Ballinabrackey......1-9

Ballinabrackey were handed another harsh lesson of life in senior football when they were edged out by SFC champions Ratoath in a tight, tense Feis Cup clash.

Defeat was Ballinabrackey's fourth in succession, but two five-point losses, a two-point defeat and this one-point reversal proves they are not too far away from that elusive first victory.

Short several of their championship side Ratoath recovered from the concession of a Danny Quinn point to lead by 0-4 to 0-1 at the first water break.

When play resumed Ballinabrackey improved with Seamus Curry settling them from a free before Quinn added to the tally. Ratoath responded with a point from a '45', but Quinn and Sean Kavanagh ensured parity at the break, 0-5 each.

Curry converted another free to edge Ballinabrackey in front, but Ratoath responded with two points to lead by one heading into the final quarter.

David Carroll's stunning goal was followed by a Quinn point as Ballinabrackey raced three points clear, but Ratoath showed true champions class with four successive points overturning that deficit.

Curry and Quinn traded scores with Ratoath to ensure the teams were tied heading into the final minute, but as time ran out Ratoath converted a free with the last kick of the game to claim the spoils and leave Ballinabrackey searching for that first win.

Ballinabrackey - Dean Pluck; Diarmaid Meleady, Nicky Judge, Michael Kearney; Seán Bannon, Derek Flynn, Richie Coffey; Chris O’Connor, Erick Clancy; Danny Quinn (0-3), Seamus Curry (0-3), David Carroll (1-0); Sean Kavanagh (0-1), Damien Carroll, Andrew Munnelly. Subs - Sean Fitzpatrick for Coffey, Gavin Quinn for Munnelly, David Thompson for Meleady, Adam O’Brien for Bannon, Leo Cullen for Kavanagh.

SHEPPARD GUIDES WOLFE TONES FLOCK TO VICTORY

Wolfe Tones......4-9

Na Fianna........0-9

Wolfe Tones maintained their push for a top two finish as Conor Sheppard's brace of goals boosted his side to a convincing Feis Cup Group B victory over hosts Na Fianna.

Ahead by 0-3 to 0-1 at the first water break Tones stretched their lead to 1-7 to 0-4 by half-time, with Conor Sheppard accounting for the goal as he finished well following a surging run from Niall O'Reilly.

Stephen Sheppard grabbed a second goal immediately after the restart as a long ball from Cian O'Neill was gathered by Cian Ward who offloaded to the goalscorer.

Wolfe Tones struggled to capitalise on their superiority as they hit three wides and with Na Fianna tagging on three points they were still in contention at the second water break.

however, the goal that sealed the game came courtesy of Conor Sheppard who finished off a sweeping team move, handpassing the ball to the net. Substitute Tom Gavigan rounded off the Tones goal rush with his side's fourth late on.

Wolfe Tones - Cian Farnan; Gearóid O'Brien, Adam O'Neill, Eoin Donegan; Conor Sheppard (2-0), Shane Glynn, Brúghach Ó Fionnagain; Alan Callaghan, Padraic Diamond; Caolan Ward (0-1), Cian Ward (0-2), Stephen Sheppard (1-2); Niall O'Reilly, Cian O'Neill, Saran O Fionnagain (0-4). Subs - Paddy Gillespie for O Fionnagain, Tom Gavigan (1-0) for O'Reilly, Thomas Blaney for S Sheppard.

ST COLMCILLE'S GIVE SKRYNE THE BLUES

St Colmcille's......1-17

Skryne...............0-15

Skryne's bid for a top two finish in Feis Cup Group b suffered a setback in Pilltown when they were beaten by hosts St Colmcille's.

The five-point margin of defeat is harsh on Skryne as they trailed by just two in the 58th minute. As they pressed for a late equaliser Graham Reilly hit them on the counter attack and put three between sides and as deflated Skryne waned they shipped two more scores to slump to the five-point loss.

Skryne had started well and were 0-5 to 0-2 ahead at the first water break and they were well clear after 25 minutes, but then slumped in the run-in to half-time as St Colmcille's hit 1-4, their goal coming from the penalty spot, to trail by 0-8 to 1-9 at the break.

Skryne never recovered fully from the concession of that goal. Half-time substitute Niall Finnerty hit five points to boost Skryne, but their efforts fell short and faded away in the evening sun.

Skryne - Des McAvinney; Niall Lenehan, Robbie Clarke (0-1), Eoghan Greene; Timmy Lennon, David McGoldrick, Stephen O'Brien; Harry Rooney (0-1), Tommy Carpenter; Paddy Fox (0-1), Padraig Finnerty (0-3), Conor O'Brien (0-1); Brian Davis (0-1), Colm Doherty, Mark Battersby (0-1). Subs - Ciaran Lenehan (0-1), Niall Finnerty (0-5), Frank Carty, Ian Gillett, David Rathbourne.

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