GAA Round-up: League victories for Drumconrath and Carnaross while St Michael's/Nobber lose out in minor final

DRUM'S DOUBLE DRIVE DELIVERS

Drumconrath... 0-16

Donaghmore/Ashbourne...0-11

Peter O'Halloran

Drumconrath travelled to Ashbourne for the second time inside the last few weeks to play this FL Div 6 fixture.

The first trip proved a non-event for both teams as no referee appeared despite frantic attempts to find one.

Anyway a Happy Reds outfit headed back up the N2 with that frustrating trip home to North Meath that first evening now a distant memory.

Drums started brightly with three points early doors as Steven Crosby (two marks) and a Daniel Byrne free settled the away side.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne replied with a free but Drumconrath got a firm grip on the game in a dominant end to the first quarter with five points without reply as Byrne punished the beleaguered home defence with scores from two frees.

Crosby notched two points (one mark) and Matthew Durnin got in on the act with a neat point as Drums stretched the lead out to 0-8 to 0-1.

The Moores had the best of the second quarter and added four points to put them within touching distance as Crosby added a point to Drums total as the half ended, 0-9 to 0-5.

Donaghmore/Ashbourne copied Drumconrath's start to the game as they had a blistering start and narrowed the gap to a single point with three points within the first five minutes.

Byrne, and another Crosby mark, again settled the visitors as the third quarter ended with Drumconrath three to the good but with the game still well in the balance.

The home side, not to be undone again pulled two points back but crucially stout defending all over the pitch from Drumconrath ensured Donaghmore/Ashbourne didn't get parity.

The game was now in the melting pot but that man Crosby with his fourth mark gave a chink of light to the Reds who then finished best as Durnin, Byrne, Shaun Murray and Pado Farrelly added more points as the home side responded with an injury time free to end the scoring.

Drumconrath can be happy with the win and the manner it was secured especially after the heavy defeat on the road in the previous round.

They now sit in mid-table only a couple of points behind the top teams in the division and will hope to put a push for promotion over the remaining rounds.

In what was a fine team display showing some of the traditional never say die and determination values of yesteryear.

Every one of the 17 players used can be proud of their evenings work.

Drumconrath - Eoin Muldoon; Pakie Dunne, Cathal Dunne, Niall McCrink; Oran Brady, Robert McEntaggert, Graham Scully; Keith Byrne, Daniel Byrne (0-6 fs); Shaun Murray (0-1), Matthew Durnin (0-2), Oisin Reilly; Jamie O'Neill, Steven Cosby (0-6, four marks), Kieran Weldon. Subs - Pado Farrelly (0-1) for Scully and Josh Flanagan for D. Byrne.

CARNAROSS TOO STRONG FOR THEIR NEIGHBOURS

FL Div 9

Carnaross 3-12

Drumbaragh 1-13

Shane McNiffe

Carnaross earned their second victory of their Div 9 campaign over neighbours Drumbaragh.

The game was very evenly contested throughout with young pups and old dogs all togged out.

Tommy Brady had a great outing for the Ross kicking three wonder scores. The wing backs of Shane Yore and Dean Connell were constant outlets throughout.

The home side spurned some great scoring opportunities but Drumbaragh had a firmer grip on possession. At half time, the teams couldn’t be separated at seven points apiece.

In the second half, the game opened up with Shane Casserly tagging on two scores. The Hoops introduced the “bomb squad” off the bench as they opted for experience with some starting players picking up knocks.

Paddy Smith, Brian Comaskey, Ollie Murphy and Matt O’Reilly all entered the fray to bring the average age up considerably. Killian Porter and Paddy Nugent began to find joy in the Drums defence netting three goals between them in a blistering 10 minute spell.

The new midfield partnership of Comaskey and McGee bagged a point each in this purple patch. Ollie Murphy received a warm reception when he linked up with his son, Charlie, for a fine score. The full back line remained resolute in defence ensuring Carnaross kept the Drums’ attackers at bay.

In the end, Carnaross ran out fove point winners in splendid conditions in Páirc Naomh Chiaráin proving the old adage, the old dog for the hard road and the pup for the path.

Carnaross - Conor Kenny, Peter Shay Farrelly, Thomas Nugent, Cian Yore, Dean Connell, Ian Donoghue, Shane Yore, Tomas Plunkett, Dermot McGee(0-1), Charlie Murphy(0-1), Tommy Brady(0-3), Kian Farrelly, Killian Porter (1-3), Paddy Nugent (2-0), Shane Casserly (0-2). Subs - Paddy Smith, Brian Comaskey (0-1), Ollie Murphy (0-1), Matt O’Reilly.

St MICHAEL'S/NOBBER EDGED OUT IN FINAL SHOWDOWN

St Michael's / Nobber... 1-6

Rathkenny / St. Mary's... 0-13

A stronger Rathkenny / St. Mary's combination collected the silverware in Castletown on Monday evening last in a keenly contested MFT, Group F final final.

The winners made the better start and went three points up after nine minutes however the St. Michael's / Nobber combination faught back gallantly and went in front with a pointed free and a well struck goal from their top marksman on the evening Stephen Dolan, the goal coming at the end of the first quarter.

Rathkenny / St. Mary's rallied and points flowed to put them back in front. C.J. Lynch added his sides final score of the half to leave just a single point between the sides at the short whistle.

Diarmuid O'Malley levelled matters from play in the opening minute of the new half and the third quarter was equally nip and tuck with both sides exchanging points throughout, Lynch (2) and Dolan (1) kept their side in contention, however they lost Ciaran Reilly to a black card on forty eight minutes and they failed to recover from that setback.

Rathkenny / St. Mary's added a further four minors, three frees, to secure victory.

St. Michael's / Nobber - J Clarke; C Clarke, C O'Sullivan, D O'Malley (0-1); C Reilly, D Rock, A Branagan; K Otubango, J Clarke; F Murray, CJ Lynch (0-3), E Larkin; S Dolan (1-2), S Behan, L McGovern.

Subs - J Sheridan, D McGovern, B Kavanagh, L Proudfoot, N Rogan.