GAA | U18 League Round-Up

Joe’s dig out a win, Gers are beaten and Pat’s impress

St Joseph’s 4–13, Naomh Fionnbarra/Lannleire 4–8

St Joseph’s got their U18 Division Three campaign off to a great start with a superb win against Naomh Fionnbarra/Lannleire in Cluskey Park on Monday night.

The visitors opened strongly with two points that were cancelled out by Conall McCaul efforts but they went on to take control the opening quarter.

The Joe’s were lucky when a 12th minute penalty went wide of Shane Barron’s left post but a minute later the ball did end up the Joe’s net.

A Paul Coyne run through the centre setup Conall McCaul for his third point of the game but it was the combination side who added to their tally when a high ball was flicked to Joe’s net, 2–3 to 0–3 after 15 minutes.

McCaul hauled his side back into the game when he fielded a kick out before soloing in from the left to plant the ball past the Barrs/Lannleire goalkeeper.

A point from the visitors was cancelled out by another McCaul effort and minutes later Jack Barron’s through pass was collected by Conor Neary and he sent an unstoppable shot to the net.

The same player then followed it up with a score from distance to move St Joseph’s 2–5 to 2–4 in front but Naomh Fionnbarra/Lannleire equalised with a 30m free to leave the sides tied at 2–5 apiece at the break.

The visitors opened the second half with with a point before a superb delivery from Conor Neary was collected by McCaul who finished to the net in style after 33 minutes.

McCaul continued to torment the visitors defence and he was denied firstly by the goalkeeper and then by the crossbar before he found his range from a Conor McKnight pass.

Long-range efforts followed from Oisin McGuinness and Alex Hanneffy to put the Joe’s 3–8 to 2–6 in front after 41 minutes of an entertaining game.

The home side lost Conor Neary to injury shortly after and with no subs available for the Joe’s on the night, the visitors showed great sportsmanship to to take off a player of their own to leave it at 14-a-side.

The game continued to ebb and flow and the visitors pressed forward, adding a point and a well worked team goal to cut the Joe’s lead to a single point before Coyne, McGuinness and McCaul combined again to extend it back to two.

The Joe’s lost Donal Johnston to a second yellow card on 48 minutes and the amalgamated side added extra punishment when they hit the front after a sweeping move.

A foul on Coyne led to yet another McCaul point and when a high delivery into the goalmouth was finished to the net by the ever alert Alex Hanneffy, the Joe’s were 4–10 to 4–7 ahead.

The sides exchanged points with McCaul on target from a 30m free and the Joe’s defence withstood heavy pressure for what seemed an eternity with Shane Barron, Lorcan McGeeney, Caolan Conroy and Paul Coyne combining to stop the waves of attack coming from the visiting side.

Conall McCaul and Oisin McGuinness hit two superb long range points before Lorcan McGeeney came through a forest of players to clear the final attack and secure the Dromiskin side a hard fought win.

ST JOSEPH’S: Shane Barron; Donal Johnston, Lorcan McGeeney, Ciaran Hand; Caolan Conroy, Paul Coyne, Dylan McGrory; Alex Hanneffy, Conor Neary; Jack Barron, Oisin McGuinness, Conor McKnight; Conall McCaul, Rory Staunton, Dylan Byrne.

U18 Division One Round-Up

Cooley Kickhams 4–11 Geraldines 4–10

Cooley Kickhams won a high scoring game in Haggardstown, running out 4–11 to 4–10 winners against the Geraldines. Joseph Quinn and Jake McShane both helped themselves to 1–2 apiece for the peninsula side.

COOLEY KICKHAMS: Brendan O’Hagan; Aaron Farnon, Dean McGreehan, Jack Carville, James Ward, James O’Reilly, Sean White, Joe Dunne 0–1, Fearghal Malone 0–3, Colm Farrell 0–1, Joseph Quinn 1–02, Conor Loughran 0–1, Martin Ward 1–0, Jake McShane 1–2, Oliver McGuinness 1–0. Subs: Josh McShane, Ciaran Woods, Aaron Boyle, Daniel McDonald 0–1, Jack Hughes.

St Patrick’s 6–8 Mattock Rangers

In Lordship, St Patrick’s ran out 6–8 to 3–8 winners against Mattock Rangers. Gavin Gregory, with 2–4, and Evan Cronin with 2–1 did most of the damage to the Collon side.

ST PATRICK’S: Martin McEneaney; Barry Dunne, Eoghan O’Connor, Ciaran Murphy; Ryan Duffy 0–1, Aaron Mills, Paudi Ryan; Leonard Grey 1–0, Dylan McCarthy 0–1; Jack Murphy, Matthew Pagni, Gavin Gregory 2–4; Tadgh O Connor 1–1, Evan Cronin 2–1, Stephen Gartland. Subs: Ryan Murphy for A Mills, Shane McAvinney for C Murphy, Conor McEneaney for R Duffy, Jack McCoy for S Gartland

U18 Division One results

Naomh Mairtin 3–16 Dundalk Gaels 0–7
Geraldines 4–10 Cooley Kickhams 4–11
St Patrick’s 6–8 Mattock/Hunterstown 3–8
St Mary’s 4–19 Roche/St Bride’s 3–9

U18 Division Two results

Glen Emmets 0–8 Wolfe Tones 1–10
Na Piarsaigh/O’Mahonys/Dowdallshill 1–7 Newtown Blues 2–9

U18 Division Three results

Kilkerley/Naomh Malachi 2–7 Clan na nGael 2–11
O’Raghallaigh’s 2–7 O’Connells/Stabannon/John Mitchels 3–14
St Joseph’s 4–11 Naomh Fionnbarra/Lannleire 4–8