Geraghty records first win as boss
Na Fianna proved that they have what it takes to be involved in the final shake up of the IFC when they edged out Dunderry in an exciting tussle at Dunshaughlin on Monday. Despite losing to hot favourites Gaeil Colmcille in the opening round Na Fianna indicated that there would be better days ahead and against another of the fancied sides in Dunderry Graham Geraghty"s charges looked very impressive. Dunderry had looked very good when hammering Drumconrath in the opening round, but on Monday they failed to reproduce that form as the A FL Div 2 table toppers were second best to a side that currently props up Div 3. Na Fianna opened the scoring before Aaron Newman replied for Dunderry. It was then that the Enfield/Baconstown side enjoyed a purple patch with a fine goal boosting them to a 1-3 to 0-1 lead after just 16 minutes. A brace of points for Newman were followed by scores from David Jennings and Anthony Kane as Dunderry narrowed the deficit to 0-5 to 1-3 at the break. After the resumption Kane restored parity, but Dunderry couldn"t get ahead as Na Fianna continued to pile on the pressure. Na Fianna went ahead again before Kane levelled, After Na Fianna moved 1-5 to 0-7 clear it was Colm Harte who set up a tense finale with another leveller. However, in the closing minutes Na Fianna returned to the front with a brace of points from Jamie Queeney securing Geraghty"s first win as a coach. Dunderry - J Brady; D Clarke, J Kelliher, K Slattery; C Harte (0-1), E Stephens, G Newman; P Callaghan, D Callaghan; D Jennings (0-1), T J Garry, A Newman (0-3); A Kane (0-3), K Dowd, B Doherty. Subs - M Garry for Clarke, C Halton for Jennings. St Colmcille"s 1-10 Clann na nGael 1-8 St Colmcille"s powered to an impressive victory over Clann na nGael in this IFC encounter at Dunsany on Sunday afternoon. Karl Mullen put St Colmcille"s into the lead with an early point however, Graham Geraghty hit back for Clann na nGael when he won the ball in midfield and ran through to bury the ball to the net after just four minutes. St Colmcille"s responded with a David Sheeran point followed by a Sean Collier goal on 15 minutes. The play flowed from one end to the other with Clann na nGael hitting four points in quick succession to edge ahead. Instead further points from Collier and Ciaran Kelly left St Colmcille"s trailing by 1-4 to 1-6 at the interval. In the second-half St Colmcille"s upped their game considerably and a point from Enda Grogan set them on their way however, both sides were wasteful in the second-half with St Colmcille"s notching seven wides and Clann na nGael six. Geraghty and Robbie McCloskey were both shown yellow cards after a tussle as the tempo increased. With Clann na nGael only able to add one point to their account after the break they struggled to keep in touch. The midfield dominance enjoyed by St Colmcille"s paid off in the second-half with points from Collier, John McKenna, Ciaran Kelly (two) and Graham Reilly boosted them to a deserved victory. Gary Mangan, Shane McAnerney, Jamie Shaw and Anthony Farrell excelled for Clann na nGael. Clann na nGael - D O Griofa; D Kelly, G Mangan, T Carrigy; C O Conghaile, S McAnarney (0-1), J Sheehan; G Geraghty (1-1), J Shaw; C Smith, M Priest (0-1), A Farrell (0-1); D Tuite, G Woods (0-4), S MacDonncha. Sub - M MacDonncha for Tuite. St Colmcille"s - D O"Sullivan; M Metcalfe, D Dunne, I Mullen; E Woods, M Magill, D Beakey; D Sheerin (0-1), R McCloskey; K Mullen (0-1), S Collier (1-2), G Reilly (0-1); J McKenna (0-1), E Grogan (0-1), C Kelly (0-3). Sub - J Tuffy for Dunne. Nobber 1-8 Syddan 1-5 After losing to Oldcastle in the opening round of the IFC Syddan were looking for some joy in this encounter however, it was Nobber who prevailed in the end. The late introduction of Brian Farrell was a hugh factor in swinging the game in Nobber"s favour as the Syddan defence found it difficult to curb his influence. Nobber led 0-3 to 0-2 at the interval. The Syddan cause wasn"t helped by early injuries to Philip Duff and Luke Halpenny. This was a much improved performance from Syddan compared to their opening round and they had first rate outings from Derek Young, Eamonn Maguire, Sean Malone and Paddy Farrelly. Syddan - D Young; E Maguire, S Malone, D Carney; P Rafferty, J Farrelly, L Halpenny (0-1); P Duff, S Dillon (0-1); P Young, R Cluskey, G Farrelly (0-1); I Curran (1-1), F Ross (0-1), C Rowe. Subs - P Farrelly for P Duff, M Cassidy for Halpenny, M Sweeney for Cassidy. Ballinlough 2-7 Moynalvey 1-7 Kenneth Rothwell"s late goal was the decisive score as Ballinlough grinded out a narrow IFC victory over JFC champions Moynalvey in Athboy on Monday. Peadar Byrne"s early goal gave Ballinlough a 1-4 to 0-3 interval lead. After the break Cathal Sheridan had a penalty saved, but followed up to poke home the rebound and set up a tense finale. However, it was Ballinlough who took the victory with Rothwell"s strike. Ballinlough - K McGuinness; B Smith, P Muldoon, R Farrell; T McCullen, K Devine, E O"Reilly; Cian Mallon, S Byrne; C Briody, K Rothwell (1-3), R McGuinness (0-1); Colm Mallon (0-2), K Mallon, P Byrne (1-1). Subs - D Muldoon for Cian Mallon, S Geraghty for Briody. Kilmainhamwood 0-11 Cortown 0-6 Kilmainhaimwood used the stiff breeze to their advantage in the first-half of their IFC game against Cortown at Castletown on Monday to build up a winning interval lead. The winners led by 0-8 to 0-2 at the break and despite a closer second-half Cortown were left to rue missed opportunities. Cortown - J McFadden; M Casserly, P Kerrigan, I O"Halloran; J Casserly, B Casserly, J McGearty; G Loughran (0-2), D Coyne; B Smith, M Henry, C Kerrigan; S Skelton, D Casserly, G Codd (0-4). Subs - R Flanagan for D Coyne, J Fagan for M Casserly, G Coyne for D Casserly.