Corn na Boinne latest - Top teams shaping up for last four

Fergal Lynch

Published: Thu 1 Jul 2021, 2:18 PM

Last updated: Thu 1 Jul 2021, 2:42 PM

CORN NA BOINNE

LATE GOAL ADDS GLOSS TO OLDCASTLE VICTORY

Oldcastle...2-12

Longwood....1-10

Oldcastle's five-point margin of victory flatters them slightly as they were pushed all the way by improving Longwood in this Corn na Boinne meeting in Millbrook.

The hosts started well with Oran O'Reilly's goal and points from Conor Delaney and Ronan Maguire giving them an early edge. However Longwood stayed in touch with a goal of their own and despite points from Maguire, Delaney and CJ Healy Oldcastle found themselves 1-5 to 1-8 adrift at the break.

Longwood stretched that lead after the resumption, but Oldcastle settled quickly with with Keith Connell, Robbie Farrelly and Delaney all firing over points. Longwood replied with what proved to be their last score and as the evening wore on Paddy Rahill, Farrelly and two from Connell edged Oldcastle ahead before Farrelly's late goal from the penalty spot made the margin of victory more comfortable.

Oldcastle - Packie Kevin; Conor Hetherton, Cian McPartland, Joe Lynch; Louis Colleran, Paddy Rahill (0-1), Oran O’Reilly (1-0); James Cook, Ross Cadden; Keith Connell (0-3), CJ Healy (0-1), Ronan Maguire (0-2); Conor Delaney (0-3), Garret O'Reilly, Robbie Farrelly (1-2). Subs - Paddy GIlsenan, Barry Curran, Lee Healy, Lorcan Fox.

DOMINANT DULEEK/BELLEWSTOWN EASE TO WIN OVER CLANN NA NGAEL

Duleek/Bellewstown....3-13

Clann na nGael......0-10

Duleek/Bellewstown secured second place in Group B of the Corn na Boinne with a comfortable victory over Clann na nGael.

A good start proved to be half the battle for the winners with Mark Collins, Stephen McArdle and Shane Crosby lofting over early points. Clann na nGael rallied with a few nice points, but Duleek/Bellewstown upped the tempo again and led by 0-7 to 0-3 at the break with James McWeeney and John Flood on target.

Cianan Byrne stretched that lead after the resumption, but Clann na nGael stayed in touch until Johnny McDonnell was fouled for a penalty which Crosby fired to the net to put daylight between the sides at the second water break.

Joe Sheridan emptied his bench for the final quarter and it was Mark Collins and Cianan Byrne who added further goals to ease his side to victory.

Duleek/Bellewstown - Finn Hartford; Stephen McArdle (0-1), Kevin McCann, Chris Woods; Sam O'Leary (0-1), David Moore, Cianan Byrne (1-1); Shane Crosby (1-2), Cian Ryan; John Flood (0-2), Jamie Flaherty, John McDonnell; Mark Collins (1-1), James McWeeney (0-3), Eoghan Heeney. Subs - Jason Brannigan for McArdle, Oisin Miland for Heeney, Kyle Callaghan for Byrne, Ciaran Flynn (0-1), Darren Mills (0-1).

BALLINLOUGH EDGED OUT IN ANOTHER TIGHT BATTLE

St Michael’s........1-11

Ballinlough........0-12

It was another close call for Ballinlough as they were edged out by St Michael's and remain rooted to the foot of Corn na Boinne Broup A.

Ballinlough held their own in the opening quarter with Jamie Casserly, Declan Galligan, Oran Meehan, Michael Geraghty and Harry Ryan on target as they led by one at the water break. However, when play resumed St Michael's grabbed what proved to be the decisive score when they finished well to the net.

Colm Mallen replied with a point for Ballinlough, but St Michael's were boosted by that goal and they led by 1-6 to 0-6 at the break.

Casserly (two) and Tommy McCullen were on target to restore parity soon after the restart, but again St Michael's responded impressively with two points in as many minutes to restore their cushion.

Two long range frees from Harry Ryan kept Ballinlough's hopes of a first win alive as the game was on a knife edge heading into the final quarter.

An exchange of frees maintain a one-point lead for St Michael's and when the home side stretched their advantage to two points with seven minutes remaining they battened down the hatches and held on for the win.

Ballinlough - P Muldoon; H Briody, R Farrell, C Rennicks; M Geraghty (0-1), M McCullen, C Fleming; D Galligan (0-1), T McCullen (0-1); B Wiseman, H Ryan (0-4), L Finnegan; B Smith, J Casserly (0-4), C Mallen (0-1). Subs - P Byrne for Galligan, S Tunney for Finnegan, N McDonnell for Briody, J Reilly for Casserly.

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