DUNDALK GAELS 1-12

GERALDINES 0-12

Last season's Senior Championship runners-up, Dundalk Gaels, made a winning start to the 2018 campaign when they recorded a three-point win over the Geraldines at Clan na Gael Park on Sunday.

Ger McSorley scored the all-important goal on 18 minutes to ensure his side claimed victory over an injury-hit Haggardstown outfit.

In a game that failed to produce any great excitement, the Gaels got on the front foot from the outset and points from McSorley, Sean Murray and Barry Watters had them in a strong position after six minutes.

The Gers got off the mark through Glen Trainor on ten minutes but scores from Eanna McArdle and Conall McArdle increased the gap to four points before Michael Rogers scored the first of his nine points.

The Dundalk side took a huge step towards victory when McSorley's goal was followed by an Eanna McArdle free to put the Ramparts side 1-6 to 0-2 in front. With the help of four scores from Rogers and another from Trainor, the Geraldines had cut the deficit to 1-8 to 0-7 at the break.

Although the McGeough Park side were always within striking distance they never looked to have the ability to break down the strong Gaels defensive unit.

Points from McSorley (2), Watters and David Maloney kept the Gaels in front throughout and although efforts from Rogers cut the gap to three in injury time they were unable to conjure up the goal that would have sealed their place in the last eight.

As a result, the two quarter-finalists from this group will be decided when Gaels take on St Patricks this weekend.

DUNDALK GAELS: Miceal Lambert; David McComish, Jamie Faulkner, Peter McGinnity; Sean Murray 0-1, Barry Watters 0-3, David Maloney 0-1; James Stewart, Derek Crilly; Niall Hearty, Eamon Kenny, Jason Clarke; Eanna McArdle 0-2 (2f), Ger McSorley 1-4 (2f), Conall McArdle 0-1. Subs: Errol Boyle for E McArdle BC, Padraig Fallon for C McArdle.

GERALDINES: Sean McEneaney; Tiarnan Hand, Dan Corcoran, Ryan Trainor; Jack Traynor, James Craven, Gareth Neacy; Shaun Callan, Stephen Reidy; James Corrigan, Glen Trainor 0-3, Josh Arrowsmith; Sean Thornton, Michael Rogers 0-9 (8f), Killian Dempsey. Subs: Conal Hoey for S Thornton, Conor Rafferty for J Arrowsmith, Ronan Greene for R Trainor, Kevin Pepper for J Traynor BC.

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