St Kevins were relieved to make the short journey home from Stabannon on Friday night with a 1-11 to 0-12 victory under their belts after being given a huge scare by Cuchulainn Gaels in the Junior Championship Group 1.

A major shock looked to be on the cards when the Omeath men led by a point with just 11 minutes remaining. However, the Kevins snatched victory thanks to the only goal of the game from Andrew Campbell.

The Philipstown men looked to be in complete control of the game as points from Cian Callan, Paul Duffy and David Smith helped them lead by 0-7 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. However, five points from Rammie Phillips helped cut the gap to 0-9 to 0-6 at the break.

Further scores from Phillips and three from James Walker saw the Gaels take a 0-11 to 0-10 lead on 48 minutes, but the Kevins hit back to claim victory when Campbell flicked a Lee Crosbie shot into the net.

Just over a week after recording a surprise victory over Glen Emmets, Lannleire were almost on the receiving end of an upset themselves before a late rally saw them defeat John Mitchels by 1-17 to 2-11 in Group 2.

The game seemed to be going to form in the opening half when eight points from Colin Murphy and a goal from Paul Callan saw the Dunleer men lead by 1-10 to 0-5 at the break.

However, the loss of Murphy to injury upset the Lannleire rhythm and the Mitchels got themselves back into the game with two goals.

With ten minutes remaining the Ballyabailie men edged ahead but Lannleire finished the stronger and kicked the final four points to claim the win that confirms a meeting the Nh Malachi in the last eight.

For the second week in succession the Westerns were forced to dig deep in the final quarter as they battled back to deny a gallant Wolfe Tones on a 1-15 to 0-13 scoreline at Stabannon.

The Drogheda side had the better of this Group 3 game for the much of the opening three quarters but failed to kill the game off and were made to pay when a well-taken goal from Anthony Durnin helped clinch their second win of the campaign.

Inspired by the direct running and scoring ability of Niall Smith, the Tones led by 0-8 to 0-4 after 28 minutes, with Alan Fanning and Jordan Duffy also on target.

However, the Westerns got three crucial scores from Ryan Duffy (2) and Terence Sweeney just before the break to reduce the gap to one.

The Tones doubled that lead by the 41^st minute after another Smith point made it 0-11 to 0-9. However, his side began to tire and the Westerns took full advantage by levelling before Niall Moynagh put them in front. The impressive Durnin then burst through to fire in the only goal of the game and deny the Tones the chance to reach the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile Junior Championship favourites, Roche Emmets, made it three wins from three in Group 4 when they turned in a strong second half performance to defeat St Nicholas by 4-26 to 0-4.

Roche went into the game as hot favourites but they didn't have it all their own way as the gallant Nicks battled gamely in the first period. The Faughart men may not have been at their best but at the break they were well in control with a 0-11 to 0-2 lead.

The second half saw Roche turn on the style as they completely dominated the game. Barry O'Hare, who would finish with a tally of 1-12, scored the first goal of the game before Conor Mackin weighed in with two more.

Near the end, David Quigley added a fourth to completely a very easy win for the Roche men.

A 3-9 to 0-18 draw was good enough for Nh Malachi to reach the quarter-finals of the Junior Championship at the expense of Friday night's opponents, Stabannon Parnells, thanks to a superior score difference.

After exchanging early points, the Courtbane outfit hit two goals in quick succession from Pierce Caherty and Noel Donaldson to put daylight between the teams after the opening quarter. However, with Daniel Bannon and David Cluskey in good form, Stabannon scored the last four points of the half to close the gap to the minimum, 2-4 to 0-9. 

Both teams exchanged points for the majority of the second half but when Naomh Malachis scored a penalty through Ronan McElroy with seven minutes remaining they went three points clear. However, Stabannon scored three late points with Daniel Bannon kicking the equaliser, but it was Naomh Malachis with a two points better score difference from the previous two weekends that put them through to a knockout meeting with Lannleire. 

Junior Championship quarter-finals

Roche Emmets v Glen Emmets

St Kevins v Dowdallshill

Lannleire v Naomh Malachi

Westerns v Sean McDermotts

 

 

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