A goal and three points without reply in the closing five minutes helped Cooley to claim a 3-14 to 3-10 win over St Marys in their opening Division 1 league game at Fr McEvoy Park on Saturday night.

The Ardee men took a two-point lead thanks to an Alan Kirk goal on 54 minutes but Brian White replied almost immediately and his side finished out the game with points from Thomas McGuinness, Aoghain McGuinness and White to pick up both points.

The first half produced some good football and it was Cooley who had the better start as Shane Marks scored the first goal of the game. Although the Marys fought back, Brian White fired home from a penalty to give his side a 2-5 to 0-7 lead at the break.

The Marys got back into the game with goals from Alan Kirk and Robbie Leavy and although Kirk added a second to put his side in front, Cooley finished the stronger to win the game.

Tadgh McEneaney and Shane Lennon scored an impressive 1-13 between them as Kilkerley Emmets recorded a 2-13 to 1-13 win at home to Newtown Blues, with McEneaney firing in a late goal to secure the victory.

The duo were in form in the first half as the teams went in level at 0-7 apiece, with Hugh McGinn, Ian Connor and Ciaran Downey among the scorers as the Blues stayed in the game.

Conal McEneaney got in for the first goal just after the break but the Blues gave themselves a chance of victory when an Ian Connor goal had them in front in the final quarter. However, Kilkerley finished on top and McEneaney's goal ensured they picked up on opening day victory.

Nh Mairtin proved that they are likely to be a force to be reckoned with this year as they produced a fine display to defeat St Patricks by 1-19 to 3-9 at Monasterboice.

The hosts raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead inside 15 minutes, but the Pats struck back to lead with the help of a Jason Woods goal. However, the Mairtins finished on top and a goal from John Clutterbuck had them in front by 1-7 to 1-6 at the break.

The home side continued to pick off their points and fired over six at the start of the second half to take control. Eoin O'Connor and Jason Woods hit the net for the Pats but on each occasion the Mairtins responded to preserve their advantage and hold out for victory.

The first Dundalk derby of the new season saw Sean O'Mahonys put one over Dundalk Gaels as they recorded a comfortable 1-10 to 0-4 win at the Point Road.

The County Champions got off to a slow start and looked to be in some difficulty as they trailed by 0-4 to 0-1. After both sides had a player sent off, the O'Mahonys slowly got on top and went in at the break with a 0-5 to 0-4 lead.

The Gaels didn't add to their tally in the second half as the Seans eased to victory with Conor Martin scoring the only goal of the game and his side scoring a further five points.
Reigning Division 1 champions, Dreadnots, needed a late point from a James Califf free to secure a 1-13 to 2-10 draw with Clan na Gael at Clogherhead.

The Dundalk men  were playing their first top flight game in six years and they matched their opponents throughout the first half before a goal from Billy Smith saw them go in leading by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break.

The Dreadnots struck four points at the start of the second half only for the Clans to hit back and when Conall McKeever found the net in the closing stages his side were four points ahead and on course for victory. However, Dreadnots drew level from a controversial Pepe Smith penalty before Califf levelled the game late on.

Mattock Rangers proved too strong for Geraldines at Haggardstown on Saturday night as the picked up a 2-9 to 1-10 win.

The Gers played with the wind in the first half but didn't take full advantage of their possession and were made pay when Mattock scored the first goal to go in 1-4 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

The visitors then gradually increased the gap over the course of the second half and put the game beyond the Geraldines with another goal. The hosts saw Jim McEneaney raise a green flag from a penalty late in the game but it wasn't enough to deny the Collon men.

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