O'CONNELLS 1-12

KILKERLEY EMMETS 1-9

O'Connell's retained their Senior Championship with a play-off victory that ends Kilkerley Emmets long run in the top flight.

In a tight encounter, O'Connells came out on top thanks to a second half spell when they scored 1-3 without reply that put them six points ahead with only ten minutes remaining.

The Bellingham side raced into a three point lead with scores from Jackie Agnew and a brace from Niall Conlon one a free, and they should have been more ahead but for some wayward shooting.

Kilkerley made them pay with the next three points from James Fegan, Cormac Bellew and a free from Shane Lennon after 20 minutes. O'Connell's got the next two points both from Robert Quigley one an excellent 45, to make it 0-5 to 0-3 but the Emmets came back with the next two, both from Lennon.

The sides shared the next two scores before a Conlon free put the O'Connells one in front at the halftime whistle, 0-7 to 0-6.

Kilkerley levelled the game right from the throw in for the second with a free from Lennon but O'Connell's then got their goal. After a long ball into the square was well fielded by Sean Cairns, he turned and saw his shot well saved by goal keeper Cillian Quigley, but he was there for the rebound to blast it to the net, making it 1-8 to 0-7.

There followed a ten minute spell when neither side scored, but Quigley landed another excellent 45 and a brace of points from Paul McKeever put the Bellingham six ahead with ten minutes left on the clock.

Lennon reduced the margin with another point but Dean Stanfield scored from an awkward angle to keep the gap to six. Emmets reduced the margin to three after an great move up the field was finished to the net by Fegan. A point from Conlon put his side four in front but sub Tadgh McEneaney got it back to three for the Emmets. Kilkerley tried to get the vital score they needed in the last few minutes but the O'Connells held on and will be in the hat when the senior championship draw is made in 2015.

KILKERLEY EMMETS: Cillian Quigley; Barra McCarthy, Niall Mulholland, Fintan Clarke; Michael McGeown, Alan Mc Geough, Cormac Bellew 0-1; James Fagan 1-1, Donal McElroy; Andrew McGuill, Cathal Bellew, Ciaran Bellew; Ciaran Clarke, Shane Lennon 0-6(4f), Daniel McKeown. Subs: Neil Mulholland for C. Bellew, Tadgh McEneaney 0-1 for D. McKeown, Ronan Lennon for McGeown.

O'CONNELLS: Stuart Reynolds; Andrew Shields, Conor Byrne, Keith Woods; PJ Tuite, Jason Carroll, Jackie Agnew 0-1; Sean Cairns 1-0, Dean Stanfield 1-0; Niall Conlon 0-4(2f), Andrew Sharkey, Conor McGill; Paul McKeever 0-2, Salem Rifaie, Robert Quigley 0-3(2,45(1f). Sub: Ciaran O'Brien 0-1.

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