Nh Fionnbarra emerged with victory in the battle of the Junior Championship heavyweights at Dowdallshill as they edged past Roche Emmets in Group 1 on Friday night.
Jack Butterly was the hero for the Finbarrs as he grabbed both goals in an entertaining 2-7 to 0-12 victory.
Roche were going well in the first half as they led by 0-4 to 0-2 only for Butterly's 26th minute goal to edge his side ahead. However, Kevin Callaghan landed two injury time points to send the teams in level at 1-3 to 0-6.
After conceding two early points to Barry O'Hare, the Barrs scored four in a row to lead by 1-7 to 0-8 on 16 minutes. Roche then hit back to regain the lead and they looked on course for victory.
With four minutes remaining, Butterly punched in the decisive goal and his side held out despite late Roche pressure.
In Group 2, John Mitchels got the better of Cuchulainn Gaels in a well-contested game at St Brigid's Park where the Ballybailie men emerging with a 1-14 to 1-9 win.
The Omeath outfit, who were seeking a first championship win, got off to a blistering start and a goal from Rammie Phillips seeing them lead by 1-2 to 0-1 after 12 minutes.
However, the Mitchels hit back and a goal from Phil Smith just before the break saw them lead by 1-6 to 1-4 at half time.
The Mid Louth side stretched the lead to three points early in the second half but the battling Cuchulainn got back to within a point with eight minutes remaining. Mitchels then finished with a flourish and three points from Robbie Coyle and another from Alan Mackin saw them claim a five-point win.
St Kevins and Dowdallshill had the honour of getting the championship season off the mark when they met in Group 3 on Thursday night at Tallanstown.
In a game played in very wet conditions, it was the Philipstown side who came out on top with a 1-11 to 0-5 victory.
The conditions made life difficult for both sides and it was no surprise that the first period was a low-scoring affair with the Kevins going in at the break with a 0-4 to 0-3 advantage.
The crucial scores came 12 minutes into the second half when winger Cian Callan scored a goal to put the Kevins seven points clear.
Seanie Crosbie also had a big say in the outcome as he landed seven points to ensure his side began with a victory.
Glen Emmets recovered from a six-point deficit with 20 minutes remaining to score a 1-9 to 1-8 win over Lannleire in the Group 4 encounter Drogheda on Friday evening.
Ronan Grufferty was the hero for the Tullyallen men as he hit the final two points of the game shortly after a Conor Grimes goal had put their side back into contention.
Lannleire had the advantage of the wind in the first half but made a slow start as they conceded the first three points of the match.
However, they got back on terms before a 27th minute goal from Alan Murphy put them ahead, with two late points sending them in at the break with a 1-5 to 0-3 lead.
Ten minutes into the second half it was 1-7 to 0-4 but at that stage the Glen Emmets began to take control. Grimes hit the net on 47 minutes to bring the gap down to one, with Grufferty edging his side in front with two quick-fire points in the 48th and 49th minutes.
Both sides created chances in the closing stages but with no further scores, it was the Emmets who held out for the victory.
The first game in Drogheda featured the other two sides in Group 4 where Stabannon recorded a comfortable 3-13 to 1-5 win over the Wolfe Tones.
Boosted by some impressive league form, Stabannon went into this game with high hopes and that confidence proved to be well-founded as they were rarely troubled over the hour.
In a lively first half the Parnells saw David Cluskey hit two goals while Thomas McBride added a third to see their side lead by 3-5 to 1-2 at the break, with Stephen Malone raising a green flag for the Tones.
The Mid Louth men continued to dominate in the second half and added a further eight points to seal the win.
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