Newtown Blues and Cooley Kickhams retained their Senior Championship status for 2016 after coming through their relegation play-off games in Drogheda on Sunday.

The Blues put a disappointing championship campaign behind them as they recovered from a poor start to defeat Nh Mairtin by 2-8 to 1-7.

The Monasterboice side made a very bright opening and landed the first five points. The Blues hit back with three in a row but suffered a blow when a Mairtins goal on 14 minutes helped them to lead by 1-5 to 0-5.

It looked as if the Mairtins were on course for victory when they stretched the lead to four points by the end of the third quarter.

However, the Blues were given a lifeline when sub Cormac McQuillan grabbed a goal before Hugh McGinn turned the game in his side's favour with a quick-fire 1-2.

Those scores knocked the confidence out of the Mairtins side and it was the Blues who held out for victory.

The Monasterboice men will now face Mattock Rangers for the right to stay in the top grade after the Collon side lost out to Cooley Kickhams on a 3-9 to 0-8 scoreline.

The nerves were evident in the opening quarter as it took until the 14th minute before the deadlock was broken and it proved to be an important score as Ultan Watters hit the net for Cooley.

However, Mattock settled after that and hit back to level at 0-4 to 0-1 at half time with David Reid scoring three points.

There remained little between the teams after the restart but two goals in a minute just after the start of the fourth quarter from Michael Rafferty and Brian White put Cooley in complete control.

There was no way back for the Collon men after that as Cooley comfortably held out for a ten point win.

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