ST JOSEPHS 2-9

DUNDALK GAELS 2-6

The Joes put themselves in contention for a quarter final spot with a first outing three-point win over 2018 finalists Dundalk Gaels at Darver on Sunday afternoon.

Despite facing the breeze in the first half the Joes made a bright start with a Conall McCaul point and a Ben Collier goal either side of a Kevin McArdle point for the Gaels.

Daire Smyth and Eanna McArdle swapped scores but it was the Gaels who finished the half on the up as points from Derek Crilly and David Moloney cut the gap at the break to 1-2 to 0-4.

The Joes made a great start to the second half and two points from McCaul were followed by a Thomas Smyth goal. They were now 2-5 to 0-4 ahead on 37 minutes however the game was soon turned on its head with the Gaels scoring 2-1 in three minutes. 

Barry Watters and Derek Crilly found the net for the Dundalk me

First, the ever threatening David Moloney added a point and then a Derek Crilly effort was held up in the wind and the inrushing Barry Watters deflected the ball to the Joes net. A minute later the ball was in the Joes net for a second time when a high ball into the goalmouth was punched to the net by Derek Crilly to leave the sides level for the first time at 2-5 each on 40 minutes.

However, the Joes responded to the challenge and points from Conall McCaul, Oisin McGuinness (2) and Jack Mulligan had them four clear. 

The Gaels pressed hard during the final eight minutes but again they found few scoring opportunities in a tight Joes defence with a Jason Clarke 13m free their only score, as the Joes held out for victory.

ST JOSEPHS: Mark Neary; Liam O’Leary, Shane McQuillan, Michael Staunton; Conor Neary, Killian Staunton, Gabriel Bell; Alan McKenna, Thomas Smyth (1-0); Jack Mulligan (0-1), Ben Collier (1-1), Oisin McGuinness (0-2); Alan Quigley, Daire Smyth (0-1),  Conall McCaul (0-4). Subs: Ben Mulligan, Adam O’Connor, Stefan Potts, Craig Doherty.

DUNDALK GAELS: Joe O’Donoghue; James Lynch, Jamie Faulkner, Kyle Rafferty; David McComish, Oisin Murray, David Moloney 0-2; Derek Crilly 1-1, Niall Hearty; Sean Murray, Barry Watters 1-0, Jason Clarke 0-1; Kevin McArdle 0-1, Gerard McSorley, Eanna McArdle 0-1. Subs: Dylan McKeown for E McArdle, Eamon Kenny for N Hearty, Sean McCann for K McArdle.

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