Tones have to settle for draw

The visiting Tones looked set for victory, when Michael Treacy handed them a two point cushion entering the closing stages, but following the dismissal of Des Treacy on a second infraction, they lost their way as the hosts fought back for a precious league point.

Swapped points between Dillon and Gareth Devlin in response to away efforts from Damian Kelly and Treacy hinted at a promising encounter and, so it proved with a Martin Grimes goal on 15 minutes enabling Kildress to establish a 0-6 to 1-5 interval cushion. Cathal Devlin and Eoin Brannigan on the respective score sheets before the close of half one.

The tit for tat scenario continued throughout the third quarter with Conor Quinn and Devlin cancelling out visiting points from Johnny Connolly and Colm Loughran, but when Michael Treacy pointed for a 1-11 to 0-12 lead Kildress looked home and hosed. Moments later Brackaville referee Cathal O’Hagan issued a second yellow to Des Treacy and in his absence Stewartstown made the numerical advantage count to claw back on level par.

Stewartstown scorers - Paul Dillon 0-5, Gareth Devlin 0-4, Cathal Devlin 0-2, Conor Quinn 0-1, Ryan Devlin 0-1, Edward Laverty 0-1

Kildress scorers - Martin Grimes 1-2, Damian Kelly 0-3, Eoin Brannigan 0-2, Des Treacy 0-1, Johnny Connolly 0-1, Colm Loughran 0-1, Michael Treacy 0-1

URNEY 0-14 STRABANE 1-8

Urney threw a spanner into the title ambitions of Strabane, at St Columba’s Park on Sunday afternoon when the hosts emerged deserving three point winners.

Strabane struggled to replicate the form that saw them hold a share of the divisional leadership on a day Urney had sterling contributions from Jamie McAleer and centre halfback Ryan Henry. McAleer and Fergal McNulty converted frees inside the opening 6 minutes before Strabane retorted with a placed ball from Warner Mullan, but by the time the Sigerson‘s doubled their tally courtesy of Sean McNulty on 18 minutes, they were 6-2 adrift.

JP Gallagher fired a rebound over the bar after Martin Mongan was denied a goal but Urney greeted the break 7-3 to the good. The hosts continued to frustrate Strabane on the turnaround with five further points from McAleer and PJ McMenamin. Mullan opened Strabane’s account from a free and, as the visitors chased the game Urney goalkeeper Keith Neilis denied Rory McElroy a goal. Strabane did get a goal courtesy of a Gallagher penalty and when Mullan added two points the gap was down to two on a 0-13 to 1-8 score line, but Urney capped a deserving win with another inspirational score from Henry.

Urney scorers - Jamie McAleer 0-7, Ryan Henry 0-3, Fergal McNulty 0-2, Ronan Lafferty 0-1, PJ McMenamin 0-1

Strabane scorers - Warner Mullan 0-4, JP Gallagher 1-1, Sean McNulty 0-1, John McLaughlin 0-1, Marc Devine 0-1

POMEROY 1-9 DUNGANNON 1-7

Dungannon must be wondering what they have to do to get a winning result after squandering a six point lead on their travels to Plunkett Park on Sunday.

The opening four points were shared equally between the teams with Patrick Quinn and Barry Logan on target for the Clarkes either side of scores from Hugh McNamee and John Loughran before Kiefer Morgan hoisted over for a 3-2 lead. Quinn bagged a goal and, even though Pomeroy replied with a Stephen McKenna point further efforts from Quinn and Logan allowed Dungannon to enjoy a merited 1-5 to 0-3 half time cuppa.

Morgan gave Dungannon a six point lead twice in the opening skirmishes of half two but just when an upset looked likely they lost their shape and direction. Pomeroy providing the final six scores of the evening to clinch the spoils. McNamee supplied the all important goal with Hugh Pat McGeary, Ollie McCreesh and Kieran McGeary all harvesting points while the winners even had the luxury of missing a second half penalty. McCreesh drilling wide from the spot after referee John Kerlin had penalised the visiting defence.

Pomeroy scorers - Hugh McNamee 1-3, Stephen McKenna 0-2, John Loughran 0-, HP McGeary 0-1, Ollie McCreesh 0-1, Kieran McGeary 0-1

Dungannon scorers - Patrick Quinn 1-2, Kiefer Morgan 0-3, Barry Logan 0-2

DERRYTRESK 1-6 BRACKAVILLE 0-11

Martin Gervin led the charge for visiting Brackaville, as they got the better of neighbouring Derrytresk, at the Fir and Chnoic base.

Two depleted formations for varying reasons deprived both sides of their first choice selections, but they still served up a reasonable contest with Conor Gillis, Gervin and Conor McStravog helping the Roes into a 4-0 lead. Derrytresk responded with a Wayne McNally goal and boosted by that major, they enjoyed the best of the second quarter exchanges. Brian Gavin, Joe McKee and Caolan Corr landing points before Conn Gervin pointed to restore parity 1-3 to 0-6 at half time.

Twice Derrytresk nosed ahead on the resumption via Patrick Campbell and Corr, but aided by the introduction of Ciaran Gervin Brackaville produced a decisive scoring burst as the Gervin duo Ciaran and Martin shared the final four away points to secure a narrow but satisfactory result in light of the absentees.

Derrytresk scorers - Caolan Corr 0-3, Wayne McNally 1-0, Brian Gavin 0-1, Joe McKee 0-1, Patrick Campbell 0-1

Brackaville scorers - Martin Gervin 0-6, Ciaran Gervin 0-2, Conor Gillis 0-1, Conor McStravog 0-1, Conn Gervin 0-1

ROCK 0-9 ESKRA 1-9

A Joe Carroll goal midway through the second half turned this contest in Eskra’s favour as the Emmett’s inflicted another disappointing home defeat on Rock.

The St Patrick‘s produced a promising opening thirty minutes of football on their way to a 6-2 half time lead. Aidan McGarrity and Martin McCreesh had the hosts 3-0 ahead before Eskra replied with a Thomas Meegan point. However, with the home defence in uncompromising form Eskra only managed one further score from the boot of Peter Hughes, while three Conor McCreesh minors was a fair reflection of the opening half exchanges.

Eskra managed the first two points on the restart thanks to Hughes and McCarroll, but Rock continued to battle and, a succession of points from the McCreesh clan - Conor and James kept them at arms length. Leading 0-9 to 0-5 Rock looked to be in control but McCarroll’s goal helped level the argument 1-6 to 0-9 and, turned the momentum Eskra’s way. Aaron Kelly, Paul Turbett and full back Adrian Scullion posted the final three points as Eskra maintained their winning habits.

Rock scorers - Conor McCreesh 0-5, Martin McCreesh 0-2, Aidan McGarrity 0-1, James McCreesh 0-1

Eskra scorers - Joe McCarroll 1-2, Aaron Kelly 0-2, Peter Hughes 0-2, Thomas Meegan 0-1, Paul Turbett 0-1, Adrian Scullion 0-1

EDENDORK 0-10 GALBALLY 0-14

Substitutions did the trick for Galbally as the Division Two Leaders secured an impressive win over Edendork.

The sides were level four times during a keenly contested opening segment before Galbally full forward Eamon McElroy pointed to give the Pearse’s a slender 7-6 platform. Brian O’Rourke with a quartet of points for the hosts, while Sean Donnelly and Brian McGuckin also raised white flags. Galbally posting scores through Michael Murphy, Peter Gillespie and the returning Paul Rafferty.

Four points from Conor Cullen, Brian McGuckin and David Toner had the St Malachy’s 10-7 ahead inside ten minutes of the second half, but they failed to score again, as Galbally utilised their bench to impressive and telling effect. Paul Rafferty fired over their opening score of the half on 47 minutes and, boosted by the introduction of Ciaran McCrory to midfield, minor Ronan Nugent and Neil Hagan Galbally seized control.

Nugent helped himself to a brace of points with McCrory and Hagan completing a blistering final quarter display of firepower as Galbally hit seven unanswered points. Strabane’s defeat to Urney allowing Galbally to assume outright control of the division, a point ahead of Moortown.

Edendork scorers - Brian O’Rourke 0-4, Brian McGuckin 0-3, Sean Donnelly 0-1, Conor Cullen 0-1, David Toner 0-1

Galbally scorers - Paul Rafferty 0-3, Sean Murphy 0-3, Ronan Nugent 0-2, Michael Murphy 0-1, Peter Gillespie 0-1, Aidan O’Hagan 0-1, Eamon McElroy 0-1, Ciaran McCrory 0-1, Neil Hagan 0-1

GORTIN 2-10 MOORTOWN 1-15

Moortown maintained their push for control of the intermediate league table, at St Patrick’s Park, but the Lough shore men were pushed to the wire before edging past plucky Gortin.

Gortin made a sensational start with Michael Mossey’s long delivery deceiving the Moortown goalkeeper on its way to the net. The score allowed Gortin to hold the upper hand, at the short whistle with Diarmuid McNulty and Mossey (three frees) accounting for the entire St Patrick‘s total in half one, as they enjoyed a 1-5 to 0-7 lead. Moortown responding with some quality points from Tony Quinn, Mark Crozier, Peter Devlin and Conor Herron.

The second half saw Moortown gradually assume control with Herron registering a trio of points to augment efforts from Karl Hagan and Brian McLernon before the latter netted a well taken goal. Gortin though refused to buckle with substitute Kevin McCullagh converting a few frees before McNulty goaled to level proceedings 2-10 to 1-13 with time almost up. It was anyone’s game, but Moortown held the trump cards as Herron and Ryan Kelly steered over the points to allow Moortown to stay hot of the heels of leaders Galbally.

Gortin scorers - Diarmuid McNulty 1-4, Michael Mossey 1-3, Kevin McCullagh 0-2, Ciaran McGarvey 0-1

Moortown scorers - Conor Herron 0-7, Brian McLernon 1-2, Karl Hagan 0-2, Tony Quinn 0-1, Mark Crozier 0-1, Ryan Kelly 0-1, Peter Devlin 0-1