Burren 2-19 Liatroim 0-7
LAST year’s finalists Burren blew the challenge of Liatriom apart with a convincing display in Clonduff.
Odhran Murdock’s penalty on 23 minutes put some distance between the teams to give Burren a 1-4 to 0-1 lead and Ryan Treanor’s super second-half goal put it beyond doubt.
Joe McCrickard gave Liatroim an early lead but Burren replied with Ronan McGrath, Liam Kerr and Niall Toner (two) registering points before the spot-kick.
Liatroim finished the half with Conor and Joe McCrickard on target, but Burren pulled away early in the second period with a flurry of points from McGrath, Danny Magill and Kerr before Conor McCrickard added Liatroim’s fourth point on 41 minutes.
When sub Ryan Treanor rattled the net on 49 minutes Burren led 2-13 to 0-6 and there was no way back for their opponents, although Treanor did nab a further three points.
Tougher tests await Burren.
Loughinisland 0-9 Kilcoo 0-12
KILCOO began their campaign for a seventh title in a row with a comfortable win over Loughinisland in Leitrim on Saturday.
With double scores at half-time (0-8 to 0-4), Shealan Johnston’s fourth point of the game on 33 minutes seemed to put the game out of Loughinisland’s reach. That said, Rory Mason’s 45-metre converted free from the sideline was inspirational and his second-half tight-angled point was equal to Ryan Johnston’s in the opening period.
Scores went tit-for-tat in the opening quarter with Ryan McEvoy (free), Chrissy Rooney (mark) and Shealan Johnston on target for the Magpies, and Loughinisland replying with a brace from Mason, including that beauty, and a super point from Aaron McClements.
Kilcoo finished the half strongly, though, with Shealan Johnston and brother Jerome firing over and Anthony Morgan landing a fine point.
Loughinisland’s only further reply was a snatched point from James Savage, but they were denied a goal when Niall Kane brilliantly saved from Stefan Mason.
Shealan Johnston and Callum Rogers helped Kilcoo stretch their lead either side of Edward Nixon’s clever point and when Miceal Rooney raided past five defenders to grab his side’s last point there were only 47 minutes gone. Loughinisland’s Dean McLaughlin wrapped up the scoring with eight minutes of normal time remaining.
Glenn 0-6 Carryduff 1-8
AN opportunist goal from county man Daniel Guinness on the stroke of half-time was decisive in Carryduff battling past a dogged 14-man Glenn.
With 21 minutes gone Carryduff led 0-3 to 0-2. The goal came on 30 minutes with Down ‘keeper John O’Hare caught out up the field and Carryduff overturned possession, from where Eoin Donnelly kicked long to Guinness who cooly netted. As the ‘Duff celebrated, ref Brendan Rice issued a red card to Glenn’s Mickey Donnelly.
Glenn quickly trailed 0-2 to 1-5. John McGeough, Daniel McGuinness and sub Sean McGonigle added to Carryduff’s tally to seal victory despite Glenn’s best efforts including a reply from McCartan (free), Joe Sands, Kian Lyons and Declan Carville.
Longstone 0-8 Bredagh 3-8
Bredagh blitzed Longstone with three goals in a 10-minute spell yesterday.
The city side led by 0-3 to 0-2 after a rather drab first half but it sparked to life five minutes into the second half when Cormac O’Rawe lashed home. Stone were shocked and then stunned as less than a minute later Conor Francis palmed home.
Donal Hughes grabbed the third goal in the 45th minute and ensured the ‘Stone were well and truly sunk.
Downpatrick 3-4 Ballyholland 2-9
SEAMUS Loughran (1-5) inspired Ballyholland Harps to come from six points down and overcome RGU Downpatrick on Friday night.
It was a scrappy opening quarter, with only two points scores after 20 minutes – from Matthew Guinness and Loughran to give Harps the lead.
Then came two stunning thumped goals from target man Jarlath Branagan to give Downpatrick a 2-2 to 0-5 lead at the break.
Sub Tim Prenter steered over a super long range point and Branagan completed his hat-trick from the spot, so Downpatrick were six points ahead but never looked too assured. Ryan Connolly pulled a point back and Loughran converted the second penalty of the contest and it was now a two-point game.
Harps emptied the bench and became much more mobile but the plan was simple, get the ball to Loughran and he swung over two beauties, and with time almost up he laid off the deft pass for sub Ruairi McAteer to bag the winning goal.
Bryansford 3-7 Saul 1-8
Bryansford came from behind to overcome Saul yesterday, with Danny Savage, Cory Laverty and Conall Murray bagging the goals for the Newcastle side.
