Senior League A
Ballymacnab 1-12 Maghery 0-10
League leaders Maghery made the journey to Ballymacnab on Saturday afternoon and suffered only their second defeat this season, and their second in a row. Jack Grugan (free) got the game up and running in the first minute while Maghery replied with a free of their own from Eamon Cusack.
Stephen Cusack edged Maghery ahead before a Joe Gribben point saw the sides’ level for the second time. Ballymacnab began to find their stride with Kieran Hughes and Gavin McParland both splitting the posts, the latter coming after a fantastic turnover from Jack Grugan back in his own defence.
Grugan then hit a free short with the Nabs next attack, with the ball bouncing off a Maghery man to roll into the net. Finnen Maguire, McParland and Oisin McGivern all kicked crucial scores during Ballymacnab’s dominant period. Maghery did come back strong however with Ciaran Lappin and Stefan Forker (3) both scoring while Gavin McParland also hit his third just before the break, with Ballymacnab ahead 1-8 to 0-6.
Eamon Cusack brought the game back to four in the opening minute of the second half before a brilliant Kieran Hughes point extended Ballymacnab’s lead to five. Hughes swapped scores with James Lavery while the reliable Cusack again scored from the dead ball. Brian Fox added another score for Maghery with the goal now the difference between the sides.
Jack Grugan found the target from a free, with an exciting finale in store. Maghery went on search of a goal to bring them back into the game and were presented with the perfect opportunity with a penalty seven minutes from time. Up stepped Stephen Cusack who shot low to the corner but a brilliant diving save from goal keeper Conor McGivern turned the ball on to the crossbar and saw the ball bounce free.
The momentum now lay with the home side, as they pushed on for an insurance score, Jack Grugan providing the final point of the match with another free. All in all Ballymacnab were the better side throughout the 60 minutes and deserved their 1-12 to 0-10 victory.
Elsewhere Armagh Harps grabbed their 4th win of the season, overcoming Silverbridge in Abbey Park on Sunday evening, with a 2-14 to 1-8 win while Killeavy saw off Cullyhanna, winning 2-14 to 1-9 away from home.
Senior League B
Madden 1-12 Pearse Ogs 3-16
Pearse Ogs pushed one step closer to their promotion hopes with an impressive 10 point victory over promotion contenders Madden, the travelling side seeing off their opponents with three well taken goals. Anto Duffy and Conor Grimley got their teams off the mark before Vincy Brady broke forward from centre half back to rattle the Madden goal and give Pearse Ogs the upper hand, which they held for the remainder of the game.
Liam Grimley and Conor Grimley gave Madden some hope, but their net was once again struck, this time from the boot of Chris Rafferty. Justin Graham (free), Conor Clarke and Anto Duffy all chipped over points as Pearse Ogs really began to take control of the contest. Conor Grimley and Aron McKenna (2) matched three Paul Duffy points before Anto Duffy kicked the final score of the half, the Ogs well ahead 2-8 to 0-6.
Madden reduced the deficit early in the third quarter through Ciaran Rafferty (free) and McKenna before Anto Duffy and Conor Clarke cancelled out Madden’s early progress. Ciaran Rafferty and Chris Rafferty scored for their teams before Ogs substitute Ciaran Nugent knocked over two points along with another from Clarke.
Justin Graham and Ciaran Rafferty swapped scores with Aron McKenna chipping in with another before Nugent was again on target, this time raising a green flag. Madden had a super sub of their own, Ryan Carmichael who scored 1-1 after being introduced in the second period. There wasn’t enough time to spark a revival however and Justin Graham’s point was the final bit of action with Pearse Ogs convincing winners, 3-16 to 1-12.
Clann Eireann also had a one sided victory in section B of the Senior league seeing off visitors St Peter’s. The home side lead at the interval 2-12 to 1-2 before cruising home to victory on a score line of Clann Eireann 3-20 St Peter’s 2-6. Sarsfields and Annaghmore couldn’t be split, drawing Sarsfields 3-10 Annaghmore 1-16.
Intermediate League
Keady 0-12 Crossmaglen II 2-5
Keady remain on course for a second consecutive promotion with their 6th win of the season coming against Crossmaglen II. The home side trailed at the interval by a single goal with the score 0-5 to 1-5 to Crossmaglen, Ryan Donnelly (3) Dean Nugent and Conor Corvan were all on target for Keady, while 1-3 of the leaders total came from play in the opening period.
Keady excelled in the second half, outscoring their opponents 0-7 to 1-0. Donnelly (2) was again on target followed by Benny O’Hea (2), Paul Greene (2) and Barry Malloy who saw their side take the victory by a single point, Keady 0-12 Crossmaglen II 2-5 at the final whistle.
In the top sector of the intermediate league, St Paul’s beat Wolfe Tones by the minimum of margins, 2-10 to 2-9 with Ballyhegan winning the other game in section B of the league against Grange, 0-13 to 0-9.
Junior League
Only two league games were played in the Junior division on Sunday, Forkhill beating Clady 4-8 to 1-13 while Clonmore, who remain top of the table, beat Killeavy 3-17 to 1-4.
