Senior League
Armagh Harps 1-11 Ballymacnab 2-12
Ballymacnab came through a tough test on Sunday afternoon in the only fixture in the Senior League A division of the week. A game of two halves saw travelling side Ballymacnab climb out of the relegation zone with an important four point win over Armagh Harps, The Round Towers played with the breeze in the opening half and took full advantage, heading into the half time break ahead 0-10 to 0-3.
The game began with a slow and laborious first 15 minutes, both sides engaging in some early shadow boxing. Conn Stevenson broke the dead lock five minutes in with a point before the Nab hit three within the next 10 minutes, Brendan Toner (45), Rory Grugan and Jack Grugan (free) all splitting the posts.
Tom O’Kane pulled one back for the hosts while Ballymacnab hit two points in as many minutes through Gavin McParland and Tony McKee. O’Kane once more hit the target but Ballymacnab seemed to shift into a higher gear for the final 10 minutes of the half and scores from Rory Grugan, Oisin McGivern, Jack Grugan (free), Benny Gribben and Gavin McParland saw the Nab take a dominant 7 point lead at the interval.
The visitors didn’t let up and Jack Grugan’s early score was followed by a superb Gavin McParland shot that hit the back of the Harps net. McParland traded scores with Kevin Kelly before once again finding the net after an unbelievable Jack Grugan through ball allowed McParland to face a one-on-one shot with the Harps net minder.
The last 15 minutes belonged to Armagh Harps however with the home side abandoning their defensive structure in favour of a full court press, which paid dividends as they outscored their opponents 1-7 to no score. Charlie Vernon found the net while Tom O’Kane, Eoin Fields, Declan McKenna, Joe McElroy and Karol Loughran gave the harps a glimmer of hope but time was against them and the Nab held on to a 2-12 to 1-11 victory.
In the only game of the lower section of the Senior League, Annaghmore came out on top of a 6 goal thriller against bottom side Culloville. The eventual victors led at half time 3-9 to 2-4 before pushing on in the second period to win 4-16 to 2-9. Annaghmore now hover just above the relegation zone on 9 points with Sarsfields just below on 8 while Culloville know their fate is decided and they will play their football in the intermediate league in 2020.
Intermediate League A
Wednesday night saw Whitecross thrash Middletown with a 5-17 to 0-10 win, Middletown now relegated to the lower segment of the Intermediate League for next season while Whitecross continue to fight for a top four spot. Tir na nOg 0-11 and Wolfe Tones 1-8 couldn’t be separated on Friday and both sides still sit in the danger zone at the bottom of the division.
Mullaghbawn remain on course to reach the senior division next year as an incredible comeback on Sunday against Shane O’Neill’s saw them stay top of the table. The hosts Mullaghbawn trailed at the interval 2-8 to 0-5 but fought back to lead 1-15 to 2-11 by the final whistle.
St Paul’s boosted their promotion push with a 3-7 to 1-12 victory over neighbours Clan na Gael with both sides now sitting on 14 points, joint second in the table, St Paul’s with a game in hand over their rivals.
Intermediate League B
An Port Mor’s promotion hopes were met with a serious blow on Friday night when Crossmaglen II’s, who have already been relegated to the Junior League, beat the hosts 2-14 to 1-11 while Keady also lost out on the same evening, losing to Grange 0-8 to 0-15 as Grange attempt to secure a top four place.
Keady got back to winning ways while An Port Mor’s formed continued to dip as the Michael Dwyer’s club overcame the Blackwatertown men 3-14 to 0-14 on Sunday, Keady now sitting second in the table, three points above their nearest challengers. Ballyhegan leaped over An Port Mor to take third place with a 1-19 to 2-5 win over bottom of the table Eire Og.
Tullysaran’s promotion push was only strengthened on Sunday as they saw off hosts Carrickcruppen with 10 points the difference after 60 minutes of play. The table toppers won comfortably on a score line of Carrickcruppen 2-8 Tullysaran 3-15.
Junior League
Derrynoose find themselves third in the league after two impressive wins on Friday and Sunday. Goals from Conor McNally and Peter McKearney secured a 2-8 to 0-6 victory over Clady, a game that came to a halt after 37 minutes of play due to the bad weather the sides faced, with Derrynoose claiming the points.
Derrynoose continued their goal scoring form, winning 5-15 to 2-10 against Corrinshego on Sunday while Clady once again came out on the wrong side of a 1-10 to 0-5 score line against Collegeland. Newtown overcame St Patrick’s IIs with four points to spare, 2-9 to 1-8 with Forkhill also winning 2-7 to 1-8 against Dorsey Emmets.
Mullabrack remain at the foot of the division after a 2-11 to 1-9 defeat at the hands of Newtown while at the other end of the league Clonmore continued their winning run on Sunday, with a 1-13 to 0-12 win over Belleek, 17 wins from 17 games, while Belleek stay in second place, 6 points behind the leaders.
