ACL Div 1 round-up: Defending champs Clarkes defeat Omagh

Omagh 3-6 Dungannon 0-16

THE last game in the opening round of Division One fixtures took place at Healy Park on Monday evening with defending champions Dungannon edging the verdict with the minimum to spare.

Omagh scored three goals over the course of the sixty odd minutes but a trio of two pointers ion the second half from three different players saw the Clarkes come from three down at the short whistle to take the spoils.

The hosts got off to the perfect start with a 4^th minute Conan Grugan goal only for the visitors to reply with points from James and Paddy Quinn. Eoghan McNamee and Dan Haigney swapped points with the impressive James Quinn before wind assisted Omagh tagged on scores from Conan Campbell and a Grugan two pointer. It was the Clarkes though who had the final say of the half from Kevin Barker to leave it 1-5 to 0-5 at the turnaround.

James Quinn had the opening two points of the second half before Campbell replied for the St.Endas. Dungannon though then enjoyed a purple patch to gain a lead that they were never to lose. Paddy Quinn got his second of the night before Dalaigh Jones and Matthew Quinn both weighed in with two pointers.

Jamie McCarthy then tagged on a point and at that stage the visitors led 0-13 to 1-6. At the end of the third quarter though Omagh got right back into contention when a brilliant ball from Grugan picked out Ronan O’Neill who finished to the net with aplomb.

It was now very much game on again but Dungannon didn’t panic as Paddy Quinn swung over a two pointer and James Quinn followed that up with his sixth score of the night. Omagh though threw everything at their opponents and with two minutes of normal time left to play Fionnbar Taggart struck for their third goal. The St.Enda’s pushed in search of an equaliser but Dungannon managed to hold on.

Donaghmore stage huge fightback

Donaghmore 5-23 Derrylaughan 3-11

DONAGHMORE looked to be in trouble at half-time at Father Devlin Park when they trailed newly promoted Derrrylaughan by six points but they turned on the style in the second half to win comfortably in the end.

Cormac Drayne and Ronan Cassidy gave the home side an early advantage but then the Kevin Barrys got on top. Two pointers from Tomas Carney and Liam Gervin coupled with singles from Carney and James Donnelly saw the lead change hands before Carney got a goal. Donaghmore had the final say of the half from Conor Cush and Drayne but they still trailed 1-10 to 0-7.

That lead was wiped out on the restart thanks to a John McKenna two pointer and a Drayne goal. Carney got his second goal with Finbar Cullen also finding the net for Derrylaughan but it was all Donaghmore. Ronan Cassidy, Noah Grimes, McKenna and Cush all got majors on a day when just five players shared their entire tally.

Conlon rescues St.Malachys

Loughmacrory 1-16 Edendork 1-16

HARRY Og Conlon proved to be the Edendork hero with an injury time equaliser from a two pointer as the visitors came from three down late on to salvage a draw at Loughmacrory.

The St.Theresas were the better side in the first half and that was reflected on the scoreboard as they established a 0-11 to 1-4 lead. Pauraic Meenagh, Ruairi McCullagh, Eoin Donaghy and Gareth Donaghy were among the points for the home side with Rian Nelis the Edendork goal scorer and Conlon and Cormac Mallaghan among their points.

In the second half McCullagh and Meenagh exchanged points with Conlon, Mallaghan, Conor Mallon and Ben Cullen with a goal from Eoin Donaghy ensuring the hosts stayed in front. Eoin McElholm came on in the last quarter and registered but Edendork kept plugging away and they got their reward with that Conlon equaliser.

Rossas prove too strong

Ardboe 2-19 Pomeroy 0-13

AFTER a close opening period wind assisted Ardboe turned on the style in the second half to record a convincing win at Coney Park to condemn Pomeroy to their second defeat of the campaign.

The Rossas were boosted by a 10^th minute Caolan Mallaghan goal but that came after Pomeroy had hit two pointers from Ronan Duffin and Ryan Loughran. Four Shay McGuigan points kept Ardboe in front despite a second Loughran two pointer to leave it 1-8 to 0-10 at halftime.

Within three minutes of the restart Michael O’Neill and David Mulgrew had scored points either side of a second Mallaghan major and the winners never looked back. Duffin and Peter McGoldrick had points for the Plunketts but Mallaghan, Jamie Concannon, Oran Mulgrew, Cormac Devlin and McGuigan all registered again for a good win for the Loughshore men.

Malachys win battle of promoted sides

Gortin 1-14 Moortown 1-16

TWO sides who won promotion out of Intermediate football last term went head to head here first day out and it was Moortown who came out on top after holding off a second half comeback from Gortin.

The St.Malachys had the wind at their backs in the first half and they made good use of it to establish a 1-11 to 0-5 lead. Shea Lawn converted a number of frees with Liam Lawn, Matthew Conlon and Ryan Kelly also on target while Ryan Smith got their goal, Liam Og Mossey replying for the home side.

It was a different story in the second half as Gortin came roaring back. Mossey scored a goal and was among the points as was Sean Og McAleer and Ciaran Brolly. The Loughshore men though did enough to record a narrow victory with Shea Lawn’s eight point haul proving crucial.

Winning start for St.Marys

Killyclogher 1-18 Dromore 1-13

THIS was one of the games of the day in the top flight on Sunday afternoon and it lived up to expectations with Killyclogher taking the two league points in a game where they led for most of the way.

Oran Toal hit a couple of two pointers in the first half with Patrick Corcoran fisting a brace of points and Mickey Rafferty also on target for the winners. Paudi Dillon and Odhran Rafferty got points for Dromore with Oran Sludden getting their goal while Conall McCann found the net for the St.Marys in the 18^th minute.

Killyclogher led 1-13 to 1-7 at halftime and they moreorless maintained that margin throughout the second period. Tiernan Cox scored 0-5 with Toal finishing with half a dozen while Marc Flanagan got a couple as well. Dillon and Rafferty ended up with 0-8 between them with both Ronan McNabbs scoring as well but it wasn’t enough for the St.Dympnas.