LOUTH SFC FINAL: Mattock Rangers 3-12 Cooley Kickhams 0-11:A devastating first-half blitz set Mattock Rangers up for their third Louth SFC title in eight seasons at Clan na Gael Park yesterday.
Last year’s beaten finalists netted their opening goal after just two minutes through Adrian Reid.
Kickhams had no answer to Mattock’s pacey forward division who added a second goal from Ryan Lenaghan to lead 2-9 to 0-4 by the break. Joint-top scorer David Reid added Mattock’s third goal before the finish.
LAOIS SFC SEMI-FINAL
Portlaoise 3-18 St Joseph's 0-9:Former Celtic player Paul Cahillane scored a total of 3-8 as champions Portlaoise proved too strong for St Joseph's.
The underage prodigy returned home earlier this year and yesterday he scored 1-3 in the opening half to help Portlaoise ease into a 1-11 to 0-4 interval lead. Meanwhile a second-half goal from Ross Munnelly helped Arles/Kilcruise defeat neighbours Arles/Killeen on Saturday to clinch a place in the final for the first time since 2003.
MEATH SHC FINAL
Kildalkey 1-19 Dunboyne 2-8:BOOSTED BY an inspirational display from sharpshooter Noel Kirby, Kildalkey claimed the Meath title for only the second time and the first since 1951 by outscoring Dunboyne at Páirc Tailteann.
Kirby shot seven of his eight points in the first half, including one huge score from inside his own half, and the winners led 0-11 to 0-5 at the break. Nick Fitzgerald scored Kildalkey’s goal soon after the restart. Michael Dunne and John Watters scored two late goals for outclassed Dunboyne.
CARLOW SFC SEMI-FINAL
Rathvilly 1-8 Eire Óg 1-6:THERE was high drama at the end of this Carlow semi-final when defending champions Eire Óg were denied what appeared to be a legitimate 59th-minute goal from corner forward Simon Rea. When referee Jimmy Lawler consulted both umpires the goal was disallowed.
Brian Murphy’s early goal helped Rathvilly lead 1-5 to 1-2 at the interval.
Old Leighlin shocked favourites O’Hanrahans 1-15 to 0-6 in the other semi-final.
