Five teams remain unbeaten in Junior A Football Championship

The second round of the King and Moffatt sponsored Junior A Football Championship saw St. Croan’s, Clann na nGael, Kilglass Gaels, St. Aidan’s and Ballinameen maintain their winning starts, despite the latter pair being pushed to the brink.

A strong start and composed finish helped Kilglass Gaels beat a spirited St. Brigid’s side 3-19 to 2-14 in Group A. The foundations for this victory were set in the early stages. After St. Brigid’s opened the scoring through Cormac O’Rourke, Kilglass Gaels hit 3-1 without reply as Tommy Cox, Leo Cox and Kevin Feeney found the net.

Yet the sides were level at half time as Robbie Keenan’s goal and Mark Gibbons’ two-pointer left it 3-4 to 1-10.

Gavin Tully and Kevin Feeney were in superb form for Kilglass Gaels as their two-pointers proved too much for St. Brigid’s to handle as John Ryan’s late goal wasn’t enough to deny Kilglass Gaels.

Ballinameen secured their second win on the bounce as they struck late to defeat Roscommon Gaels by 0-15 to 1-11 at Davonna Park. The hosts struck late through a Peter Keane 62nd minute effort to edge past a Roscommon Gaels side who were much improved from their opening round defeat to Kilglass Gaels.

Roscommon Gaels led by 1-5 to 0-6 at half time as Aaron Dolan and Mark Dwyer kicked a two-pointer apiece. Despite squandering opportunities, Ballinameen battled back as Dessie Carlos kicked six points before Keane came up trumps.

Ballinameen will meet Kilglass Gaels next to see who finishes top of the group. Meanwhile, St. Brigid’s C and Roscommon Gaels B will square off, with the loser dropping into the relegation play-offs Gavin McManus’ 2-7 helped Clann na nGael power their way to a 3-17 to 2-10 win over Strokestown. Emmet Durney’s side saw eight players trouble the scoreboard as Mark Naughton and McManus plundered first quarter goals to move Clann 2-7 to 0-2 ahead. Tony Lavin did lead a mini-revival from the hosts with a two-pointer, but Clann still led 2-10 to 0-6 at half time.

Strokestown gave themselves hope when Gerry Collins found the net. However, their joy was short-lived as Clann hit straight back with McManus netting for the game’s next score. Even though Tony Shiel bagged a late two-pointer and Lavin netted a penalty, Clann proved too strong.

St. Aidan’s maintained their winning start to this year’s championship as they beat a dogged Western Gaels side 1-13 to 1-12 in Frenchpark. Ultimately, Rory Coyle kicked the game winning free to ensure St. Aidan’s set up a top of the table clash with Clann na nGael in less than two weeks’ time.

Conor Mulry’s goal was also pivotal to the final outcome as Western Gaels were denied late on. They will have little time to lick their wounds as a crucial final round clash with Strokestown B awaits, with the loser of that game finishing bottom of the group and entering the relegation play-offs.

St. Croan’s showed why they are many people’s favourites to secure an immediate return to the intermediate ranks as they conjured up a 3-20 to 1-5 win over St. Ronan’s in Group C.

Even though St. Ronan’s took an early lead, once Adrian Collins equalised, St. Croan’s never trailed again. Conor Kennedy netted a penalty, but St. Ronan’s only trailed by 1-7 to 1-3 at half time.

A pair of Richard Thompson two-point frees and a penalty save from Michael Holland moved the game beyond St. Ronan’s reach. The victors finished strongly as injury-time goals from Cathal Connelly and Thompson ensured another emphatic win for St. Croan’s.

Conor Deery’s goal ten minutes from time proved crucial in ensuring Boyle’s second team secured their first win of the championship as they defeated St. Joseph’s 1-18 to 2-11 at Abbey Park.

This was an important game after both sides lost their opening round encounters. In a tight opening half, Boyle managed to kick five of the last seven points to lead 0-11 to 0-8 at the interval.

St. Joseph’s appeared on course for a crucial win after Kevin Glynn and Ronan Garvey netted but Deery’s goal alongside the home side scoring the last three points of the game proved decisive.

Boyle will come up against top of the table St. Croan’s next while winless St. Joseph’s will need to get off the mark against St. Ronan’s in the final round of games.