Kickhams the pick of early pace-setters

NA PIARSAIGH, Claremorris and Ballymun Kickhams are thefront-runners in Group A of Division 1 after the opening games of Féile na nÓg in Mallow yesterday.

That trio are locked on two points apiece at the top of the table but crucially Ballymun Kickhams have a game on hand after yesterday’s opening matches. The Dublin champions enjoyed a narrow 1-4 to 0-3 victory over Na Piarsaigh with the Cork city outfit having earlier defeated Mayo representatives Claremorris by 2-4 to 1-4.

Cathal Walsh bagged the goal for Claremorris in that game while earlier Mikey Higgins and Sean Conroy had raised green flags in their 2-11 to 3-1 victory over Charleville. The battle between north Cork rivals Charleville and Mallow ended in a 2-2 to 1-5 draw.

In the Group B matches, which were played in Ovens, Galway champions Craughwell are top after maximum points from their two games. They defeated Ballincollig in their opening tie by 3-1 to 0-2, with Cillian McDaid, Edward Martin and Matthew Molloy striking their goals.

After that they beat Clonakilty by 3-6 to 0-3 thanks to goals from Conor Dolan, McDaid and Eoin Lally. Kerry’s Ballydonoghue triumphed in their only game by 5-9 to 1-3 against Clonakilty with Shane Kennelly scoring a hat-trick of goals and Jack Foley bagging a brace. The other game in the group saw Ballincollig stave off mid Cork rivals Éire Óg by 0-6 to 1-2 with Aaron McNamara scoring the goal for Éire Óg.

In Group C, Kildare outfit Sarsfields, St Michael’s and Derry outfit Glenmaghera lead the way. Sarsfields were 6-12 to 0-1 winners over Aghada and 3-6 to 1-7 victors over Douglas, with Cathal Sheehan hitting the goal for Douglas. Liam Dineen raised a green flag for Douglas in their other clash as they went down to Glenmaghera by 3-5 to 1-5.

Sean Hurley, Ben O’Callaghan, Patrick Fitzgerald and Michael O’Halloran were among the scorers for St Michael’s as they triumphed 3-6 to 1-2 over Aghada.

Group D is delicately balanced after the opening round of games with four teams — Cork duo St Finbarr’s and Carrigaline, Tyrone’s Galbally Pearses and Meath’s Naomh Colmcille — all on two points each.

St Finbarr’s enjoyed a 4-7 to 1-2 victory over Nemo Rangers with Christopher Coleman and Stephen Sherlock striking the goals that propelled them into a 4-4 to 0-0 lead at the break. David Grant got a goal in reply for Nemo Rangers and was also on the scoresheet along with Liam Dineen, as Nemo Rangers moved into a 2-4 to 0-5 half-time lead against Galbally Pearses. But the Tyrone outfit, inspired by the Quinn twin brothers Patrick and Mark, mounted a brilliant comeback to win 0-11 to 2-4.

Galbally Pearses fell to a 3-5 to 0-8 defeat against Carrigaline in their second clash with Billy Pope (two) and Caleb O’Connell firing home the Cork side’s goals. Carrigaline’s hopes of a second victory were dashed by Naomh Colmcille, who ran out 3-3 to 1-4 winners.