Gaels hit back

The most exciting of the weekend’s six Louth SFL matches was one involving teams in the relegation zone.

Mattock Rangers were at home to Dundalk Gaels and looked to be in line for a valuable win when they increased their half-time lead to five points. But Gaels got back to within three points, and with the game in injury time, Derek Crilly, bagged his side’s third goal to make it a draw. It finished 2-16 to 3-13, Mattock’s two goals — and one of Gaels’ — coming from the penalty spot.

In other relegation battles, O’Rahilly’s beat Naomh Mairtin, and O’Connell’s edged Dreadnots, 0-15 to 0-13. At the other end of the table, second-placed Kilkerley Emmets followed their championship drubbing of the previous week by going down to Cooley Kickhams, and now face a major battle to qualify for one of the four semi-final spots.

Sean O’Mahony’s did their prospects a world of good, scoring 3-10 in their defeat of Newtown Blues. The Dundalk side are second, one point behind title-holders, St Patrick’s, who, having played crack Tyrone team, Errigal Ciaran, in a challenge on Friday, fielded an experimental side for yesterday’s meeting with bottom side Oliver Plunketts. Patrick’s needed a late point from All-Star, Paddy Keenan, to eke out a draw.