DREADNOTS 1-17

ST MARYS 2-12

The Dreadnots got their championship season off to a winning start after they bounced back from a six-point deficit to defeat St Marys in an entertaining game at Dunleer on Sunday evening.

The Marys made the brighter start and had points on the board through Ronan Carroll and Darren Clarke, but the failure to take their chances allowed the Dreadnots to stay in the game and scores from Pepe Smith and Peter Kirwan saw the teams level at three points apiece after 12 minutes.

The Marys then upped the pace and a well-taken goal from Darragh McConnon on 16 minutes put them four clear. Although the Clogher men rallied with scores from Anthony Williams and James Califf, the Ardee men struck a second goal through Conor Gillespie with the final kick of the first half to lead by 2-6 to 0-7 at the break.

When Gillespie (2) and McConnon pointed early in the second half the lead was out to six and there seemed to be no way back for the Dreadnots. However, the Clogherhead men were boosted by a goal from Peter Kirwan and were level when Darragh Shevlin pointed on 47 minutes.

The Dreadnots went three ahead only to be pegged back by the Marys as Kian Moran levelled, but Califf and Smith fired over frees late in the game to give the Dreadnots victory.

DREADNOTS: Chris Mulroy; Brian Gargan, Dermot Campbell, Derek Shevlin; David O'Brien, Padraig Rath, Barry Faulkner; Cian McEvoy, James Califf 0-4 (45, 2f); Pat Lynch, Pepe Smith 0-5 (2f), Anthony Williams 0-1; Carl Monaghan 0-1, Peter Kirwan 1-4, Liam Shevlin 0-1. Subs: Darragh Shevlin 0-1 for B Gargan, Cathal Lynch for D O'Brien.

ST MARYS: Alan McGauley; Brendan Matthews, John Bingham, Conor Keenan; Eimhin Keenan, Donal McKenny, Kian Moran 0-1; Karl Faulkner, Robbie Leavy; Paudy Clarke, Ronan Carroll 0-4, Darragh McConnon 1-1; Conor Gillespie 1-3 (3f), Mark Fay, Darren Clarke 0-3 (1f). Subs: Liam Jackson for P Clarke.

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