Naomh Mairtin 2-16
Rathvilly 1-5

Naomh Mairtin eased into the second round of the Leinster Club Championship with a comfortable win over Carlow champions, Rathvilly, at Haggardstown on Sunday afternoon.

The Monasterboice men were simply too powerful and too clinical for the visitors and from a long way out they looked on course for the deserved victory they ultimately achieved.

Goals from Val Leddy and Conor Whelan helped the Louth champions establish a nine point lead at the break and they were never under threat in the second period as Sam Mulroy brought his tally to eight points by the final whistle.

The early exchanges suggested that a competitive game might be in store as points from Mulroy and Whelan were cancelled out by the Carlow men.

The Mairtins had the next two points before the water break but the game remained in the balance after the next two scores were shared. However, the hosts made the decisive move in the final five minutes of the half when Whelan’s goal was followed soon after by another from Leddy to make it 2-7 to 0-4 at half time.

Although Rathvilly kicked the first score of the second half, there was never any suggestion of a fightback as the Mairtins dominated the remainder of the game. Mulroy and Whelan added to their tallies while Wayne Campbell and JP Rooney also got on the scoresheet, with the concession of a late goal to Conor O’Neill representing only a minor blip in an impressive display.

The reward for the Louth champions is a home game against Shelmaliers of Wexford in the next round.

NH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Mark Whelan, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; John Clutterbuck, Sean Healy, Conor Morgan; Wayne Campbell 0-2, Evan Whelan; Val Leddy 1-1, Eoghan Callaghan, Stephen Campbell; Conor Whelan 1-4, Sam Mulroy 0-8 , Bryan McQuillan. Subs: JP Rooney 0-1 for B McQuillan, Conor Smyth for M Whelan, Joe McGrane for E Callaghan, Brian Berrill for S Campbell, Eoin Wright for C Healy.

RATHVILLY: Tom Pilkington; Jeffrey O’Donoghue, Barry John Molloy, Dara Curran; Pauric Deering, Conor Doyle, Josh Moore; Brendan Murphy, Ed Finnegan; Kevin Murphy (0-2), Alan Kelly (0-1), Eric Molloy; Brian Murphy (0-1) , Brian Smith, Jake Elliott (0-1). Subs: Padraig Bolger for A Kelly, Conor O’Neill (1-0) for J Elliott, Diarmuid Gavin for J O’Donoghue, Luke Coleman for Brian Murphy, Padraic Byrne for P Deering.

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