By Tommy Murphy
The 2017 Michael Lyng Motors senior football championship started on Friday evening Eire Og defeated St. Andrews by 1-20 to 0-6, St. Andrews were intermediate champions in 2016
On Saturday evening at Netwatch Cullen Park a late long range Seamus Kinsella free gave Old Leighlin a one point win over Mt. Leinster Rngs in a lively Nip and Tuck game all through It finished Old Leighlin 0-9 Mt. Leinster Rngs 0-8
In the second game Rathvilly had to work hard to see off the challenge of O’Hanrahans. The Murphy bros scored twelve points between them Brian seven and Brendan five. In the closing stages O’Hanrahans were coming close as Robbie Molloy had to save a penalty from Graham Delaney however Rathvilly finished strong Rathvilly 0-16 O’Hanrahans 0-11
In the Talbot hotel Intermediate Football Championship (Sunday)
Kilbride out by six points with less than three minutes remaining were held to a draw with two goals from Naomh Eoin in the dying seconds. The game was level on five occasions. Brendan Butler shot Kilbrides first goal, Donal Smithers made no mistake from the penalty spot as Naomh Eoin led by 1-4 to 1-3 at half time.
Twelve minutes in to the last half Stephen Curry shot Kilbrides second goal three minutes later a Philip Smithers goal had matters all square 2-6 each.
Kilbrides Joe Waters third goal opened up a six point lead with three minutes remaining 3-9 to 2-6 In a flash Naomh Eoin shot two goals from Ross Smithers and Anthony Hogan to finish all square as time ran out and it finished Naomh Eoin 4-6 Kilbride 3-9.
At Netwatch Training Centre late pointed free from the accurate Mark Kelly gave Eire Og a one point victory over Grange in a lively encounter. It finished Eire Og 0-12 Grange 1-8.
This was a double header game as it was also the senior football league Div 2 semi-final so Eire Og will now meet Kildavin-Clonegal in the Div 2 final
The Fighting Cocks put in a storming second half to turn a three point deficit around and beat Ballinabranna by seven points.
Ballinabranna led by 1-7 to 1-4 at the break, and in the closing stages the Fighting Cocks defended with all their might to contain the Ballinabranna forwards as it finished Fighting Cocks 2-14 Ballinabranna 1-10
On Saturday evening Kildavin-Clonegal served notice that they would like to return to senior ranks as they defeated Clonmore by eleven points in the opening round -Kildavin-Clonegal 5-12 Clonmore 2-10
In the Junior Hurling Championship Naomh Eoin had three points to spare over St. Patricks in round five at Myshall on Friday evening
Naomh Eoin 1-10 St. Patricks 1-7.
The Michael Lyng Motors Senior Football Championship game Tinryland v Palatine was postponed as a mark of respect to the late Paddy Regan Tinryland former player, club chairman and vice president. Paddy will be laid to rest in his native Tinryland later today.
