Dundalk Colleges 1-7 St Mel's, Longford 0-9:TRAILING BY 0-7 to 0-0 at the break after playing against the strong wind, holders Dundalk Colleges battled back to defeat St Mel's, Longford, in their second-round game at Clonguish GAA grounds, Longford, yesterday.
St Mel’s held a comfortable lead at half-time with corner-forward Killian Farrell accounting for four points. Dundalk got their first point eight minutes after the break – a free converted by Cian Doyle. Moments later, Ben McLoughlin hit a crucial goal for Dundalk and four points followed from Doyle (2), Robert Quigley (free) and Conor McKeever to wipe out the St Mel’s advantage.
McKeever pointed in the 49th minute to put Dundalk in front for the first time, 1-5 to 0-7, and while St Mel’s equalised with a point from a free by Larry Moran in the 55th minute, the visitors sealed victory with scores from Doyle (free) and McKeever.
ST MEL’S: C Farrell; S Rodgers, N Keenan, A Duffy; B Smith, D Bennett, R Sweeney; C Casserly, J Keenan; R McGowan, A Dalton (0-1), D Kelly; K Farrell (0-4, 1 free), P Kiernan (0-1), B Walsh (0-1). Subs: L Moran ( 0-2, frees) for D Kelly (14 mins); N Conroy for B Smith (50 mins).
DUNDALK COLLEGES: S Murphy; A Smith, C Lenehan, C McMenamin; J Arrowsmith, D Smith, T Murphy; C Noonan, C Giggins; R Carr, C Doyle (0-4, 2 frees), M Newell; B McLoughlin (1-0), R Quigley (0-1, free), C McKeever (0-2). Subs: J Stewart for T Murphy (36 mins); R Kehoe for R Carr (46 mins); D Bannon for A Smith (56 mins).
Referee: D Maher (Westmeath).
