Davitts 1-8  Parke Keelogues Crimlin 0-11

Davitts hosted Parke KC in this tense Senior League Div 1A match on Saturday evening with both sides in danger of being dragged into the relegation play-off, Davitts on seven points and Parke KC a point ahead of them in the League table. The very competitive game was played at a furious pace throughout and a monstrous free kick converted by Ronan McNamara in the closing seconds left the teams tied at the final whistle, a fair result after the hour’s play.

Davitts’ Fenton Kelly opened the scoring with a second minute point with Parke KC’s full forward Ronan Carolan equalising a minute later. The influential Dara Neary pointed to put the visitors ahead in the sixth minute but Jack Melvin quickly replied for Davitts with a point. Scores were hard to come by as both sides defended tenaciously. A brilliant save by Davitts young keeper Dylan O’Brien denied Cathal Keaveney in the eighth minute. Fenton Kelly put the homeside ahead in the 13^th minute but two Dara Neary points in the 14^th and 19^th minutes saw PKC regain the lead. A brilliant Jack Melvin goal, finishing off a fine move, in the 22^nd minute put Davitts ahead again. Liam Kearns and Jack Melvin points extended the lead to four but the last two scores of the half went to the visitors with Dara Neary and Ronan Carolan pointing in first half injury-time to leave Davitts ahead by 1-5 to 0-6 at the break.

Amazingly, there was change to the scoreline until the 47^th minute when Dara Neary pointed for PKC. Both sides were guilty of some very poor shooting in the third quarter with the home team being the bigger culprits. Jack Melvin shot a 50^th minute point for Davitts but similar scores from PKC corner back Aaron McHale and Ronan Carolan put the sides level again with six minutes of normal time remaining. A blistering run from Davitts’ Fenton Kelly ended with him punching over the bar in the 56^th minute but two Dara Neary frees in the 59^th and 63^rd minutes saw PKC back in front. In the final play of the game, Davitts were awarded a free, over 45 metres out from the visitor’s goal. Ronan McNamara, not for the first time in his lengthly career, proved the hero, pointing the long range kick to give Davitts a deserved share of the spoils and securing their Div 1 league status.

Dylan O’Brien, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Charlie Phillips, Jack Melvin, Fenton Kelly, Ciaran Treacy and Ronan McNamara were solid performers for Davitts while Parke KC were best served by Ronan Reilly, Colm Lynch, Cathal Keaveney, Dara Neary and Ronan Carolan.

Davitts: Dylan O’Brien, Jordan Flanagan, Cathal Higgins, Kieran Fahy, Sean Keadin, Donie Ronayne, Charlie Phillips, Jack Melvin (1-3), Fenton Kelly (0-3), Brian Óg McTigue, Liam Kearns (0-1), Tommy Waldron, Darragh McGale, Ronan McNamara (0-1), Ciaran Treacy. Subs used: Shane Treacy, Stephen Nyland, Conor McDermott.

Parke Keelogues Crimlin: Conor McDonnell, Cian McHale, Paul Moran, Aaron McHale (0-1), Mark Walsh, Ronan Reilly, Colm Lynch, Kevin Neary, Aaron Boland, Cian Donoghue, Cathal Keaveney, Dara Neary (0-7), Sean Corcoran, Ronan Carolan (0-3), Jack McLoughlin. Subs used: Simran Singh.

Referee: Paul Lydon (Kiltimagh).