St Josephs and Dundalk Gaels secured their Senior Championship status for another year after both came through their play-off games at Haggardstown on Friday night.

The Joes edged a tight contest against neighbours, O’Connells, as they came out on top on a 0-13 to 1-8 scoreline, while the Gaels defeated Sean O’Mahonys by 0-12 to 0-9 in the Dundalk derby.

Alan McKenna got the Dromiskin side off the mark with the first point of the game and Ben Mulligan doubled the lead with a point after 13 minutes.

The Bellingham side opened their account with two points in quick succession from Andrew Sharkey before Jackie Agnew and Emmet Byrne added further scores.

Alan Quigley pulled one back for the Joes but Niall Conlon landed the final point of the half to send the O’Connells in with a 0-5 to 0-3 lead.

The Joes started the second half better and with Craig Doherty, Quigley and Gabriel Bell on target they moved into a 0-9 to 0-7 lead after 45 minutes.

Stuart Osborne then flicked in the only goal of the game to put the O’Connells back in front and with five minutes remaining a Stuart Reynolds ‘45’ put them two points to the good.

However, it was the Joes who finished the stronger and Craig Doherty kicked two points to draw the teams level before Jack Mulligan and Alan Quigley won it for the Joes.

Dundalk Gaels condemned their neighbours to the relegation play-off final after defeating the O’Mahonys at Haggardstown in the opening game on Friday night.

The Ramparts side always had the edge and although the Seans hit back to level in the second half, they were unable to match their opponents in the closing stages.

The Gaels came flying out of the blocks and scores from Eanna McArdle helped them take a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. The O’Mahonys came into the game in the second quarter and pointed through Stephen Fisher and Stephen Kilcoyne but at the break they trailed by 0-7 to 0-4.

Kilcoyne and Shane Kerrigan helped the Point Road side get back on terms at seven points apiece, but the Gaels moved up a gear in the closing stages and scores from McArdle, David McComish and Derek Crilly saw them ensure their senior survival for another year.

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