Young Irelands moved another step closer to the Division 3 title after recording a 2-13 to 0-3 win over Wolfe Tones on Thursday night.

As a result, the Dundalk side know that they will finish top of the league if they defeat Nh Malachi in their final outing.

The outcome of this game was rarely in doubt as the Irelanders got on top from the start and a goal from Cian O'Donoghue had them leading by 1-7 to 0-3 at the break. The Tones reply came from Niall Smith (2) and Eoin O'Shea.

The Drogheda side failed to raise a flag in the second period and the hosts clinched victory with a second goal from O'Donoghue.

An injury-time goal from substitute Gavin McGee ensured that Na Piarsaigh will go into their final league game with a slim chance of clinching the title after they secured a dramatic 2-10 to 1-11 over Lannleire.

The Dunleer side had the better of the first half at the Rock Road and a goal from Ian Mulroy sent them in at the break with a healthy 1-8 to 0-6 advantage.

Na Piarsaigh got back into contention when Alan McCartney found the net shortly after the restart. It looked as if Lannleire would hold out for the win but deep into injury-time Gavin McGee snatched victory for the hosts.

Westerns survived a late rally from Cuchulainn Gaels before claiming a 3-11 to 3-7 win at Reaghstown on Thursday evening.

A first minute goal from Trevor Baylon had the hosts in charge early and Liam Hoey added a second to see his side lead by 2-5 to 0-4 at the break.

It looked to be all over when Baylon added his second of the game to extend the gap to 13 points. However, a Jordan Loye goal from a penalty gave his side hope before Micheal McCabe and Martin Hynes found the net to cut the gap to four. However, the Westerns did enough to hold on for victory.

St Kevins remain in third place in the table after they came from behind to defeat Dowdallshill at Philipstown on Thursday by 1-17 to 2-5.

The visitors got off to a great start when Gerry McShane scored the opening goal from the penalty spot. However, the Kevins began to take over and Shane Meade's goal helped them lead by 1-9 to 1-3 at the break.

The home side eased to victory with the help of points from Patrick Clarke while Dowdallshill added a second goal through Martin Og O'Brien.

A strong first half showing from Nh Malachi helped them defeat John Mitchels by 2-20 to 2-10 at Ballybailie.

Both Jack Kirwan and Collie Rooney found the net in the first half as their side eased to a commanding 2-9 to 0-4 lead at the interval.

The second half saw the Mitchels hit back with two goals but Padraig Moley and Mark Meegan in fine form in front of the posts, the Mals went on to win by ten points.

Meanwhile Stabannon Parnells travelled to Drogheda to take on St Nicholas and returned home with a 1-15 to 1-6 win.

The Nicks opened the scoring through Eddie Carr and Alex Finnegan but the Parnells quickly assumed control of the game. However, a goal from Vinny O'Hare for the Nicks cut the gap at the interval to 0-7 to 1-3.

The visitors stormed out for the second half and the Nicks were shell shocked for the first 10 minutes as Stabannon added 1-5 without reply.

The Nicks finally got a hold in the second half through some hard work from John Heeney and Paul Hackett. Points from Phillip Kirwan, O'Hare and Declan Heeney were only consolation as Stabannon earned a well-deserved win.

YOUNG IRELANDS 2-13

WOLFE TONES 0-3

Young Irelands are on the brink of securing their return to Division 2 after this comfortable victory over the Wolfe Tones left them just one win away from clinching the league title.

The Dundalk men travel to Nh Malachi for their final league outing knowing that victory will guarantee them the league title.

The Young Irelands have been in excellent recent form and they produced another impressive display as they brushed aside the challenge of the Drogheda outfit.

Cian O'Donoghue scored the first goal of the game to help his side lead by 1-7 to 0-3 at the interval. The Tones were unable to get into any real rhythm and could only manage points from Niall Smith (2) and Eoin O'Shea.

The second half saw the home side continue to dominate and points from Jordan O'Donoghue and Dermot Mone helped them complete the win, with the Tones unable able to add to their tally.

YOUNG IRELANDS: Fergal Sheeky; Stephen Bellew, Ciaran Murray, Peter McCourt; Peter Nixon, Derek Maguire, Cian O Naraigh 0-1; Derek Rogers, Aidan Sheeky 0-1; Dean Maguire 0-2, Dermot Mone 0-3, Aaron Murray; Cian O'Donoghue 2-0, Mark Savage, Jordan O'Donoghue 0-6. Subs: Shadam Azeez for D Rogers, Peter McStravick for Dean Maguire, Alan Minto for A Sheeky, Mark Kilgallon for C O'Donoghue, Luke Hazard for S Bellew, Alan Flood for A Murray.

WOLFE TONES: Sean McMahon; Adam Gartland, John Kelly, Reece Owens; Sam Kelly, Eoin O'Shea 0-1, Alan Fanning; Marc Lugoye, Paddy Fanning; Jamie McCormack, Niall Smith 0-2, Chris Cudden; Garrett Cooney, Jordan Duffy, Michael Matthews. Subs: Cathal Bergin for J Kelly, T Rock for P Fanning, E O'Reilly for C Cudden.

NA PIARSAIGH 2-10

LANNLEIRE 1-11

Substitute Gavin McGee scored a dramatic injury-time time goal to half Na Piarsaigh snatch victory over Lannleire at the Rock Road on Thursday evening.

The last gasp goal ensures that Na Piarsaigh retain their faint hopes of claiming the league title, but will be hoping that leaders Young Irelands fail to win their last game.

In what proved to be a well-contested game from the outset it was Na Piarsaigh who had the slight advantage at the end of the opening quarter. However, the visitors raised their game before the break and a goal from Ian Mulroy had them 1-8 to 0-6 ahead.

The Dundalk men responded well to the challenge at the start of the second half and a goal from Alan McCartney got them back in contention.

Lannleire could only add three points to their tally but it looked to be enough as they held a one-point advantage going into dying seconds. However, Na Piarsaigh dug deep and were rewarded when McGee found the back of the net to seal victory.

NA PIARSAIGH: Adam Molloy; Stephen McGuinness, Ronan McCartney, Fearghal Mulholland; Ciaran Murphy 0-2, Joe Woods, Jarlath Lyons; Michael Woods, Conall Shields, Mark Larkin, Niall Franklin 0-1, Robert Murphy 0-2; Alan McCartney 1-3, David Boyle 0-2, Eamonn McAuley. Sub: Gavin McGee 1-0.

LANNLEIRE: Liam Callan; Jason Torris, Paul McGeough, Thomas Doyle; Paul Doyle, Brendan McEvoy, Briain McGuinness 0-1; Paul Callan 0-1, Pierce Hawkins; Alan Murphy, Colin Murphy 0-4, Killian Gregory 0-3; Bob Murphy 0-1, Ian Mulroy 1-1, Gary Monaghan. Subs: Caoimhin Maher for T Doyle, Ciaran Dunne for A Murphy.

WESTERNS 3-11

CUCHULAINN GAELS 3-7

Westerns came out on top in this entertaining contest in Reaghstown but only after holding off a spirited late rally from Cuchulainn Gaels.

The home side looked to be cruising to victory when they led by 13 points entering the final quarter. However, the Omeath men produced a storming finish and goals from Jordan Loye Martin Hynes and Micheal McCabe saw them cut the gap to four.

However, time ran out before they could complete the comeback and the Westerns held out for the win.

The game began in bizarre circumstances when the visitors lost a player to a black card with just seconds on the clock. To make matters worse, the Westerns saw Trevor Baylon find the net with their first attack.

Liam Hoey added a second goal on 20 minutes to help his side lead by 2-5 to 0-4 at half time.

Both teams had a player dismissed in the third quarter as the Westerns increased the lead with points from Tommy Durnin and Niall Moynagh, before Baylon's second goal put the Westerns 13 points to the good.

The revival began when Jordan Loye scored from the penalty spot while McCabe and Hynes added goals in the closing stages. However, despite the fact that they were reduced to 13 players, the Westerns held on for victory.

WESTERNS: Peter Shields; Andy Murray, James Ward, Colin Martin; Sean McGuinness, Stephen Boylan, Mick Martin 0-1; Tommy Durnin 0-4, Anthony Durnin 0-1; Liam Hoey 1-0, Conor Kerr 0-1, Niall Moynagh 0-2; Ciaran Campbell, Trevor Baylon 2-2, Johnny Lynch. Subs: Benny Curtis for C Campbell, Patrick Kerley for N Moynagh, Lorcan Donnelly for J Lynch, Liam Murray for L Hoey.

CUCHULAINN GAELS: Brendan O'Hagan; Peter Morgan, Brendan McKeown 0-1, Chris Connolly; Seamus McCabe, Gavin Mullen, John Morgan; Martin Hynes 1-1, Francis O'Hagan; Eoin McDonald, Micheal McCabe 1-1, Cian McDonald; Jordan Loye 1-4, Paddy O'Hanlon, Calum Fearon. Subs: Paul O'Hanlon, Brian Elmore.

ST KEVINS 1-17

DOWDALLSHILL 2-5

St Kevins remain in third place in the table after seeing off the challenge of Dowdallshill at Philipstown on Thursday evening.

The visitors from Dundalk made a very positive opening to the game and hit the front when Gerry McShane found the net from the penalty spot.

However, the Hill were unable to build on that advantage and the Kevins slowly began to impose themselves on the game. Patrick Clarke was among those to find the target before Shane Meade's goal saw the hosts lead by 1-9 to 1-3.

The Philipstown men continued to dominate in the second half and they fired over another eight points. Dowdallshill battled to the end and were rewarded with a second goal from Martin Og O'Brien.

ST KEVINS: Danny Crosbie 0-2; Matthew Downes, Eoin McKenna, Barry Byrne; Darren McMullen 0-1, Conor McCullough; Patrick Duff; Seanie Crosbie 0-1, Andrew Campbell; Sean Callan, Lee Crosbie 0-2, James Clarke 0-2; Patrick Clarke 0-6, Shane Meade 1-0, Aidan Craven 0-3. Subs: James Kierans for P Clarke, Conor Byrne for M Downes, Enda McKenna for P Duff.

DOWDALLSHILL: Emmet O'Brien; Dermot Smith, Jack McGailey (0-1), Sean Duffy; Dylan Curran, Ciaran O'Callaghan, Luke O'Brien; Ciaran Thornton, Justin Halley (0-1); Martin Og O'Brien (1-0), Gerry Mc Shane (1-2), Tiernan Duffy; Peter Hughes, Paul Gill (0-1), Dylan McDonnell. Sub: Cathal McShane for D McDonnell.

NH MALACHI 2-20

JOHN MITCHELS 2-10

Nh Malachi continued their encouraging form this season when they posted a ten-point win away to John Mitchels on Thursday night.

The high scoring encounter saw the Courtbane men do most of the damage in the first half and despite a spirited revival from the Mitchels they held out for the win.

Jack Kirwan scored the opening goal of the game for the visitors and a second from Collie Rooney saw them take a 2-9 to 0-4 lead into the break.

The home side hit back in the second period and cut that gap with the help of two goals. However, the Mals always had the edge and they went on to win by ten points.

NH MALACHI: Christopher McCaughley; David Begley, Christopher Smith, Stephen Burns; Emmet Mullen, Stephen Smith, Ronan Greene 0-1; Padraig Moley 0-3, David Rogers; Mark Meegan 0-3, Jack Kirwan 1-2, Jamie Kelly 0-3; Colin Rooney 1-6, Ronan McElroy, Donal Begley. Subs: Colin Hoey, Eamon Agnew, Conor Gonnelly, Shane Rogers 0-2.

STABANNON PARNELLS 1-15

ST NICHOLAS 1-6

Both teams played their part in an end-to-end encounter in Jimmy Pentony Park on Thursday evening before Stabannon claimed victory.

The Nicks opened the scoring through Eddie Carr and Alex Finnegan and although the home team continued to have majority of possession it was the Parnells forwards who were adding the scores, as they built up a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Adrian Gates was also on target for the hosts

before a late goal from Vinny O'Hare had St Nicholas going in at the break just one behind, 0-7 to 1-3.

The visitors stormed out for the second half and the Nicks were shell shocked for the first 10 minutes as Stabannon added 1-5 without reply.

The Nicks finally got a hold in the second half through some hard work from John Heeney and Paul Hackett. Points from Phillip Kirwan, O'Hare and Declan Heeney were only consolation as Stabannon earned a well-deserved win.

ST NICHOLAS: Jason O'Boyle; Andrew Starrs, Darren Thornton, Teige Kelly; Alex Finnegan (0-1), Phillip Kirwan (0-1), Declan Heeney (0-1); Eddie Carr (0-1), Adrian Gates (0-1); Vinny O'Hare (1-1), Paul Hackett, Niall McEneaney; Jack Downey, John Heeney, Ciaran Branigan. Subs Stephan Hodgins for Downey, Paddy Murtagh for McEneaney.

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