O Raghallaighs and St Marys secured senior football for 2019 after coming through their relegation play-offs against Kilkerley Emmets and St Marys at The Grove on Sunday.

Ben Rogan was the hero for the O Raghallaighs as his point late in extra-time secured a dramatic 1-21 to 1-20 win over Kilkerley Emmets.

The North Louth side began the game in impressive fashion as an early James Fegan goal combined with points from Shane Lennon, Dan McKeown and Tadhg McEneaney saw them put 1-6 on the scoreboard before Daniel Morgan got the O Raghallaighs off the mark.

The Drogheda men found their rhythm in the second quarter and a goal from Olan Walsh along with points from Barry Flanagan and Ruairi Moore saw the deficit reduced to 1-9 to 1-6 at the break.

In a very tight second half the O Raghallaighs edged ahead in the closing stages only for Lennon to send the game into extra time with the score at 1-16 apiece.

Joe Flanagan and Eoin Moore helped put the North Road side 1-20 to 1-17 ahead at half time only for points from Lennon to help level the game once again. However, it was Rogan who decided the contest with a late fisted point.

In the second game, St Marys had a much more straightforward afternoon as the eased to a 0-20 to 1-7 win over Geraldines.

The Ardee side had the better of this contest from the outset and had the first three points on the board through Darren Clarke, Conor Gillespie and Brendan Matthews.

Gareth Neacy got the Gers off the mark and although Conor Rafferty and Jim McEneaney also pointed, the Marys remained on top and were 0-14 to 0-5 ahead at the break with Daire McConnon, Ronan Carroll and Mark Fay adding scores.

The Geraldines staged a mini-revival at the start of the second half when Jack Traynor scored the only goal of the game to help his side cut the gap to six points.

However, they were unable to sustain that effort and the Marys stepped up a gear in the final quarter as McConnon and Clarke added further points to see their side complete a comfortable win.

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