Div 1 MFBC Rd 1: St Peter’s Dunboyne 4-15 St Ultans/Cortown 2-14

Div 5 MFBC Rd 1: St Peter’s Dunboyne 6-09 Moynalvey 4-10

It was a night of double delight for St Peter’s Dunboyne in Rooske as both their Division 1 and Division 5 minor football teams opened their championship campaigns with hard-earned victories. Coming on the back of last week’s minor hurling success in Rd1 of the Div1 hurling championship, it has been a particularly good week for this talented group. Division 1 Dunboyne took a while to find their rhythm, and St Ultans/Cortown were quick to take advantage. The visitors dominated the opening exchanges and led by 0-07 to 0-01 at the first water break. Sean Delaney provided Dunboyne with the perfect response immediately after the restart, finishing a well-worked attack to give the home side their first goal of the evening. Delaney added a point soon afterwards, but St Ultans/Cortown continued to find scores with greater regularity. The visitors added 1-04, including two frees, during the remainder of the half, while Dunboyne managed three points to leave the visitors firmly in control at half-time, 1-11 to 1-04. Whatever was said in the Dunboyne dressing room at the interval clearly had the desired effect. The home side emerged with far greater intensity in the second half, and their physicality began to tell. Dunboyne gradually took control of proceedings, with Eoghan McDonald providing a major turning point when he unleashed a powerful drive into the net. Shea Mooney then got in on the scoring act, finding the net to help Dunboyne turn a seven-point half-time deficit into a lead. By the second-half water break, the home side had completely turned the game around and led 3-10 to 1-12. Mooney was not finished. He grabbed his second goal in the 29th minute to give Dunboyne some breathing space, while Charlie Gallagher proved highly influential from placed balls and open play, finishing with six points, including three frees and a two-pointer. Delaney also contributed 1-03, including a two-pointer, while McDonald finished with 1-02. St Ultans/Cortown continued to battle to the end, but Dunboyne held their composure to complete a remarkable turnaround and claim a 4-15 to 2-14 victory. St Peter’s Dunboyne: Alex Donnelly; Cillian Murphy, Ryan Monaghan, Shay Coone; Tom Hanway, Noah Whitton, Andrew Norman; Eoghan McDonald (1-02), Charlie Gallagher (0-06, 3f, 1x2ptf); Rory Callanan, Sean Delaney (1-03, 1x2pt); Alfie Lonergan, Shea Mooney (2-01), Tadhg Brennan (0-01), Joel Mangan (0-01). Sub: Charlie Mangan (0-01) for Hanway (HT). Division 5 Goals win games, and that proved particularly true in the second game of the evening as Dunboyne and Moynalvey served up a ten-goal thriller. With darkness gradually descending over Rooske, both teams produced an entertaining and open contest, with Dunboyne eventually emerging five-point winners. The home side had the better of the opening half and went into the interval three points ahead, 3-06 to 2-06. There was little let-up after the restart. Another five goals were added as both sides committed players forward, while both teams also rattled the crossbar on multiple occasions. Sean Doyle was outstanding in the Dunboyne goal and played a major role in ensuring that his side maintained their advantage as Moynalvey threatened to get back into the contest. Lucas Kelly was particularly prominent for Dunboyne, contributing 2-03, while Daithí McGovern and Luke Kennedy also found the net. Jack Gallagher contributed four points, including three frees, and Neil O’Connor added another goal. Moynalvey continued to push hard in the closing stages, but Dunboyne's defence held firm. With the visitors searching for another goal, James Sheehan provided the decisive moment at the other end, finding the net to give the home side some valuable breathing space. By now darkness had well and truly descended on Rooske, but Dunboyne held their nerve to see out a memorable 6-09 to 4-10 victory. Two teams, two victories and ten Dunboyne goals made it a hugely successful opening night of the minor football championships — following on from last week's minor hurling victory to make it an excellent week for St Peter’s underage footballers. St Peter’s Dunboyne: Sean Doyle; Paddy Hanway, Cillian Lee, Tom Harrington; Daragh McEnroe, Sean Doherty, Liam Kennedy; Josh Mahon, Evan Murphy; Lucas Kelly (2-03), Daithí McGovern (1-01), Luke Kennedy (1-01); Jack Gallagher (0-04, 3f), Neil O’Connor (1-00), Ronan Tavey. Subs: Darragh Harkin for Harrington; James Sheehan (1-00) for Tavey; Charlie Kane for Gallagher; Cathal Egan for O’Connor.

Report by Eamon Murphy