Hurling

  LACKEN Celtic overcame a shaky start to get the better of their fellow Celts from Cootehill in an exciting U14 Hurling League encounter at Crowe Park. The hosts fully deserved their win but they were forced to dig deep to fend off the brave efforts of the visitors who were in flying form in the early stages. A brace of points from Caoimhin Carney heralded a vigorous start from Cootehill. The town team kept up the pressure and when James McKitterick and Caoimhe Clarke combined to put Joe Freeman through for a great point, Lacken were suddenly looking at a 0-0 to 0-3 deficit after just six minutes. Lacken rolled up their sleeves in gung-ho manner though as Eimear Brady set up Karl Clerkin for a well-taken goal in the 9th minute. Cootehill hit back in less than 90 seconds to rock Lacken back on their heels with Simon Boyle goaling after good work by Caoimhe Clarke. The game continued to be a rip-roaring affair and in the 13th minute, Shane Moynagh latched onto a long free from Paul Leddy to fire the sliotar to the Cootehill net. A point by Eimear Brady and one from Paul Leddy in the 15th and 17th minutes served to propel Lacken into the lead for the first time in the match. Double goal tally Lacken had the momentum at this stage and just before the interval they goaled on the double via the expert play of Eimear Brady and Paul Leddy. Trailing by 1-3 to 4-2 at the start of the second half, Cootehill worked overtime to try and reel in their hosts but Caoimhe Clarke was unlucky after four minutes when her shot just drifted narrowly wide. A few minutes later, Lacken rubbed sald into Cootehill"s gaping wound with Eimear Brady bagging two points to stretch her team"s lead to an impressive ten points. To their credit, Cootehill never gave up the cause and an opportunist goal by Darren Lavery in the 34th minute made sure that Lacken were made to work to retain their lead "till the long whistle. Lacken Celtic - Desmond Martin; Gary Cronin, Laura Briody, Siobhan Donohoe, Killian Galligan, Karl Clerkin (1-0), Laura Leddy, Stephen Daly, Eimear Brady (1-3), Padraig Donohoe, Paul Leddy (1-1), Shane Moynagh (1-0). Subs; Linda Murtagh, Fiona Brady. Cootehill Celtic - Alex Hamilton; James McKitterick, Fiachra Hughes, Fintan Roche, Denise McKitterick, John Carney, Christopher Keenan, Caoimhin Carney (0-2), Caoimhe Clarke, Simon Boyle (1-0), Joseph Freeman (0-1), Jason Halton. Subs; Barry Smith, Darren Lavery (1-0). Referee, Vincent Dolan (Mullahoran).