Westerns 1-5 v 2-6 St.Nicholas 

HT 0-1 v 0-4

On a difficult night to play football, the Nicks secured an opening day win in Reaghstown against a tough Westerns team. With storm Dave blowing a gale, it was credit to both teams to be able hold possession for any length of time. The visitors had the wind at their backs in the first half and opened the scoring through Leo Quinn. The lead was doubled by a fine individual point from Dylan Grogan, midway through the half.. Westerns pulled one back with a close range free, but from the resulting kick-out, the impressive Shane Downey returned the Nicks lead back to two points. St. Nicholas missed the opportunity to hit the net as a late penalty was saved, before a Paudi Downey free had the gap at three going into the break.

Playing against the elements in the second half, the Drogheda men had to keep the ball in hand as kick passing was almost impossible. Good work from Caebhan Housidari and Hayden Quinn found Shane Downey at the edge of the square who doubled his tally for the day and ectended the lead. A fine two point free kept the Westerns in touch, but it was Downey again to extend the Nicks lead as he found the top corner of the Westerns net. The concession of the goal done nothing to dishearten the home side, who found the net themselves following a scramble in the Nicks box. The scoreline was tight for the remainder of the half until a Con Sheehan point and Ross Brady goal done enough for St. Nicholas to take the two points.

St. Nicholas Team; Shane Fineagan; Stephen Fineagan, Donal Carr, Aaron Flanagan; Caebhan Housidari, Ruairi Hanlon, Dylan Brogan (0-1); Cian Flynn, Hayden Quinn; Leo Quinn (0-1), Shane Downey (1-2), Sam Reilly; Paudi Downey (0-1,1f), Jamie O'Brien, Con Sheehan (0-1)

Subs; Ross Brady (1-0) for P Downey, Lee Kavanagh for O'Brien, Sean Hoey for L Quinn

Best for the Nicks; Donal Carr, Hayden Quinn and Shane Downey