St.Nicholas 2-8

Wolfe Tones 1-9

HT 2-6 v 0-4

The opening weekend of division 3 had a local derby in Jimmy Pentony Park on Sunday morning. Local rivals, the Nicks and the Tones served up a thriller, with the home team leaving with the league points on the board. It was the proverbial 'game of two halves' with both teams benefiting of the wind in either half. The Wolfe Tones started the brightest, racing into a 0-3 to no score lead after the opening ten mins, all their scores coming from free kicks. The Nicks finally found their feet with some great fielding from Johnny Carter and their half forwards getting onto the ball. Derek Kierans added two points to the nicks tally before Paddy Murtagh found the back of the net putting St.Nicholas into a lead. The Tones were finding it difficult to register any scores due to some wayward shooting and a tight Nicks defense. At the other end, a brilliantly taken goal from Kierans and points from Phillip Kirwan and Vinny O'Hare had the home side with the advantage going into the half.

The second half saw the Wolfe Tones find their shooting boots and with the aid of the wind clawed their back into contention. A goal midway through the half had them back to within four. The Nicks defense worked hard throughout and were rewarded with two well taken scores from O'hare and Sam Reilly to relieve some of the pressure. Phillip Kirwan almost had the match sown up only to see his effort rebound off the bar late on. A fine save from Nathan Murray in the Nicks goal kept the difference to two points and allowed St.Nicholas hold on for the win.

St.Nicholas Team; Alex Reilly; Sean Savage, Brian Carter (C), Ciaran Branigan; Tadgh Gill, Alex Finnegan, Kevin O'Brien; Sam Reilly (0-1), Declan Heeney; Phillip Kirwan (0-1), Jason O'Boyle, Vinny O'Hare (0-2), Paddy Murtagh (1-1), Derek Kierans (1-3, 1f), Johnny Carter

Subs; Nathan Murray for Gill, Stephan Hodgins for Kirwan, Ryan Farrell for Savage

Best for the Nicks; Vinny O'Hare, Sean Savage and Kierans