Monaleen and Ballylanders into last eight in SFC

In their first games of the 2020 SFC campaign Monaleen and Ballylanders booked safe passage to the knockout stages.

Those victories also condemned St Kierans and Galtee Gaels to the relegation semi finals also.

in Mick Neville Park in the earlier game in Group 3, Monaleen secured a 0-11 to 0-6 win over Kierans.

Monaleen, in their first appearance of the season, raced out of the blocks with the opening three scores.

The gap was down to one by the first water break.

A brace of Brian Donovan frees pushed Monaleen three clear once more before Seamus Mangan got the final score of the half to leave it 0-5 to 0-3.

Monaleen would notch the first three of the second half as they did in the first to move into a commanding position.

John Hayes would reply with a pair of points to reduce the deficit prior to the water break.

Howeve Monaleen would get four of the last five scores to seal the win and a place in the last eight.

In Kilmallock for the meeting of neighbours Ballylanders and Galtee Gaels, a powerful final fifteen minutes from Ballylanders saw them ease to a 1-16 to 0-8 win.

The sides traded scores to open the half as they were level four times prior to the first water break.

This trend continued for the remainder of the half as they went into the break even at 0-7 apiece having been level as many times.

Ballylanders would get the only two scores in the third quarter as they held the largest margin of the game.

Mark O’Connell and Sean McGrath would trade scores after to leave it 0-10 to 0-8 approaching the final twelve minutes.

From here, Ballylanders would almost double their tally while keeping their opponents scoreless.

Ciarán Kelly’s goal would prove the icing on the cake as they rattled off 1-6 without reply.

They move into the last eight while Galtee Gaels join Kierans and Na Piarsaigh in the relegation section.

The meeting of Ballysteen and Drom Broadford rounds off proceedings tomorrow in the SFC second round.