St Michael’s retain Division 1 status as Naomh Columba are relegated 

St Michael’s will play in Division 1 again next season following a four-point win over Naomh Columba at the Bridge.

In this ‘ winner takes all’ tie, Martin McElhinney and Carlos O’Reilly scored the goals for St Michael’s, both in the first half. 

Michael McGinley was in fine scoring form for the locals and ended the game with four points while O’Reilly, who proved a handful for Philip Doherty, Colin McFadden and Daniel McLaughlin also chipped in with points for the winners. 

Eric Carr, Shane Callaghan, Paul O’Hare, Pauric Ward and Declan McGuire kicked the points for the men from Pairc Na nGael.

The defeat and Aodh Ruadh’s loss to Bundoran means Naomh Columba drop into one of the two automatic relegation places.   

Naomh Columba started on the front foot and kicked three wides in a row in the opening five minutes before St Michael's mounted their first attack.

But with the locals rising to the challenge they hit the game's opening four scores courtesy of two points off the boot of McGinley, one from Carlos O'Reilly and a Martin McElhinney goal.

McElhinney struck on 13 minutes after good work and a turnover in the middle of the field by Paddy McGinley to open up a 1-3 to 0-0 lead. 

Naomh Columba, who posted six wides in the opening 18 minutes, finally got off the mark after Carr converted from a close free.

And when Pauric Ward pointed shortly after, Naomh Columba had two points on the board. 

Ward's point on 25 minutes was the last score of the half as the two teams squandered a number of scoring chances. 

Naomh Columba posted nine wides to St Michael's three in the opening 30 minutes. 

Leading 1-3 to 0-2 at half-time St Michael’s struck for their second goal 11 minutes into the new half to move into a seven-point lead. 

The elusive O’Reilly struck for that second goal and a 2-7 to 0-3 advantage. 

And with Colin McFadden, Michael McGinley (2), O’Reilly and Daniel McLaughlin all adding to the locals tally, they had the look of winners from a long way out.

To their credit Naomh Columba, who will rue their wides tally, kept the locals honest as they kicked eight points to St Michael’s four in the closing quarter. 

St Michael's scorers:  Micheal McGinley 0-4, 3f, Carlos O'Reilly 1-3, Martin McElhinney 1-0, Colin McFadden, Daniel McLaughlin  0-1 each. 

Naomh Columba scorers: Eric Carr 0-3,2f, Pauric Ward, Shane Callaghan, Paul O’Hare  0-2 each, Declan McGuire, Ryan Gillespie 0-1 each. 

St Michael’s; Mark A McGinley; Jamie Hunter, Liam Paul Ferry, Stephen Doak; Andrew Kelly, Ciaran Kelly, Paddy McGinley; Kyle McGarvey, Colin McFadden; Martin McElhinney, Michael McGinley, Paul Johnston; Edward O'Reilly, Carlos O'Reilly, Oisin Langan.

Subs: Chris McElhinney for A Kelly (h/t); Daniel McLaughlin for E O'Reilly (44). 

Naomh Columba: Shane O'Gara; Philip Doherty, Paul O'Hare, Pauric Ward; Eric Carr, Padraig Hegarty, Paddy Byrne; Declan McGuire, Darragh Cunningham; Ryan Gillespie, Ryan McNern, Shane Callaghan; Michael Callaghan, Ronan O'Hare, Sean Hardy. 

Subs: Christopher Byrne for D Cunningham (45); 

Referee; Mark Dorrian (Gaeil Fhanada).