Church & General National League

CHURCH & GENERAL NATIONAL LEAGUE Following the Exiles hurling and football teams progress through the Leagues back home.
LONDON MAUL MIGHTY MEATH London 1-12 Meath 2-4 London were fully worthy winners against Meath in an entertaining encounter at Parnell Park, Kingsbury and gained their first league points of their campaign. The Meath party arrived at Parnell Park late after being caught up in traffic congestion after a water mains burst on the North Circular Road and the 2.30 pm scheduled game eventually got under way at 4 pm. London were quick away following good work by Damien Hurley. The midfielder cleverly passed to Timmy Moloney who sent over his first point of the afternoon on the 1st minute. Meath hit back quickly though, when a massive clearance by centre half back John Horan found its way to the unmarked Meath full forward Fergus McMahon who crashed the ball past a helpless Ray Walsh in the London goals. London were in control around the middle of the field but were guilty of missing scoring opportunities with Timmy Moloney in particular being off target with his free taking. Meath went on a sortie down field on the 8th minute and Donal Fitzsimmons raised a white flag for the Royals but Moloney hit back with a well taken point from a 50 metres free way out on the right wing to leave the scores at first quarter stage Meath 1-1 London 0-2. On the 20th minute Anton O'Neill sent over a 65 metres for a point but this was quickly negated by Timmy Moloney on the 22nd minute when he sent over a point from a free and added another on the 27th minute. Anton O'Neill responded with his second pointed 65 after Ray Walsh had made a fantastic save in the London goals. Damien Hurley completed the scoring at the interval when he sent over a point way out on the left wing to leave the scores Meath 1-3 London 0-5. On the resumption Timmy Moloney brought the sides level with a point on the 31st minute and London were now beginning to hurl as a unit with their half back line of Brian Keane, Damien Browne and PJ Hogan defending their lines resolutely. Brian Keane then added a superb point to put London ahead for the first time on the 35th minute. Ray Walsh then brought off his second match saving save when he stopped a pile driver from McMahon. Timmy Moloney added a point going into the final quarter to leave the scores London 0-8 Meath 1-3. Donal Fitzsimmons scored his second point for Meath to bring the sides closer with the minimum between them but London stood firm and Moloney added a further two points to give his side a three point cushion going into the final ten minutes. Against the run of play, Meath went downfield and Gary Cole scored an opportunist goal for Meath. With the alarm bells ringing in London's ears, Meath 'keeper Mark Gannon mishit his puck out that went to Moloney who crashed it to the back of the Meath net. Man of the Match Timmy Moloney added a further two points to leave the final score London 1-12 Meath 2-4. Full marks to both teams who despite the inclement conditions and the delayed start, played a sporting encounter. London Manager, Michael Hennessy, his management team of Gerry Rea, Michael Burke and Brian Grealish can take solace from this fine win and can look forward to their next National League outing against Roscommon on March 21st at Ruislip. Best for London were Ray Walsh, JJ Shiels, Brian Keane, Damien Browne, PJ Horgan, Damien Hurley and Man of the Match Timmy Moloney. With the change of venue, full marks must go to Martin Diggins, Leonard Sullivan and Joe Regan and their staff for the superb condition of the pitch and the arrangements laid on at such short notice. One avid London hurling fan summed it up appropriately when he said "Thank God for Parnell Park and long may it stay in the hands of good Irishmen." Man of the Match Timmy Moloney	FIT FOR A KINGDOM Kerry - 3-14, London - 0-4 Kerry strolled through this game, played before 2,000 spectators at Ruislip, with such ease that their 19-point victory margin over a poor London side scarcely reflected their all-round superiority. The Kerry forwards seemed determined to make amends for their lack of firepower in their last game against Limerick - all but Eamon Fitzmaurice figuring on the scoresheet and Maurice Fitzgerald showed good form when he replaced the injured Dara � Cinn�ide three minutes before the interval. Besides contributing 1-1 to the winning tally Fitzgerald succeeded in opening up play with his best touches and ability to lay on pinpoint passes for his colleagues. A penalty scored by � Cinn�ide after goalkeeper John Collins pulled down John Crowley in the seventh minute paved the way for an avalanche of scores. Kerry are clearly keyed up for their crucial game against Wicklow in two weeks time. The only redeeming feature from London's point of view was the determination of their backs to stand their ground against ever-mounting pressure, with main honours going to Conor Wilson and Tommy Feehan. Kerry: D O'Keeffe; C Burns, B O'Shea, M Hassett; W O'Shea, S Moynihan, E Breen; D � S�, D Daly; J McGlynn (0-3), P Sullivan (0- 5), E Fitzmaurice; G Murphy (0-1), J Crowley (0-1), D � Cinn�ide (2-3). Subs:L Hassett for J Crowley; M Fitzgerald (1-1) for � Cinn�ide; J Ferriter for P Sullivan. London: J Collins; S Gaffney, P Rafter, J McNabb; T Feehan (0-1), C Wilson, B McDonagh; N Harrington, J Gormley (0-1); A Carr, A Dillane, P Coggins (0-1); M Galvin, J Ryan (0-1), J Grimes. Sub: B Bolger for McNabb. Referee: W Joyce (Galway).
LONDON HURLING FIXTURES London Hurlers have at last earned the respect from the big guns in Ireland with players from the likes of Wexford and Kilkenny saying that they would rather avoid London in any competition. The rate at which the London Hurling side has taken off is unreal. Division 2, at a first glance looks to be a real good chance for London to make their mark and awaken anyone out there who has been sleeping during the Exiles rise to the top. Here are the fixtures for next year. 21.2.90 WESTMEATH V LONDON 07.3.99 LONDON V MEATH 21.3.99 LONDON V ROSCOMMON 27.3.99 LONDON V TYRONE 04.4.99 WICKLOW V LONDON 10.4.99 LONDON V DERRY 18.4.99 KILDARE V LONDON 02.5.99 LONDON V CARLOW 16.5.99 MONAGHAN V LONDON	ANTRIM AGONY AGAIN Antrim snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat with a 1-12 to 0-12 win over plucky London at Casement Park last Sunday. London will be kicking themselves after a missed penalty and a deflected goal saw Tommy McDermott's side suffer their fourth successive defeat in the NFL Division 2A league, emphasising the ever-thin line between success and failure. The Exiles had initially surged to a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after 16 minutes but a litany of wides, mostly from good positions, meant that the Saffron county were able to pull themselves back into contention by half-time, only two points behind. Antrim continued their revival after the restart as 20-year-old wonderkid Kevin Madden's accuracy from the dead ball began to tell. His eight-point haul (0-6 frees) makes him the man to watch from Antrim in this year's Championship. The game took a decisive turn two minutes from time when substitute Kevin Brady capitalised on a rare defensive error in the London half-back line to send a deflected shot in for Antrim's crucial goal. It gave the Ulster side a four-point cushion as London were left cursing their luck.But in Gaelic football, as in any sport, you make your own luck and McDermott and his selectors will undoubtedly point to the missed penalty chance 10 minutes from time as the incident which really sealed London's fate. Finbar Downey was given the responsibility to despatch the penalty after Tom Feehan was brought down by Paul McErlean but his effort was saved by Antrim 'keeper Donagh Shannon who suspiciously looked a few yards off his line. There were no complaints however from McDermott who praised his players for a valiant effort. Debutant forward Jason Ryan particularly caught the eye and corner forward Julian Grimes weighed in with an impressive four points. The Exiles meet Westmeath this Sunday at Ruislip (throw-in, 2.30pm) and the County Board are hoping as many supporters as possible can come down to cheer London on.