GREEN FIELD FOODS SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP.

Castleblayney 1-13, Inniskeen 0-13.

Castleblayney staged a strong finish to get their championship campaign off to a winning start at the expense of Inniskeen in this keenly contested and at times robust contest that was played in somewhat greasy conditions in Sarsfield Park, Aughnamullen, yesterday.

At the end of a closely contested 1^st half during which the sides were level on 4 occasions. Castleblayney struck for a decisive goal 2 minutes into stoppage time, Patrick Finnegan palming home from close range to give Castleblayney a 1-6 to 0-7 half-time lead.

By the 7^th minute of the second-half Castleblayney had extended their lead to 4 points, but Inniskeen rallied strongly at this stage, to level the match by the 20^th minute, Donal Meegan with 3 points from frees and Paul Meegan with 1, also from a free.

Castleblayney retook the lead through Fergal Malone and added points apiece from Dermot Malone and Martin McElroy, to retake a 3 points lead with the sides exchanging points in stoppage time to leave Castleblayney winners by 3 at the finish

Teams and Scorers: Castleblayney: P McBennett, E McCann 0-1, B Hanratty, F Rafter, B Flanagan, K Duffy, F Malone 0-1, M Treanor, J Beattie, P Tavey 0-1, D McArdle, D Hughes, P Finnegan 1-1, D Malone 0-5 (3f), M McElroy 0-4 (3f). Subs: c Brady for K Duffy, M Kelly for P Finnegan, D McMahon for D Hughes, A McElroy for P Tavey.

Inniskeen: P Garland, R Lorenz, J Butler, A Keenan, S Kindlon, C Meegan, M McKenna 0-1, G McArdle, H Monaghan, C McNulty, P Meegan 0-7 (5f), C Boylan, D Meegan 0-4 (3f), Andrew Woods, Aidan Woods.0-1. Subs: M Fitzpatrick for M McKenna, C Hanratty for Aidan Woods, T Hilliard for G McArdle, TJ Byrne for H Monaghan. Referee: S Hagan (Sean McDermotts)