Brennan strikes late

Mattock Rangers ... 1-9 Starlights ... 0-12: Mattock Rangers' Mark Brennan kicked a final-minute point to earn a draw with Starlights of Wexford in Ardee yesterday. Brennan's point followed one each from David Reid and Christy Grimes as the Louthmen fought back from three points down with four minutes remaining.

Mattock took the lead through Niall Callan's fifth-minute goal to follow a Grimes opener to give them a 1-1 to 0-0 lead. Starlights landed three points from Michael Donohoe and a brace from Shay Deegan and John Hudson to lead 0-7 to 1-3 at half-time.

Starlights picked up where they had left off and went into a four point lead, 0-11 to 1-4, with points from Ollie O'Connor, Hudson (2), and Donohoe. Grimes and Brennan narrowed the deficit before Hudson scored a point. Mattock scored the last three points to earn a replay next weekend.

MATTOCK RANGERS: M Englishby; E Roche, R Sherlock, I Sherlock; D Brennan, D Geraghty, F Feeley; G Hanratty, C Grimes (0-4, 3 frees); N Callan (1-0), M Brennan (0-2), A Finnegan; R Brennan, D Reid (0-1, free), S Grimes.

STARLIGHTS: J Russell; PA Murphy, M Gahan, T Wall; L Boland, A Fenlon, O O'Connor (0-1); S Deegan (0-2), D Ruth; W Hudson, J Hudson (0-5, 4 frees), A Russell; M Donohoe (0-4), D Mahon, R Quigley. Subs: P Walsh for D Mahon (48 mins), N Sunderland for A Russell (58 mins).

Referee: N Cooney (Offaly).