Mary’s pip Dundalk Gaels at the death
ST MARY’S DUNDALK GAELS 1-12 3-5
THERE was heartache for Dundalk Gaels when they lost by a single point to St Mary’s Ardee in the Under-12 Division 1 Final in Darver last week.
Having come back from a fivepoint deficit with five minutes to go to equalise thanks to a brilliantly worked goal finished by Matas Lukosevicious, the Gaels succumbed to a scrappy goal that only just managed to bobble over the line in the last second of extra time.
The game, which ebbed and flowed throughout, was a fantastic spectacle, with great performances on both sides.
Sean Lambert was rock solid in goals for the Dundalk outfit, with his superb kickouts setting up attack after attack in true Stephen Cluxton style.
In front of him Mickey Daly, Paddy O’Connell and Fionn Conlon never gave an inch, while Gaels captain Tony McDonnell gave an outstanding performance at centre half, driving his team forward when they needed it. The same could be said for Cillian Cranny and Pádraic Tinnelly who gave immense displays at midfield and were more than a match for the Ardee pairing.
Up front, Adam Burke-Sweeney and Liam Coleman ran their legs into the ground on what was actually an Under-13-size pitch and the inside line of Jack Murphy and Lukosevicious were a constant threat, enjoying a huge amount of possession.
Sub Pádraic Lee came on and a scored a crucial point to kick-start the comeback and showed he’s one for the future.
However, the Gaels will be ruing the fact that they didn’t finish Ardee off when they had the chance. Had they’d been more clinical in front of goal they would have been out of sight.
Nevertheless, they’ll take great heart from a disciplined performance that was full of skill, resilience and commitment.
Unused subs on the night were Colm Drumm, Evan Hearty, James Meehan and Conor McDonnell.