Irelands are Louth’s last men standing
Dundalk YI 2-14 Annanough 0-5
DUNDALK Young Irelands are Louth’s last men standing in Leinster and they will fancy their chances of going all the way to the Junior final following Saturday’s impressive win over Annanough in Dowdallshill.
Their 18th victory on the bounce booked a semi-final showdown with Kilkenny intermediate champions Tullogher Rosbercon and while they must travel to the Cats back yard on Saturday week, they’ll still be favourites to reach the decider.
They were utterly rampant at St Brigid’s Park, plundering all bar one point of their tally from play.
A scrappy Dermot Mone goal after 10 minutes helped the race into a 1-8 to 0-2 lead at the break and it was already clear their would be no way back for the Laois champions at that stage.
Annanough only managed a point at the start and end of the half.
Cian O Naraigh opened the scoring for Young Irelands and they cruised through the opening half with the Maguire brothers Dean and Derek in hot form, as was the excellent Jordan O’Donoghue.
Imperious at times earlier in the season as they racked up big scores, since the Louth semi-final, Young Irelands have had to dig out their victories, including a narrow first round Leinster away win over Kilbeggan Shamrocks.
Mone’s goal settled any nerves and eradicated any self doubt that might have lingered, but it was largely gifted to him by the Annanough defence as Conor and Rory Stapleton failed to connect with a low ball, allowing Mone to nip in and poke past ‘keeper Seán Hennessy.
If anything the Irelanders could have been further ahead at half-time, but the home dressing room must still have been a relaxed place to be at the break.
They duly stretched their lead into double figures after the re-start as O’Naraigh raided forward for a trademark point and Jordan O’Donoghue converted a free.
John Scully had every reason to be proud of a couple of long-range points at the other end, but they were isolated treats for the travelling contingent and they should have fallen further behind when Cian O’Donoghue squandered another home goal chance.
But the corner forward did raise the green flag moments later, making it 2-11 to 0-4 with a quarter of the contest still to play
The fight in Annanough was well and truly extinguished at that stage and further points from Mone, Aidan Sheekey and Johnny Lynch completed the Irelanders impressive haul.
Killian Horgan’s did grab a consolation in the closing stages, but Darragh Sheppard called tim on Young Irelands inevitable victory march moments later.
While they will start favourites against Tullogher Rosbercon, the Kilkenny men claimed a scalp in the opening round, defeating Wexford’s Naomh Eanna, but they clinging on for dear life in that game after opening a surprise early lead.
They received a walkover from Longford champions Ardagh-Moydow last weekend.
On the other side of the draw Kildare’s Milltown host Offaly’s St Brigid’s.
DUNDALK YOUNG IRELANDS: Fergal Sheekey; Peter McCourt, Ciarán Murray, Stephen Bellew; Peter Nixon 0-1, Derek Maguire, Cian O Naraigh 0-2; Seán McLoughlin, Derek Rogers; Johnny Lynch 0-2, Dermot Mone 1-2, Dean Maguire 0-3; Jordan O’Donoghue 0-2 (1f), Mark Savage, Cian O’Donoghue 1-1. Subs: Aidan Sheekey 0-1 for McLoughlin (42), Aaron Murray for Jordan O’Donoghue (49), Aaron Rogers for O Naraigh (49), Shadam Azeeze for Bellew (50), Oisín McCabe for Nixon (54), Peter McStravick for Mone (56)
ANNANOUGH: Seán Hennessy; Conor Stapleton, Rory Stapleton, Johnny Fennelly; Ronan Stapleton, Martin Stapleton, Darren Maher; Shane Stapleton, Donal Miller; James Miller, John Scully 0-2, Killian Horgan 0-1; Damien McCaul, Elliot Scully, Ciarán Hennessy 0-2. Subs: David Kelly for Maher (34), Robert Kinsella for Hennessy (48), Eoin Donlon for Fennelly (54), Colin Miller for James Miller (58)