Tension to the end as Gaels clinch title
DUNDALK GAELS 3-12 NA PIARSAIGH 0-7
THERE was excitement and tension right up until the final whistle at the Ramparts as Dundalk Gaels waited nervously to learn their fate in the Division 2 title race.
The home side began the evening joint top of Division 2 along with local rivals Clan na Gael and St Brides.
As it stood, the Gaels were third due to the superior score difference of the other two sides with the Brides in particular well clear of both Dundalk sides.
The most likely chance for the Gaels to gain automatic promotion to Division 1 would be for the Clans to not win and the Gaels to win.
In this scenario, the Gaels would pip the Brides on head to head as they had beaten them earlier this season in Knockbridge. On a night of drama, that’s just how it turned out.
The Gaels got off to a blistering start with early goals for Sean McCann and Niall Hearty meant they opened up a 2-2 to 0-0 lead after the opening 10 minutes. The away side however lifted their game and four successive points meant they stayed in touch as the Gaels began to squander chances at the other end.
County star Gerard McSorley was causing trouble for the Rock Road men with his pace and he ended the first half with three points to his name. Also on the score sheet in the first half for the Gaels were captain Derek Crilly and McCann along with a long range effort from young wing back Oisin Murray At half time, the home side led on a scoreline of 2-6 to 0-5.
At this stage in proceedings, the Gaels still stood in third place as both their table topping opponents were winning their respective matches at half time as well.
The second half was a nervous affair as the Gaels players, unaware of the scores in the other matches continued to attack and try to make a dent in the Brides substantial score difference. A goal by captain Derek Crilly following a dropped ball in the Na Piarsaigh square meant the Gaels opened up a large and unassailable lead.
The away side to their credit kept on attacking and the tension on the Gaels sideline was building and as word came through of a penalty to the Irelanders in
the game against the Clans, the home fans leaped with joy as they news filtered through that it was converted.
As the two teams in the Ramparts continued playing, the news from the Clans was that the Irelanders and the Clans had played out a draw as the Gaels emptied their bench and were rewarded in the form of points from Eanna McArdle, Chris Sweeney and Gary Shevlin.
When the final whistle finally was blown, there were joyous scenes as the Gaels players realised they had completed a remarkable achievement and bounced straight back up following the disappointment of relegation.
A fantastic turnaround by this group of players and the management team who after losing heavily in the first league game of the season, went on to remain undefeated for the rest of the league campaign. Their attentions now turn to the Senior Championship Quarter Final against perennial Championship opponents, Newtown Blues. DUNDALK GAELS: Paul Burke; David McComish, Jamie Faulkner, Eamonn Kenny; Oisin Murray (0-1), Derek Crilly (1-1), Peter McGnnity; David Moloney (0-1), Sean McCann (1-1); Niall Hearty (1-0), Gerard McSorley (0-4), Shane Rice; Oisin Murray, Errol Boyle, Jason Clarke (0-1). Subs: Eanna McArdle (0-1), Chris Sweeney (0-1), Gary Shevlin (0-1), Adrian Rafferty.
NA PIARSAIGH: Paul O’Hare; John Galligan, Ronan McCartney, Stephen McGuinness; Joe Woods, Conal Shields, Robert Murphy; Eamon McAuley, Gavin McGee; Sean McAuley (0-1), David Boyle, Mark Larkin (0-4); Damien McGeeney, Paul Mallon(0-2), Ciaran Murphy. Sub: Alan McAuley