Seans rule supreme in lacklustre Dundalk derby
Sean O’Mahony’s 0-12 Dundalk Gaels 0-9
MORE often than not derbies fail to live up to the hype and this one was no exception.
But the aesthetics won’t worry Sean O’Mahony’s one iota as they brushed off a tame Dundalk Gaels challenge to book their ticket to the biggest show in town.
The ‘Dundalk Duel’ was hotly anticipated, but it never sparked to life, as O’Mahony’s led from pillar to post without even coming off the bridle.
They may not have been able to shake off their town rivals completely, but Malachy O’Rourke’s men never looked like plundering the goal they needed to be in with a genuine shout.
The pattern was set early as O’Mahony’s made a composed start and carved out a four-point lead.
By contrast it took a nervous-looking Gaels side almost 17 minutes to open their account and from that point on they were playing a futile game of catch-up.
A bright start was half the battle for Gaels against Newtown Blues in their quarter-final victory, but they showed none of that energy or determination here and O’Mahony’s seized the initiative early.
The brilliant Ben McLaughlin was a constant threat and he kicked two of those first four scores, with Conor Finnegan converting a ‘45’ and Jonathan Connolly adding the fourth on 12 minutes.
Ger McSorley eventually settled Gaels nerves, but they suffered a massive blow on 20 minutes when their other county man James Stewart retired with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
Sean McCann reduced the deficit to 0-4 to 0-2, but Finnegan converted a free for O’Mahony’s and they had a response to virtually every Gaels score.
When Jason Clarke cut the gap again O’Mahony’s replied twofold with Conor Crawley fisting over a John O’Brien delivery and Finnegan adding another free to make it 0-7 to 0-3.
Clarke managed another
free before the break as O’Mahony’s adjourned with a 0-7 to 0-4 cushion.
McLaughlin made it double scores again five minutes after the restart before McCann replied, and they traded scores again through Stephen Kilcoyne for O’Mahony’s and Eanna McArdle for the Gaels, who were still making no real headway with just 12 minutes left on the clock.
It was clear that the Gaels were going to need a goal to keep their championship dream alive, but it was O’Mahony’s who twice went close at the other end.
Ben McLaughlin blasted over with the goal at his mercy but the score nonetheless opened a four-point cushion as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Gaels had another letoff five minutes later when Kilcoyne raced clear of the cover, but he snuffed his shot along the ground and it came to nothing.
Derek Crilly put three between the sides again with a free and Eanna McArdle blazed a similar chance to McLaughlin’s too high, but the two-point gap provided the Gaels with fleeting hope.
But it came to nothing as Finnegan converted a free and then Stephen Fisher added another, with the latter’s reaction confirming that the game was up for the Gaels.
Shane Rice pulled one back in injury-time, but there was to be no late drama as O’Mahony’s held out comfortably to reach their second senior final in a row.
Sunday week’s showdown with St Mary’s will be the Point Road club’s fourth championship final in succession after the IFC win of 2014, the Leinster win that same year and last autumn’s defeat to St Patrick’s. It’s a remarkable run and it would take a brave punter to bet against Alan Craven’s men at this stage.
They know how to win finals and they’ve experienced what it feels like to lose them too and against a Mary’s team with very few survivors from 2003 that experience could prove crucial. SEAN O’MAHONY’S: Kevin Brennan; Kurt Murphy, Ronan Byrne, Mickey Clarke; Liam Dullaghan, John O’Brien, Barry O’Brien; Shane Brennan, Conor Martin; Conor Finnegan 0-4 (3f, 1’45’), Stephen Fisher 0-1, Jonathan Connolly 0-1; Stephen Kilcoyne 0-1, Conor Crawley 0-1, Ben McLaughlin 0-4. Subs: Pat O’Brien for B O’Brien (50), David Dowling for J Connolly (57).
DUNDALK GAELS: Paul Burke; David McComish, Jamie Faulkner, Eamonn Kenny; Niall Hearty, Peter McGinnty, Derek Crilly 0-1f; Sean McCann 0-2, James Stewart; Shane Rice 0-1, Ger McSorley 0-1, David Moloney; Sean Fee, Errol Boyle, Jason Clarke 0-2f. Subs: Oisin Murray for J Stewart (20), Eanna McArdle 0-2 for E Boyle (35), Sean Murray for J Clarke (47).
REFEREE: Stephen Murphy.