Irelands battle to victory in Westmeath
DERMOT Mone’s goal with minutes remaining in the first half sent the Dundalk Young Irelands on their way to victory over Kilbeggan Shamrocks in The Downs on Saturday afternoon.
That goal would prove to be crucial for many reasons; the flicked effort took the wind out of Kilbeggan’s sails and provided the Louth champions with a huge boost ahead of the second half and most importantly the three points would be the difference between the sides at the death where Kilbeggan missed a penalty with the game’s last kick.
Despite playing with the wind and a masterclass in transitional play from Derek Maguire, the Louth champions lived on scraps in the opening period.
Before Throw in the Irelanders were forced to start without full back Ciaran Murray and midfileder Aidan Sheekey. That reshuffle took the visitors a while to come to terms with and saw spare men popping up everywhere.
Nigel Scally, county panelist and his midfield partner Dean Fitzgerald took advantage of the Irelanders confusion to open up a three point lead.
Derek Maguire then inspired a comeback, driving up the field with the wind at his back he found the range with an outrageous long range free kick. The sublime effort inspired Jordan O’Donoghue (free) and late starter Oisin McCabe to level.
James Finnegan and Fitzgerald points gave the scoreboard a fair reflection.
The injection of Aaron Murray off the bench saw the Irelanders steal the half. Murray’s cameo would end before the half with a black card such was his eagerness.
Maguire again found the range with a screamer, this time from play outside the right boot using the full force of the wind he swerved the ball over the bar.
The county mans’s next effort would not find the range, but would provide the assist for Mone to pounce to score the game defining goal.
1-4 to 0-5 at half time and after all the possession, crushed the midlanders confidence
Upon the resumption, the Adrian O’Donoghue’s charges held firm.Their trusted defensive game plan was well tested, yet as the half wore on, the system laid the foundations for victory.
Playing against the wind suited their counter attacking nature. With that, both O’Donoughue’s influence grew and they controlled the game.
The pace of Dean Maguire caused the Westmeath defence havoc and Jordan O’Donoghue duly obliged with two free’s to cancel out both Scally’s dead ball efforts.
As the half went on, frustrations grew in the Kilbeggan camp and boiled over with Mel Kiernan picking up his second yellow on the 45 minute and minutes later David Fennell saw a straight red for an incident on the touchline with Derek Maguire.
Substitute Aaron Rogers and Dean Maguire nudged them closer to the line with well worked scores however, Scally (free) and Paul Fennell narrowed the gap to three before James Finnegan blazed a glorious chance to bring the game to extra time with a missed penalty.
A relieved Irelanders, who have serious ambitions to go all the way gladly march on to the Leinster Junior Quarter final in two weeks time.
DUNDALK YOUNG IRELANDS: Fergal Sheekey; Stephen Bellew, Peter Nixon, Peter McCourt; Cian O’Naraigh, Derek Maguire(0-2, 1f), Oisin McCabe (0-1); Sean McLoughlin, Derek Rogers; Jordan O’Donoghue(0-3,3f), Dean Maguire (0-1), Cian O’Donoghue (0-1); Mark Savage, Dermot Mone (1-0), Peter McStravick. Subs: Aaron Murray for P McStravick (27), Johnny Lynch for A Murray BC (31), Aaron Rogers (0-1) for P Nixon (41), Aidan Sheekey for D Rogers (48), Shadam Azeeze for O McCabe(52), P McStravick for Dean Maguire (59).
KILBEGGAN SHAMROCKS: Thomas Barrett; Darragh Coffey, James Fox, Brendan McMahon; Mel Kiernan, Shaun Pidgeon, Colin Draper; Dean Fitzgerald (02,1f), Nigel Scally ( 0-5,5f);Keith Corcoran, David Fennell, Jamie Stones; Alan Fennell, Paul Fennell (0-1), James Finnegan(0-1). Subs: Kevin Smith for J Stones (34), Niall Carey for D Coffey (38), Brendan Nannery for K Corcoran (41).
REFEREE: Patrick Coyle (Meath)