Blues too good in dour final
If the Gaels got off to a posidifficult
to overturn in these testing conditions. A couple agreed tentatively with my sentiments but most disagreed and questioned whether the Dundalk men had sufficient mobility in their packed defence to deal with the speed and accuracy of the Blues attack.
That’s the beauty of football.
opinion on what way the game might go but it doesn’t make a blind bit of difference
is thrown in.
Unfortunately I was a little late getting to the Gaelic Grounds so I caught only the second half of the minor game. Ardee were well in control at that stage of proceedings and they only got better as the half wore on.
The impressive Jonathan Cummins finished with a personal tally of 2-13 but this was by no means a one man performance. The Tommy Kirk managed side had excellent performers all over the field and really cut loose in the closing stages with three further well taken goals to bring their final tally to 6-21 This was as good a display as I ever witnessed from a team at minor level which augurs wells for the future in the St Marys club.
The long gap between the end of the minor game and the start of the senior game allowed time for all supporters to peruse through the splendid match programme. Well done to the County Board and Anglo Printers on the content
of the 1957 replica programme a particularly nice touch for the 60th anniversary.
As the rain continued to pelt down both teams took to the pitch 30 minutes before throw-in. In such wet conditions you have to question the wisdom of this decision.
Both sets of players were soaked to the skin long before a ball was kicked in anger and I wonder did it contribute to the lack of quality in the game particularly in the opening half.
I’ve been at, and played in, some poor games in my time but this was shocking stuff. Brothers Robert and Kevin Carr put the Blues two points in front at the end of the opening quarter before an Eanna McArdle free on 17 minutes eventually opened the Gaels account.
The decisive score of the game came one minute later when Blues full back Fergal Donohue finished to the net following a great run through the Gaels defence. Even though there was ¾ of the game still to be played, you sensed a four point lead was going to be insurmountable such was the set-up of this Gaels side.
Much like the Clans the previous Sunday in the Intermediate decider, you just couldn’t see where the Gaels scores were going to come from. A fortuitous Ross Nally goal early in the second half extended Blues lead to eight points as supporters on the bank beside me began to make plans for the after-match celebrations.
By the time Barry Watters kicked the Gaels first score from play on 48 minutes many patrons were already making their way to the exits.
It’s been 25 years since the Dundalk men last appeared in a final
with this underpar performance.
They never got any sort of a foothold in the game with too many of their key players failing to perform.
The Blues on the other hand played to their strengths and got their key men on the ball when it mattered most. They patiently dealt with the congestion in the Gaels rearguard and without ever being spectacular picked off their scores when the opportunities presented themselves.
2017 will not be remembered as a vintage year for club football in Louth but that will matter little to the county’s kingpins as they celebrate their 21st title in Newfoundwell.
It was great to see Naomh Mairtin finish the year with a trophy as they saw off the Dreadnots following extra-time in the Cardinal O’Donnell Division 1 league final. The victory is a fitting tribute to the recently deceased Benny Reilly who worked so hard over the years to help the Monasterboice club make the breakthrough at senior level.
Last weeks Sideline Bet Lagostovegas finished 3rd in the
a further €30 to our charity total but the Willie Mullins trained horse simply couldn’t live with Roger Charlton’s Withold who demolished the field in a monster gamble