Jackie Hanratty the hero with last gasp winner

A south versus north confrontation in this year’s Louth SFC was guaranteed following the last gasp win of Newtown Blues 0-10 to 1-6 over Dundalk Young Irelands in a rugged rather than brilliant encounter at sunny Castlebellingham on Sunday.

The Blues, who’d earlier on knocked out Clan na Gael, and meantime have carried off the O’Donnell Cup. now await a semi-final set-to with neighbouring St. Fechin’s who qualified for the last four at the expense of Geraldines.

The match seemed destined to go to a replay when that most versitile of Blues players, Jackie Hanratty who occupied at least three different berths during the course of the hour sent over the winning point from about 40m out with only seconds left.

Having fallen into arrears early on in the second half per a Gerry Nixon goal — 1-5 to 0-6 — the Boynesiders lost the composure which saw them going into a four point lead in the course of the first period.

And it was really only through a combination of gritty defensive stuff, plus the inability of the Irelanders to drive home their pronounced midficld advantage, that saw the O’Donnell holders still in the game.

The Boynesiders will be the first to admit that they didn’t play to anything like their full potential in this particular engagement.

It has to be said in mitigation of Sunday’s effort that they were placed under an unexpected handicap in having to field without Longford county player, Richie Culhane, who arrived late due to garda duties. Culhane, who had been named at left-half came on as a second half sub, and played his part in the recovery bid.

Johnny Doherty was drafted from the reserves at left corner, with Dom Carberry falling back to fill the vacancy on the leftflank of the attack on the reconstituted side which was of course also minus the services of the high-scoring Kevin Dawe, stil recovering from a leg injury.