It’s Leinster Blues for the Wee County champions
Eire Og 2-9 Newtown Blues 0-8
AFTER Championship defeats for Pete McGrath’s seniors, Wayne Kierans’ U-20s and Ronan Phillips’ Newtown Blues, it’s safe to say Louth football will be glad to see the back of Carlow in 2018.
The Blues were the resurgent Barrowsiders latest victims on Sunday afternoon, as Eire Og, Carlow’s greatest export at provincial level, cruised to a convincing and deserved seven-point victory at the Gaelic Grounds.
The Louth champs only managed to stay in the game for a reasonably even opening 20 minutes, but two quick goals from Eire Og’s domineering full forward Murtough Ware and corner back Brendan Kavanagh tipped the balance.
Unlike their dramatic county final win over Naomh Mairtin, this time there was no way back for the Blues, as they ultimately made an early and tame exit from the provincial stage.
One of the striking differences between the sides was Eire Og’s physical prowess compared to their hosts, and both of the all-important goals stemmed from good, old-fashioned, bustling full forward play.
Ware was a handful from the start and he capitalised on a good delivery by Chris Blake to fire home the opening goal on 18 minutes, making it 1-4 to 0-4.
Two minutes later the equally imposing Eoghan Ruth made a nuisance of himself on the edge of the square and when the break popped out to Kavanagh he made no mistake with a finish a corner forward would have been proud of.
It had been virtually point-forpoint prior to that and the lead even changed hands a few times as Robbie Carr, Colm Judge, Ciaran Downey and John Kermode kicked the Blues’ early scores.
If they wanted to split hairs the Blues could argue that Carlow’s third point was of the soft variety as referee Patrick Maguire harshly cancelled a free out in favour of a throw-ball, allowing Sean Gannon the chance to level the match.
Then at 0-4 apiece Ciaran Downey dropped a long-range free short, giving Eire Og the chance to clear their lines. They did so ruthlessly, sweeping down the field for Ware’s opening goal.
When Kavanagh added the second and Jordan Morrissey tacked on a point there was suddenly seven points between the sides.
Eire Og were rampant at that stage and the home side were visibly shaken.
Fortunately from the Blues’ point of view, the visitors kicked a number of poor wides during that spell of dominance and a late point from Andy McDonnell reduced their arrears to six points at the break, 2-5 to 0-5.
That was no worse than the county final mountain the Blues’ had to climb, but the second period didn’t start well for Ronan Phillips men.
McDonnell and Robbie Carr should have reduced the deficit straight after the break and Eire Og goalkeeper Robert Moore reacted smartly to push away a reflex slap at goal by Hugh McGinn.
Emerging empty-handed from those three chances was compounded by the concession of three quick points at the other end, which proved almost as damaging to the Blues’ cause as the first-half goals.
Now nine points behind the game was well and truly up.
Unlike Naomh Mairtin, this Eire Og side are famed for a robust blanket defence and they had no problem protecting their lead.
In fact Simon Rae’s 46th minute free proved to be their last score of the half and from there until the end a now utterly deflated Blues’ side could only manage two more scores from Andy McDonnell and Ciaran Downey.
Downey’s injury-time kick was sandwiched by two red cards as a bad day got worse for the Blues.
Second-half sub Jamie Kelly departed on a straight red and Andy McDonnell followed him to the line after picking up a black. But added to an earlier yellow, Maguire reached for red again.
While Leinster defeats are disappointing, they certainly don’t take away from a successful do- mestic season and while the Blues were clearly down-in-the-mouth afterwards, 2018 will always be remembered for a brilliant league and Championship double and Joe Ward two-in-a-row.
But that begs another broader question about Louth’s standing at club and county level just now.
The Blues have been the outstanding team at senior level in Louth over the past two years, but were no match for the Carlow kingpins. To add salt to that wound, this was Carlow’s first win at senior provincial level for 10 years.
Perhaps the rising tide generated by Turlough O’Brien’s seniors is helping to raise all boats, but in 2018 at least, Louth have been left firmly in Carlow’s wake,
EIRE OG: Robert Moore; Fiach O’Toole, Mark Fitzgerald, Brendan Kavanagh 1-0; Jordan Lowry, Paul McElligott, Jordan Morrissey 0-1; Sean Gannon 0-1, Kevin Chatten; Simon Rae 0-2f, R Dunphy 0-1, Eoghan Ruth; Darragh O’Brien 0-3f, Murtough Ware 1-0, Chris Blake 0-1. Subs: Darren Hayden for S Rae (46), Niall Quinlan for C Blake (49), Mark Furey for J Lowry (53), Cormac Mullins for M Ware (57), Evan Kelly for R Dunphy (60).
NEWTOWN BLUES: Dean Martin; Fergal Donohoe, Emmet Carolan, Paul Moore; Kevin Carr, Stephen Moonan, John Connolly; Andy McDonnell 0-2, John Kermode 0-1; Conor Branigan, Ciaran Downey 0-2f, Robbie Carr 0-1; Colm Judge 0-2 (1f), Ross Nally, Conor Moore. Subs: Ian Connor for S Moonan (23), Hugh McGinn for J Kermode (26), Jamie Kelly for K Carr (41), Thomas Costello for R Nally (49).