St Joe’s pipped by St Mary’s men
May 1988
ST. Josephs brave bid to annex the Louth Senior Colleges title for the first time since the mid-1970s was dashed in a 10 minute goal blitz, in last week’s final against St. Marys, losing 2-6 to 1-5.
Played before an enthusiastice crowd at the Oliver Plunketts G.F.C. pitch on Slane Road, the final produced its fair share of excitement and drama not least of which were goals by David Brodigan and Colin Kelly which paved the way for St. Marys second half surge. .
That left it 2-3 to 0-3 in St. Marys favour with 20 minutes remaining but St. Josephs came back in the most extraordinary fashion eight minutes later when David Cowley’s shot came back off the crossbar and sub Terry McCullough fired past the stranded Martin Brennan.
St. Marys greater strength told in the end, with accurate passing in defence and in an attack which included the likes of Colin Kelly, Niall Darcy and Stephen Mills.
St. Josephs took the game to St. Marys in the first half, Fergus Winters and Brian Judge sending over nice points and only some agile keeping denying shots from Robert Saurin and Thomas Kearney. Chris Collins restored St. Josephs slender lead just before the break.
Dublin minor panellist John Bell began to create room around mifield early in the second period and it was only a matter of time before St. Marys established a comfortable lead.
Colin Kelly was an influential as ever in attack despite being slightly wayward with a couple of frees and he received excellent support from Stephen Mills, David Brodigan and Niall Darcy.
Balbriggan lad, John Bell, was strong in midfield, while Ged Judge, Alan McCullen, Pat Fogarty and Paul Dillon kept things tight at the back.
Barry Murtagh was in fine form between the posts for St. Josephs, solid both in the. air and from close range, his rise to senior honours with the Louth side is surely not far away.
Paul McCann, Fergal Geraghty and Fergus Winters gave him valuable protection,,but elsewhere only Saurin, Crowley, Sean Muurphy and David Maguire caused any real
problems.