MAGIC MAIR
THEY’VE been here too many times to start counting chickens, but Naomh Mairtin really do look like the real deal in this strangest of all seasons.
The Jock’s quest to reach their third final in a row was simply never in doubt, as they clinically stamped out St Mochta’s hopes of a first ever appearance in the annual showpiece.
When the sides clashed in the group stages, the Mairtins were fortunate to emerge victorious following an indifferent display, but this time around St Mochta’s just couldn’t live with Fergal Reel’s power-packed team.
In Sam Mulroy they possess the standout player in the county right now, but the full forward was ably assisted by Conor Whelan and Tom Grey, as the inside trio amassed a staggering 4-12 between them over the hour.
The Jocks almost reached the Holy Grail without Whelan last summer, but he’s been showing everyone just what they were missing this term.
Grey was too young to feature last season, but he’s proved to be a terrific addition too, not to mention the superb
Evan Whelan, who has been a revelation at midfield.
Reel and his backrrom team will be hoping they are the missing pieces in the Joe Ward puzzle, but they will also be very wary of an in-form Ardee St Mary’s side.
With respect to Dreadnots and Dundalk Gaels, whose form doesn’t add up, St Mochta’s are the only side to have even remotely tested the Jocks this campaign and that may be a concern for Reel heading in to what is sure to be a ding-dong showdown.
To be fair, they can only beat what’s in front of them and they did that pretty impressively on Sunday.
St Mochta’s were only really clinging to their coat-tails in the opening half, but they looked set to reach the break within touching distance when Ciaran Byrne volleyed to an empty net after a great run by Craig Lennon, cutting their deficit to two points.
But as they did all afternoon, the Jock’s response was swift and decisive as Conor Whelan fired a pile-driver past Jason Callan to restore his side’s five-point lead at the break 1-10 to 1-5.
And within 10 minutes of the re-start the game was effectively over.
St Mochta’s started the half brightly enough as Ciaran McMahon converted a free and a mark, but in between Sam Mulroy managed to squeeze in a second Mairtin’s goal as his speculative lob dropped in under the crossbar.
Grey’s goal some nine minutes later made it 3-11 to 1-7 leaving St Mochta’s with a mountain to climb.
It got worse for the Villagers as the Jocks extended their lead to 3-13 to 1-7, but they let the foot off the gas for a time, holding the door slightly ajar for their opponents.
The Mochta’s managed to close the gap to six with 1-3 without reply over the next 10 minutes, but the small morsel of hope that generated was snatched away in an instant as Whelan fired home his second, and the Jock’s fourth goal, making it 4-13 to 2-10.
A double digits win was really no more the Mairtin’s deserved, but they’ll be steeling themselves for a much stiffer test next weekend.
Jason Callan; David Lennon, Philip Englishby, Andrew Lennon; Barry Mulholland, Andrew English, Conor Garland 1-0; Declan Byrne 0-4 (2f), Ciaran Byrne 1-1; Craig Lennnon 0-2, Danny Kindlon, Eamonn O Neill; Stephen Mc Cooey, Gerry Garland, Ciaran Mc Mahon 0-3. Subs: Darren Mc Mahon for Andrew English, Cormac Smyth 0-1 for Danny Kindlon, Liam Lawlor for Andrew Lennon.
Craig Lynch; Mick Fanning, Conor Healy; John Clutterbuck, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Morgan; Val Leddy 0-1, Evan Whelan; Stephen Campbell, Eoghan Callaghan 0-1, Paul Berrill; Conor Whelan 2-6 (1f, 1 mk), Sam Mulroy 1-4 (1f), Tom Grey 1-2. Subs: Sean Healy for T Grey, JP Rooney 0-1 for C Morgan, Mark McCullough 0-1 for P Berill, Eoghan Wright for C Healy.
Ciaran McMahon of St. Mochtas closes in on Evan Whelan of Naomh Mairtín during Sunday’s semi final in Dunleer.