Dundalk Schools bow out to Wicklow
Wicklow Schools 2-18 Dundalk Schools 2-9
DUNDALK Schools were dumped out of the Top Oil Leinster ‘A’ championship by their Wicklow counterparts in DKIT on Saturday afternoon.
A frustrating affair for the management duo of Brian Og Corr and Craig Lynch whose side dominated for long stretches but failed to convert their chances. The hosts dearly paid for that final third malfunction in the end, succumbing to a nine-point humbling.
The scoreline could have been much worse only for a two goal salvo from the lively Jack Barron at the death.
The young Joe’s man one of the few bright notes on a forgettable day for the former competition winners.
Hamstrung before the game even began with influential pair of Michael Staunton and Thomas Rice absent, Dundalk were further hampered with full forward Ben Collier visibly suffering with an ear infection.
Despite the setbacks Dundalk went 3-2 ahead after the opening ten minutes. Barron landing the opening two score before Joe’s teammates Conall McCaul nudged them in front for the only time in the contest.
The Wicklow full forward line of Aaron Kennedy and Shane Daly were fun of running and were quickly rewarded with five scores on the trot. Kennedy was a constant threat on the edge of the square.
Louth were forced into taking Collier off during this period of Wicklow dominance and the introduction of TJ Doheny looked to swing the game back in Dundalk’s favour.
Doheny went on the forty and McCaul went into full forward.
Doheny pointed soon after coming on and McCaul was causing so much trouble inside that Wicklow pulled a sweeper back leaving Dundalk corner back Thomas McCreesh free. Finbarr’s player McCreesh contributed to
Dundalk’s best period in the game with some fine interceptions.
Kennedy pulled a point back before the half time whistle to make it 8-5. Wicklow would revert back to man on man at the start of the second half, therefore dictating the outcome of the game.
When Mark Cullen stealing in for a goal at the start of the second half it sparked a scoring run of 1-5 to no reply and Dundalk heads were quick to drop. Kennedy landed three of the scores before Barron broke the sequence with a free.
Collier was reintroduced and Reece O’Hanlon came in and they both fought gamely, but once Kennedy capped a fine performance with a goal, the game was well and truly beyond the Dundalk side.
Barron did land two consolation efforts in response to give a glimmer of hope but it wasn’t to be their day as Wicklow ran out comphrehensive winners and now face Louth Schools for a place in the semi finals.
DUNDALK: Joe Gordon; Tadgh McKeown, Caolan McCabe, Thomas McCreesh; Paddy Murtagh, Fintan Brady, Donal Leavy; Joe Mee, Aaron Crawford; Daragh Malone, Conall McCaul 0-2, Ciaran Johnson; Jack Barron 2-4 (3f), Ben Collier 0-1, Ewan McEntaggart. Subs: TJ Doheny 0-2 (1f) for Collier (17), Reece O’Hanlon for Johnson (36), Collier for Malone (36), Brian Brady for McEntaggart (55).
WICKLOW: Tristan O’Connor; Tom Moran 0-1, Malachy Stone, Cormac Roe; Oisin Cullen, Zach Cullen, Jordan Brady 0-1; Scott Doody 0-1, Sean Coffey; Tadhg Barrett 0-1 (1f), Brian Crowe 0-2, Craig Maguire; Shane Daly 0-3, Aaron Kennedy 1-7 (6f), Mark Cullen 1-1. Subs: Mikey O’Rourke for C Maguire (39), Ken O’Grady for Doody (46), Ryan Mulvey for Z Cullen (51), Jack Grace for T Barrett (51), Robbie Miley 0-1 for M Cullen (55), C Mooney for S Coffey (57).
REFEREE: David Sweeney (Dublin)