David and Dots

because he was born in Ardee and had many relatives living there, but he said “if I am selected to play for Gaels, I’ll be there and give it 100 percent on the day”.

He did not find it difficult playing in defence for Dundalk and in the forwards for the Gaels.

In this case, gaelic won out over soccer, for both players were left out of the game against Pats, and Doherty who was top scorer with the club in pre-season was badly missed as the game ended in a scoreless draw,

While the game with Dundalk and Pats was a drab affair, the semi-final was anything but, as Gaels, showing a resolve of character and an inner belief in their own ability which many doubted they possessed, came from six points down with 13 minutes remaining to win, 0-14 to 1-9.

It was one of the most exciting and dramatic semi-finals seen for many a year, as Marys the holders and warm favourites, buckled under the magnificent Gaels recovery.

Unfortunately Alan Doherty was at the heart of some of the key moments in the game, moments that he didn’t care to remember for he had his 9th minute penalty saved by Ciaran Boyle in the Gaels goal, and then in the final minutes he blazed high and wide with only Boyle to beat.

Both Doherty and Coleman got on the scoresheet, the Marys man notching two points, one from a free, and the Gaels man registered three points from play.

Indeed Coleman had a major role to play in Gaels’ revival for he cut the deficit to just a goal in the 52nd minute and minutes later kicked the point of the game from 40 metres having made the space for himself.

That saw the Dundalk team go on and reach their first final since 1952.