Louth GAA club | Kevins defeat Young Irelands in pulsating clash

In what was an early contender for game of the championship, it was St Kevins who came through the searing heat of battle to take an early lead in this Intermediate group, with this win over Dundalk Young Irelands in a pulsating IFC clash in the Grove, Castlebellingham.

Four minutes into the second half, Dundalk Young Irelands looked a decent bet to pull away from their opponents, leading by eight points, thanks to a goal from the menacing Liam McStravick.

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However, the Kevins showed tremendous resilience to overturn this deficit, with the Phillipstown side’s revival ignited following a delightful goal from the excellent Seanie Crosbie, before Martin King’s side went on to outscore the Young Irelands by 1-4 to 0-1 down the home straight.

The Kevins’ third major was another moment of magic when Cian Callan latched onto a delightful Seanie Crosbie pass to fire low to the DYI net, as the Kevins emerged victorious in a thriller.

Early on, it was the 2022 Intermediate finalists who took the game by the scruff of the neck, dominating possession and kickouts, with Brian Callaghan, Seanie Crosbie, Robbie Matthews and Cameron Maher all excelling in the middle sector, winning the first three Young Irelands’ restarts.

From this, the Kevins landed two early majors, with Cameron Maher firing to the bottom corner after 4 minutes, following a neat move through the hands involving Tom Matthews.

Goal number two arrived a minute later through the imposing Danny Crosbie, who bundled the ball over the line after a Tom Matthews shot deflected into his path. Tom Matthews who was causing havoc early doors fired over the bar to leave the Kevins 2-1 to no score ahead after seven minutes.

A shellshocked Young Irelands got themselves on the scoreboard courtesy of a Liam McStravick two pointed free, but the first quarter belonged to the Kevins, as Danny Crosbie (f) and Jacob Finlay left them ahead by 2-3 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.

However, in a game where the momentum was ever changing, Dundalk Young Irelands eventually managed to feel their way into the game, aided by an early alteration which saw Ruairi Kelly enter the fray from the bench, moving midfielder Joe Mee into the half back line.

Having lost their first three kickouts, Young Irelands won their next nine restarts, with Kelly’s impact from the bench playing a part, while Jack Watters and Dermot Mone got on the end of several breaks, with Watters finishing with 21 possessions over the hour.

In that first half, Young Irelands scored 2-4 on the back of their own kickout. Following a long ball from Watters, Cian O’Donoghue managed to force the ball and St Kevins’ John Callaghan over the line to give his side hope.

The Young Irelands’ tails were up, and a Dean Maguire two pointer was met with a huge roar from the Dundalk support.

Cameron Maher temporarily restored a three-point lead for the Kevins, however, DYI were in the ascendency at this stage, with Dermot Mone cooly slotting to the Kevins net following a Derek Maguire lay off to leave the sides level at 2-4 apiece with 25 minutes gone.

After being found by Ciaran King, Seanie Crosbie managed a somewhat unconventional pirouette to evade his marker on the left flank before kicking over to regain the lead for the Kevins.

However, Dundalk Young Irelands finished the stronger to take a slender lead into the break, thanks to Jordan O’Donoghue (f) before the same player found the marauding Liam McStravick who fired over to leave his side ahead at the break at 2-6 to 2-5.

Second Half:

The Young Irelands took that strong first half momentum into the second half, with Jordon O’Donghue from play and Micheal O’Shea (tpf) stretching their lead out to four, 2 minutes after half time.

O’Shea who was dismissed in stoppage time for a second bookable offence, then turned provider for Liam McStravick to race his way through the Kevins’ defence before firing home a third major for the Dundalk side, as they led by 3-9 to 2-5 after 34 minutes.

This time it was the Kevins’ turn to be shellshocked, but Robbie Matthews did land a much-needed score to claw one point back for his side. Moments after being denied at close range by DYI keeper Fergal Sheekey, Danny Crosbie converted a free to leave five between the sides.

Michael O’Shea and McStravick combined for Jack Watters to find the range from play to restore that six point lead for the Young Irelands, who appeared in control.

Following a strike from Danny Crosbie, his brother Seanie set the cat amongst the pigeons as he took a Brian Callaghan hand pass off the shoulder, before finding the back of the net to leave the Kevins just two in arrears with 40 minutes on the clock.

From then on, the Kevins outscored Young Irelands by 1-4 to 0-1, in a period which saw them win 10 out of 14 kickouts contested, with Seanie Crosbie more than playing his part.

Following another McStravick point for DYI, the Kevins edged themselves ahead. 1-5 of their second half tally of 2-6 emanated from kickouts, including Crosbie’s green flag.

Either side of points from Danny Crosbie and the impressive sub Jack Stokes, Seanie Crosbie found Cian Callan with a delightfully floated foot pass, and Callan drove the ball to net to give the Kevins the lead, evoking memories of his exploits in 2016, when the same player scored 2-7 as St Kevins took home the Junior Championship in the same venue.

Like that day in 2016, they were victorious again, as frees from Jack Stokes and Cameron Maher sealed a four point victory for the Phillipstown side, as they take a giant step towards the Intermediate championship quarter finals, in what was a classic!

St Kevins: Josh Finlay; Caoimhin Prout, Niall Gregory, John Callaghan; Darren McMullen, Cameron Maher (1-2) (1f), Donnacha Boylan; Ciaran King, Brian Callaghan, Robbie Matthews (0-1), Seanie Crosbie (1-1), Jacob Finlay (0-1); Tom Matthews (0-1), Danny Crosbie (1-4) (3f), Cian Callan (1-0).

Subs: Jack Stokes (0-2) (1f) for Danny Crosbie (48), Josh McArdle Lynch for Callan (60)

Dundalk Young Irelands: Ferghal Sheekey; Conn O’Donoghue, Ciaran Murray, Caolan McCabe; Cian O’Nairaigh, Derek Maguire, Sean Murphy; Joe Mee, Michael O’Shea (0-2) (1 tpf); Jack Watters (0-1), Liam McStravick (1-4) (1 tpf), (1f), Dean Maguire (0-2) (1 tp); Dermot Mone (1-0), Jordan O’Donoghue (0-2) (1f), Cian O’Donoghue (1-0).

Subs: Ruairi Kelly for O’Nairaigh (15), Lee O’Donoghue for Derek Maguire (48), Evan McArdle for Murphy (55), Derek Maguire for Mone (59).

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).