Heartbreak for Dundalk school in Flood Cup semi-final defeat

St Mary’s Drogheda steamrolled their way to the Flood Cup final with this emphatic win over the De La Salle Dundalk in Darver on Wednesday afternoon last.

The Drogheda school led from start to finish in this win, taking a by 1-11 to 0-7 lead into the break, thanks to a first half major from St Fechins’ Brian O’Neill, who finished with an impressive 1-7 to his name, as St Mary’s produced some scores of the highest quality in this semi final.

The early exchanges did see the De La Salle stay in touch with their opponents, thanks to some clever point taking from Kilkerley Emmets’ Alex Babbington and St Brides’ Senan Hoey, son of former St Brides and Louth star Aaron Hoey.

Another player who caused noticeable problems to the Marys’ rearguard was Liam Craven of St Mochtas. Early points from Craven, Babbington and Hoey had kept the Dundalk side in touch by the end of the opening quarter, which saw the Marys lead by 0-4 to 0-3.

Key to a lot of the Marys’ attacks was the kickout from keeper Harry Leonard, Leonard who features in the Shelbourne FC academy, produced kickouts that Stephen Cluxton would have been proud of, which found his team mates, time and time again, setting up a myriad of attacks leading to eventual scores at the other end.

Leonard’s kickout to the wings, immediately got his side on the front foot, with Cillian Murphy fetching primary of primary possession from these kicks, as well as fellow midfielder Daniel Craig and centre half back Ben Mullin, who were a constant thorn in the DLS side all day. Mullin and Murphy are also clubmates with St Colmcilles in Meath, two of seven Cilles players who started this semi final for St Marys.

Brian O’Neill (3) and sweeper Calvin Hough accounted for the opening four scores for St Mary’s Drogheda, before the team in yellow struck for the opening major, which saw Daire Victory and Ben Mullin combine effectively in the build up. When Mullin’s shot was saved by De La Salle keeper, Daithi Holmes, Brian O’Neill was on hand to rattle the net, as the Marys led by 1-6 to 0-6 heading towards half time.

Further efforts by Alex Babbington and Senan Hoey (f) did keep the score ticking for the De La Salle, who were also denied a major of their own, when Harry Leonard denied Senan Hoey from the angle, after the forward evaded several Marys’ challenges.

Arguably the score of the day fell to De La Salle’s Kyle Callan, after his sweetly struck effort from long range flew over the bar, a score which would have given his side a two pointer if the game had been played under the new FRC rules.

But well taken strikes from Daire Victory and Dylan Craig (f) left St Marys’ Drogheda in a commanding position at the break, at 1-11 to 0-7.

Second Half:

The second half saw the De La Salle up the ante, moving Senan Hoey into midfield, as they attempted to go for broke.

The Dundalk side managed to find a way back into the game, when a scuffed close range free from Hoey, managed to find its way over the goal line, despite the best efforts of St Marys’ Harry Leonard. This goal left five between the sides, at 1-12 to 1-7, and a possible way back for the DLS, approaching the 40^th minutes.

However, that fire was soon extinguished as the Marys turned up the heat with two goals in the final quarter sealing their place in the Flood Cup decider.

The Marys outscored their opponents by 2-6 to 0-1 in that time, with a stunning strike into the top corner of the net from the excellent Ben Mullin, regaining that eight point lead for his side, which seemed to knock the wind out of the De La Salle sails.

Daire Victory, Brian O’Neill, Ben Mullin, and Dylan Craig continued to chip in with scores, with Victory capping things off with a fabulous goal.

The lively Declan Lenehan collected a long early ball into the inside, which was another key feature of the Drogheda’s side play. In on goal, with just the keeper to beat, Lenehan unselfishly teed up Daire Victory to fire to the net for his side’s third goal, as the Marys ran out comfortable winners in this semi final, setting up an intriguing Drogheda derby as they face St Josephs’ Drogheda, in the Flood Cup final.

St Mary’s Drogheda: Harry Leonard; Fionn McGuirk, Gearoid Reidy, Danny McCabe; William Clifford, Ben Mullin (1-1), Caolan Gartlan; Dylan Craig (0-2) (1f), Cillian Murphy (0-3); Adam Keogh, Declan Lenehan, Josh Gahaya; Calvin Hough (0-1), Daire Victory (1-3) (1f), Brian O’Neill (1-7).

Subs: Milo Hall for McGuirk (HT), Sean Armstrong for Craig (49), Sean Whelan for Victory (49), Jamie Hunt for Gahaya (50), Dairmuid Loughman for Murphy (52).

De La Salle: Daithi Holmes; Thomas Quinn-Stuttard, Owen McGahon, Lorcan Geraghty; Niall Connolly, Liam McCabe, Bryan Fagan; Alex Babbington (0-2), Shay Carolan; Kyle Callan (0-1), James Markey, Gavin Reid; Conor Marron, Senan Hoey (1-2) (1f), Liam Craven (0-3).

Subs: Stephen Loughran for Fagan (HT), Ronan Grant for Connolly (52), Eoghan Sweeney for Reid (52).

Referee: Stephen Devlin (Naomh Fionnbarra).

Heartbreak for Dundalk school in Flood Cup semi-final loss

St Mary’s Drogheda 3-18 De La Salle 1-8

St Mary’s Drogheda steamrolled their way to the Flood Cup final with this emphatic win over the De La Salle in Darver on Wednesday afternoon last.

The Drogheda school led from start to finish in this win, taking a by 1-11 to 0-7 lead into the break, thanks to a first half major from St Fechins’ Brian O’Neill, who finished with an impressive 1-7 to his name, as St Mary’s produced some scores of the highest quality in this semi final.

The early exchanges did see the De La Salle stay in touch with their opponents, thanks to some clever point taking from Kilkerley Emmets’ Alex Babbington and St Brides’ Senan Hoey, son of former St Brides and Louth star Aaron Hoey.

Another player who caused noticeable problems to the Marys’ rearguard was Liam Craven of St Mochtas. Early points from Craven, Babbington and Hoey had kept the Dundalk side in touch by the end of the opening quarter, which saw the Marys lead by 0-4 to 0-3.

Key to a lot of the Marys’ attacks was the kickout from keeper Harry Leonard, Leonard who features in the Shelbourne FC academy, produced kickouts that Stephen Cluxton would have been proud of, which found his team mates, time and time again, setting up a myriad of attacks leading to eventual scores at the other end.

Leonard’s kickout to the wings, immediately got his side on the front foot, with Cillian Murphy fetching primary of primary possession from these kicks, as well as fellow midfielder Daniel Craig and centre half back Ben Mullin, who were a constant thorn in the DLS side all day. Mullin and Murphy are also clubmates with St Colmcilles in Meath, two of seven Cilles players who started this semi final for St Marys.

Brian O’Neill (3) and sweeper Calvin Hough accounted for the opening four scores for St Mary’s Drogheda, before the team in yellow struck for the opening major, which saw Daire Victory and Ben Mullin combine effectively in the build up. When Mullin’s shot was saved by De La Salle keeper, Daithi Holmes, Brian O’Neill was on hand to rattle the net, as the Marys led by 1-6 to 0-6 heading towards half time.

Further efforts by Alex Babbington and Senan Hoey (f) did keep the score ticking for the De La Salle, who were also denied a major of their own, when Harry Leonard denied Senan Hoey from the angle, after the forward evaded several Marys’ challenges.

Arguably the score of the day fell to De La Salle’s Kyle Callan, after his sweetly struck effort from long range flew over the bar, a score which would have given his side a two pointer if the game had been played under the new FRC rules.

But well taken strikes from Daire Victory and Dylan Craig (f) left St Marys’ Drogheda in a commanding position at the break, at 1-11 to 0-7.

Second Half:

The second half saw the De La Salle up the ante, moving Senan Hoey into midfield, as they attempted to go for broke.

The Dundalk side managed to find a way back into the game, when a scuffed close range free from Hoey, managed to find its way over the goal line, despite the best efforts of St Marys’ Harry Leonard. This goal left five between the sides, at 1-12 to 1-7, and a possible way back for the DLS, approaching the 40^th minutes.

However, that fire was soon extinguished as the Marys turned up the heat with two goals in the final quarter sealing their place in the Flood Cup decider.

The Marys outscored their opponents by 2-6 to 0-1 in that time, with a stunning strike into the top corner of the net from the excellent Ben Mullin, regaining that eight point lead for his side, which seemed to knock the wind out of the De La Salle sails.

Daire Victory, Brian O’Neill, Ben Mullin, and Dylan Craig continued to chip in with scores, with Victory capping things off with a fabulous goal.

The lively Declan Lenehan collected a long early ball into the inside, which was another key feature of the Drogheda’s side play. In on goal, with just the keeper to beat, Lenehan unselfishly teed up Daire Victory to fire to the net for his side’s third goal, as the Marys ran out comfortable winners in this semi final, setting up an intriguing Drogheda derby as they face St Josephs’ Drogheda, in the Flood Cup final.

St Mary’s Drogheda: Harry Leonard; Fionn McGuirk, Gearoid Reidy, Danny McCabe; William Clifford, Ben Mullin (1-1), Caolan Gartlan; Dylan Craig (0-2) (1f), Cillian Murphy (0-3); Adam Keogh, Declan Lenehan, Josh Gahaya; Calvin Hough (0-1), Daire Victory (1-3) (1f), Brian O’Neill (1-7).

Subs: Milo Hall for McGuirk (HT), Sean Armstrong for Craig (49), Sean Whelan for Victory (49), Jamie Hunt for Gahaya (50), Dairmuid Loughman for Murphy (52).

De La Salle: Daithi Holmes; Thomas Quinn-Stuttard, Owen McGahon, Lorcan Geraghty; Niall Connolly, Liam McCabe, Bryan Fagan; Alex Babbington (0-2), Shay Carolan; Kyle Callan (0-1), James Markey, Gavin Reid; Conor Marron, Senan Hoey (1-2) (1f), Liam Craven (0-3).

Subs: Stephen Loughran for Fagan (HT), Ronan Grant for Connolly (52), Eoghan Sweeney for Reid (52).

Referee: Stephen Devlin (Naomh Fionnbarra).