Dundalk IT advance to Fresher's Championship final
Dundalk IT 3-12 SETU Carlow 1-10
Two late goals sealed DKIT’s place in the final of Fresher’s Championship, as they saw off SETU Carlow in this semi-final Thursday night last.
Before Christmas, the Dundalk side beat the same opposition in their own backyard by two points in a thrilling league semi final which was ultimately decided by extra time, following a strong second half revival from SETU Carlow, which saw them come back, having trailed by four points on several occasions.
The second half of this clash followed a similar pattern, with SETU Carlow piling the pressure on DKIT, who led by six points at the break, playing with the wind at their backs.
However, Carlow will undoubtedly rue kicking 13 wides over the hour, and only amassing 0-7 from 19 second half shots, having closed the gap to three points at different stages in that second period.
Despite being under the cosh, DKIT weathered that storm, before breaking away for two late goals which sealed their place in the final, thanks to the excellent DD Reilly, who once again was a beacon of light up front for his side.
The Roche Emmets clubman crashed the ball to the net thanks to an incisive pass from Darren McMullan, before half time sub Oisin Hagan sealed the deal with a late stoppage time goal to put further gloss on the scoreline, which did not tell the whole story of this semi final.
In fact, SETU Carlow drew first blood straight from the throw up, when strong running from Wicklow panellist Adam Kinsella, led to Ross Harris setting up Cillian Lowry, who crashed the ball to the net to give the home side the ideal start.
It took DKIT some time to get going. However, the visitors soon found their stride, with the kickout of keeper Kian Mulligan playing a key part.
The Latton clubman’s precise footpass with the outside of the boot, found Liam O’Hanlon in behind the Carlow cover, with the Clans’ forward’s goal attempt tipped over the bar by keeper Daire Phelan.
Fine fielding by Cormac McKeown, led to Oisin McGorman setting up scorer in chief John Joe Hughes to point from close range to leave it at 1-0 to 0-2 in a lively opening 3 minutes.
DKIT won 7 out of 9 on their kickout in the first half, with several scores coming on the back of it.
Taking advantage of the breeze, an incisive kickout from Kian Mulligan beat the Carlow press to find DD Reilly in space, and the Roche man fed John Joe Hughes, who made no mistake finding the back of the net to give DKIT the lead.
DKIT also won 6 out of 13 on the opposition’s kickout, with the Geraldines’ Thomas MacNamara setting up Oisin McGorman to put three between the sides with a neatly taken point, with the Monaghan native following on from his man of the match performance in DKIT’s senior side in their Trench Cup final win over Trinity College last week.
John Joe Hughes (f), and DD Reilly put five between the sides, before Carlow’s Ryan Phelan ended his side’s 13 minute wait for a score with a white flag, leaving it at 1-5 to 1-1 in DKIT’s favour at the end of the first quarter.
In that time, DKIT came close to a second major, when Magheracloone’s Kian Duffy saw his effort strike the woodwork, and scrambled off the goal line by Carlow’s defence.
Armagh under 20 player John Joe Hughes kicked arguably the score of the game with a delightful effort with the outside of that trusted left boot, before Thomas MacNamara and Oisin McGorman combined for Kian Duffy to convert, leaving six between the sides after 17 minutes.
Despite their lead, DKIT were guilty of some poor shot selection, scoring 1-6 from 13 first half shots in open play.
Ross Harris, and Ben Corkery narrowed the gap to five, in between a John Joe Hughes free for DKIT, before Kian Mulligan (f), left DKIT ahead by 1-9 to 1-3 at the break, knowing that facing into a stiff breeze, Carlow would throw caution to the wind, so to speak.
Second Half:
Playing with the breeze at their backs at the change of ends, SETU Carlow turned the tables, and put the pressure on DKIT, making it difficult for Eamon McEneaney’s side to move the ball out of their defence.
Pressing up on their opponents, SETU Carlow won 13 out of 20 kickouts contested, with Luke Byrne, and Adam Kinsella supporting Cathal Kehoe and Jimmy Carroll in midfield, while Ross Harris saw plenty of possession around the half forward line, despite wearing 14 on his back.
Meath forward Ben Corkery who kicked 1-11 when the side’s last met in that league semi-final, landed three early scores, (1f), which closed the gap to four points.
This period also DD Reilly’s goal attempted deflected over the bar, with the forward proving a useful outlet on the counter attack for DKIT.
Wexford’s Cathal Kehoe and Corkery points left two between the sides by the end of the third quarter at 1-10 to 1-8, and the possibility of extra time looming large.
But SETU Carlow’s profligacy in attack, ultimately proved costly, kicking 5 wides in a row in that quarter, while DKIT keeper Kian Mulligan stood firm to thwart efforts from Ross Harris and Cialan Brady, while referee Paul Dunne waved away the home side’s claims for a footblock against DKIT’s Jake Corrigan, who still deserves credit for bravely throwing himself at a goal bound strike Brady.
Crucial scores from Oisin McGorman and Kian Duffy twice stretched DKIT’s lead back to four points in that final quarter.
DKIT who accrued 2-3 from 7 second half shots, sealed their place in the final, when Darren McMullan found DD Reilly who gave the keeper no chance, driving the ball to the roof of the net to make it 2-12 to 1-9 approaching full time, before the persistent Kian Duffy set up sub Oisin Hagan who slapped home their third major in stoppage time, which sealed this eight point win for DKIT, who look forward to another championship final.
Dundalk IT: Kian Mulligan (0-1) (1f); Michael McCreesh, Conor McKenna, Darren McMullan; Jake Corrigan, Cormac McKeown, Eoin O’Hanlon; Thomas MacNamara, Robert Gallagher; Liam McCauley, Oisin McGorman (0-2), DD Reilly (1-2); John Joe Hughes (1-4) (2f), Kian Duffy (0-2), Liam O’Hanlon (0-1).
Subs: Oisin Hagan (1-0) for Liam O’Hanlon (HT), Charlie Murphy for Eoin O’Hanlon (52), Fionn Connolly for McCauley (52), Matthew McArdle for MacNamara (60), Kyle Doherty for Hughes (60).
SETU Carlow: Daire Phelan (0-1); Adam Byrne, Darragh Loughman, Dylan Friel; Patrick O’Connor, Luke Byrne, Adam Kinsella (0-1); Cathal Kehoe (0-1), Jimmy Carroll; Matthew Jackson, Cialan Brady, Ryan Phelan (0-1); Ben Corkery (0-5) (2f), Ross Harris (0-1), Cillian Lowry (1-0).
Subs: Dara Connolly for Jackson (48), Alex Kavanagh for Kinsella (48), Robbie McEvoy for Adam Byrne (60), Alex Sweeney for Friel (60), Paddy O’Byrne for Ryan Phelan (60).
Referee: Paul Dunne (Co Laois).