Dundalk Young Irelands live to fight another Intermediate season

Dundalk Young Irelands: 2-10
O’Connells: 0-6

In the wind and rain which swept through Darver on Sunday evening, Dundalk Young Irelands preserved their Intermediate Championship status, as two first half goals set them on their way to this comfortable victory, against the O’Connells, condemning the Castlebellingham side to the Junior ranks for 2024.

The major blows were struck in the 9th and 17th minutes of this relegation play off, with Derek Maguire and Jack McArdle finding the net, to give the Dundalk side a 2-4 to 0-1 lead, approaching the second quarter.

That period saw Young Irelands move the ball with a purpose, despite shooting into a difficult breeze at the clubhouse end of Darver, with Jordan O’Donoghue pulling the strings from the half backline, finishing with 26 touches of the ball over the hour.

An early Peter McStravick free was cancelled out by Bernard Osbourne moments later. However, the O’Connells forward was forced off injured a few minutes later, with the Castlebellingham side lacking a scoring threat, already without key scorers Robbie Quigley and Niall Conlon, who would be a loss to most teams in the county.

In comparison, DYI forwards were getting plenty of supply, with Dean Maguire teeing up Jack McArdle to steer his side 0-2 to 0-1 ahead, before Dean’s brother Derek combined with Ruairi Kelly for the Dundalk side’s first green flag minutes later.

Derek Maguire converted an advanced mark from a long ball from Jordan O’Donoghue, before Dean added his name to the scoresheet, to make it 1-4 to 0-1 after 15 minutes.

Another flowing move involving O’Donoghue saw, Derek Maguire set up Jack McArdle to latch home goal number 2 for the DYI in a thoroughly dominant period. The name McArdle is of course synonymous with Dundalk Young Irelands and Louth football, with Jack’s grandfather Jim a key member of Louth’s 1957 All Ireland Football success, and his father John a former Young Irelands player and selector.

To their credit, the O’Connells did not go down without a fight, with sweeper Emmett Byrne once again playing his heart out, and a willing runner with the ball coming out of defence, while Sean Cairns proved a decent presence in the middle sector, winning a number of kickouts from O’Connells keeper John Brennan. While Jackie Agnew does as he always does, flies the flag for his club.

David Neasy’s side did treat those in attendance to three stunning efforts from range, thanks to Dean Stanfield, and Jackie Agnew (0-2) to leave it at 2-4 to 0-4 at the break.

Second Half:

While you could not fault their effort, there was still a sense of inevitability about the outcome, which could have been more comfortable from the Young Irelands perspective, with O’Connells keeper John Brennan thwarting further goal attempts from Jack McArdle and the Maguire brothers.

As the rain continued to pour down in Darver after the restart, Dundalk Young Irelands pressed for home, hitting six unanswered points to assure their status as an Intermediate team for 2024.

Peter McStravick who enjoyed 25 possessions over the hour, got the ball rolling just after the restart, after John Brennan had denied Derek Maguire in the same attack.

With the O’Connells also reduced to 14 men following an Evan Kearney black card, Young Irelands were definitely in control, with Derek Maguire adding to his tally to make it 2-6 to 0-5 heading into the final quarter, after Jackie Agnew kept the scoreboard ticking for the O’Connells.

Ruairi Kelly then found the range with ease, before a long-range effort from Sean Murphy bounced over the bar, indicative of the swirling breeze.

Dermot Mone and the influential Jordan O’Donoghue added their names to the scoresheet. At the other end, Jordan’s cousin Conn O’Donoghue produced an impressive block from a Stuart Osbourne low drive.

The returning Evan Kearney ended the O’Connells’ long wait for a score, but the Castlebellingham side were a beaten team, suffering their second championship relegation in three years.

Dundalk Young Irelands: Fergal Sheekey; Conn O’Donoghue, Ciaran Murray, Cian O’Nairaigh; Liam McStravick, Jordan O’Donoghue, Jamie Browne; Ruairi Kelly (0-1), Peter McStravick (0-2) (1f); Sean Murphy (0-1), Cian O’Donoghue, Dean Maguire (0-1); Dermot Mone (0-1), Derek Maguire (1-2), Jack McArdle (1-1).

Subs: Peter Nixon for Derek Maguire (51), Leon Duffy for Mone (54), Lee O’Donoghue for Kelly (56).

O’Connells: John Brennan; Jack McGeough, Conor Byrne, Sam Shearman; Nathan Carragher, Stuart Osbourne, David Hoey; Ciarán O’Brien, Sean Cairns; Evan Kearney (0-1), Jackie Agnew (0-3) (1f), Cailum Woods; Dean Stanfield (0-1), Bernard Osbourne (0-1) (1f), Emmet Byrne.

Subs: Paul McKeever for Bernard Osbourne (14), Tadgh Kearney for McGeough (54), Alan McGovern for Shearman (54), TJ Conlon for Hoey (54), Dara McDonnell for Stanfield (54).

Referee: Bryan Smith.