Louth GAA: Mulroy helps Mairtins overcome gutsy Geraldines

Naomh Mairtin 2-7 

Geraldines 0-6

Not for the first time in his career, Sam Mulroy was punching the air in delight under the lights of Stabannon as his prowess in front of the posts played an integral part in sending Naomh Mairtin through to a seventh consecutive semi-final at the expense of a gutsy Geraldines’ side. 

One of these semi-finals took place in 2019, against the same opponents, and saw Mulroy bag two goals in the second half to send his side through to their first Joe Ward decider.

Fast forward 5 years, and Mulroy was at it again, kicking four second half points, which went a long way to sending the Martins through to yet another semi-final.

Having received a black card at the end of the first quarter, Mulroy’s absence was felt by the Martins, who seemed to falter, and appear toothless from there until the interval.

Despite this, Declan McCoy will be pleased with his side’s character, having been reduced to 14 men, 8 minutes to the second half, after Stephen Campbell received a second yellow card by referee Ultan McElroy. 

The Martins did get off to the perfect start, when a flowing move along the left-wing involving Cian Sands, and Tom Gray saw the latter set Val Leddy away, for the full forward to tee up Conor Whelan, and Whelan on that lethal left foot gave Geraldines keeper Sean McEneaney no chance, landing his side’s opening major after the 5th minute.

Sam Mulroy converted a free on that neatly manicured Stabannon turf moments later, and from there, you felt that the Martins would kick on.

However, the Jocks are not the only team with recent happy memories of playing in Stabannon, with the Geraldines having beaten St Fechins in last year’s quarter final clash in dramatic circumstances.

The Haggardstown side were not found wanting in terms of tenacity, and a willingness to fight for their cause. Gareth Neacy epitomised this in abundance. Having given Louth captain Mulroy a run for his money at times, Neacy was tripped by the forward, which led to his black card in the 15th minute.

Jack Treanor also merits praise for his willingness to lay it all on the line for the men wearing green and white, with goalkeeper Sean McEneaney having a solid outing between the sticks. 

In fact, it was the free taking of McEneaney from range which played a role in the Gers revival. Two frees from McEneaney, as well as a brace from Shane O’Hanlon gave their supporters a feeling that a shock was on the cards.

Cavan native Paul Smith is certainly another player who has displayed those battle-hardened qualities, and his superb point from range, along with McEneaney and O’Hanlon’s efforts, gave Micheal Magill’s side the lead at 0-5 to 1-1 with 7 minutes to the break.

You got the feeling that the Gers needed to take every chance they got, with a golden opportunity arriving in first half stoppage time, which saw Gareth Neacy move the ball to John McCrohan at pace. McCrohan fed Shaun Callan who cut in from the right wing, and baring down on goal, only to be denied by the feet of Martins’ custodian Craig Lynch. A crucial moment in the game. 

Another free from the returning Mulroy left the sides level at the break, with the Martins failing to register a point from play in that half. 

Second Half: 

Declan McCoy’s side only managed 5 scores from 13 shots in open play over the hour. But crucially from the Monasterboice side’s perspective, two of these proved to be goals.

At the same end where Callan was denied for the Gers, Conor Whelan saw his goal bound effort blocked heroically on the goal line by Neacy. However, Val Leddy was there to pick up the loose ball to find the back of the net on the turn, to give the Martins the lead for the first time since Whelan’s major in the 6th minute.

The goal came at a crucial time, with Naomh Mairtin’s Stephen Campbell dismissed moments earlier. 

That goal arrived after James Craven had put the Gers ahead just after the restart, a score which his overall performance merited, while Sean McEneaney managed to thwart Conor Whelan in a one on one situation. 

Craven’s point was the last one registered by the Gers, who undoubtedly missed the guile and class of Jim McEneaney in attack when push came to shove. 

Sam Mulroy who finished with 19 possessions overall, despite being off the pitch for 10 minutes, grabbed four out of five consecutive Martins scores, including his customary accurate free taking, and a well taken mark from a fizzing Tom Gray foot pass, as the Jocks exploited the space in the final third, as the Gers’ tried to press up, as they were chasing the game.

Val Leddy was also key to victory, thanks to his goal involvements, and being an option for kickouts, as were the towering presence of Wayne Campbell and Dara McDonnell, while Evan Whelan also impressed.  

The other score came from Jack Murphy, as the Martins set up a semi-final clash with the Dreadnots, as the race for Joe Ward hots up. 

Naomh Mairtin: Craig Lynch; Conor Healy, Thomas Sullivan, Shane Morgan; Evan Whelan, Sean Healy, Jack Murphy (0-1); Dara McDonnell, Wayne Campbell; Stephen Campbell, Sam Mulroy (0-6) (3f) (1 mark), Cian Sands; Conor Whelan (1-0), Val Leddy (1-0), Tom Gray.

Subs: Tadgh O’Brien for Morgan (54), Mick Fanning for Conor Whelan (56), Connor Smyth for Sullivan (58). 

Geraldines: Sean McEneaney (0-2) (2f); Tiernan Hand, Gareth Neacy, Jack Treanor; James Craven (0-1), Dan Corcoran, Fearghal McDonald; Michael Rogers, Paul Smith (0-1); John McCrohan, Shaun Callan, Brian Cafferty; Shane O’Hanlon (0-2) (1f), Beanon Corrigan, Ben Gartlan. 

Subs: Tom Cunniffe for Hand (40), Jamie Callan for Cafferty (48), Conall Hoey for Corrigan (54), Josh Arrowsmith for McDonald (54). 

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).