Louth GAA: Brides rally late to secure senior status

St Brides: 1-12
St Fechins: 0-14

St Fechins will surely reflect upon this game and wonder how they let this slip through their fingers, as they succumbed to a one point loss to St Brides, in a reversal of the league clash between the two sides back in August, which saw the Fechins come out on top to preserve their Division 1 status.

However, this time it was the Brides who came out on top in quite dramatic circumstances, having trailed the Fechins by three heading into the final five minutes of play.

Ronan Holcroft had just landed his third point in a row to seemingly steer Paul Clarke’s side to senior safety, with the Hoops leading by 0-13 to 0-10.

However, a long ball into the square, a move which was noticeably practised by the Brides in their warm up, paid dividends, as sub Emmet Kirk was brought down by Fechins keeper Niall McDonnell for a penalty.

Patrick Reilly fired the penalty straight down the middle to drag the Brides back into contention.

During 7 minutes of additional time, a Niall Devlin free steered St Fechins back ahead, however, drama ensued late on when Sean Marry sent a left footed shot over the bar from long range, before the same player showed the composure when his team needed it most to set up sub Padraic Rutledge to grab the game’s winning point, as the Brides’ snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, to retain their status as a senior team for 2024.

In between those Marry and Rutledge efforts, Fechins sub Eoghan Duffy was sent off by referee McCullough.
Early on, a Colm O’Neill mark, either side of two Niall Devlin frees, had St Fechins ahead by 0-3 to 0-1, with Kieran McArdle converting a free for the Brides.

Following some fast feet, Sean Brennan clipped a left footed shot over the bar from the angle, before another McArdle free levelled things up at 0-3 apiece inside 10 minutes.

While they converted 0-5 from 13 shots in open play, St Brides were not found wanting from placed kicks, converting 0-7 from 9 over the hour, while a ’45 from Kieran McArdle put the Knockbridge side ahead, with neither side able to get breathing space, as they fought for their Joe Ward status. McArdle was black carded by referee Colm McCullough moments after this strike.

Following McArdle’s temporary sin bin, Paul Mathews, who was once again the target of some special attention from the opposition levelled things up with a fine score, before setting up Ronan Holcroft to put his side 0-5 to 0-4 ahead after the first quarter.

Holcroft turned provider for Mathews for another white flag, before a Ryan Walsh free gave the Fechins a three point lead heading into the interval.

However, the Brides once again came roaring back into the contest. With the Fechins struggling on their own kickout, James Costelloe and Liam Molloy made their presence felt in the middle sector, with the latter combining with Patrick Reilly who found himself inside the Fechins cover.

Reilly fired over the bar, as opposed to under it in a let off for the Fechins, with Reilly missing the first of two goal chances presented to the Brides in that period, with the second one seeing keeper Niall McDonnell denying Neil Thorntan following more excellent approach play from Molloy.

In the meantime, a fine turnover from Fechins’ Shane Reilly led to a move where Ryan Walsh landed his second point, to give the Drogheda side a solitary one point lead at the break, following more impressive free taking by Kieran McArdle.

Just before the break, Paul Mathews was sent to the sideline for 10 minutes, after being awarded a black card by McCullough, who did not endear himself to the Fechins vocal support.

The Fechins also lost Bevan Duffy to injury, in a turbulent start to the second half for them.

In that time, the Brides managed to get their noses in front thanks to a well-taken Andrew Smyth effort, preceding more McArdle free taking.

Sean Kerrisk who was lively, and industrious throughout, collected a Niall McDonnell kickout, before setting off on a lung bursting run to level the teams up for a fourth time after 35 minutes.

Having been denied by Brides’ keeper Adam Plunkett earlier, Paul Mathews who finished with 20 possessions glided his way through to put his side 0-10 to 0-9 ahead, which was followed by the first of three Ronan Holcroft points in a short period to give the Fechins a two point lead, with 10 minutes remaining.

The hardworking John O’Connell set up Holcroft for another score to seemingly indicate that St Fechins would push on and secure their safety.

With the Fechins continuing to struggle on their own kickout, winning 6 out of 14 to be precise, the Brides were always in contention.

In what was akin to their exploits against Cooley Kickhams, grabbing a late goal to set the cat amongst the pigeons, this time, Gary Mallon’s side would not be denied.

Following Reilly’s spot kick, a lengthy stoppage time saw Sean Marry strike wonderfully from distance, before his composed assist for sub Padraic Rutledge sparked wild celebrations among the Knockbridge fateful, leaving the Fechins to face Dundalk Gaels in a bid to avoid a return to the Intermediate ranks for the first time since 2021.

St Brides: Adam Plunkett; Ronan Bailey, Cillian Kirk, Robert McCaughey; Andrew Smyth (0-1), Ross Murnaghan, Steven Hoey; Liam Molloy, James Costelloe; Neil Thorntan, Kieran McArdle (0-6) (5f), Sean Brennan (0-1); Sean Marry (0-2) (1f), Patrick Reilly (1-1), Richie Halpenny

Subs: Emmet Kirk for Halpenny (37), Jarlaith Cassidy for Costelloe (43), Padraic Rutledge (0-1) for Thorntan (55), Nathan Kirk for McArdle (61).

St Fechins: Niall McDonnell; Shane Reilly, David Lally, Danny Burnell; John O’Connell, Mark Holohan, Jamie McDonnell; Bevan Duffy, Harry Haughney; Sean Kerrisk (0-1), Colm O’Neill (0-1) (1 mark), Paul Mathews (0-3); Ryan Walsh (0-2) (1f), Ronan Holcroft (0-4), Niall Devlin (0-3) (3f).

Subs: Eoghan Duffy for Bevan Duffy (38), Aaron McGlew for Reilly (55).

Referee: Colm McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra).