Louth GAA: Mochta's account for Gaels but fall short of top spot

DUNDALK GAELS 2-8

ST MOCHTA’S 2-15

The tall order of winning and defeating Dundalk Gaels by 14 points to top the group was too much for St. Mochta’s on Sunday night in Ardee. Too much urgency in their play and when they finally did reach their target in DEFY Pairc Mhuire they succumbed to late Gaels fightback.

The one sided affair was all about the chase. Gaels to their credit, stung back with pride in the finish when Liam O’Connor and David Maloney found the net with their paws. Mochta’s looked to have completed the task but trudged off the pitch as group runners up.

In the opening quarter both sides knew what was at stake and decided to not let each other have it. With Gaels defiance and Mochta’s wayward shooting the two sets of players eyeballed each other and played in a frantic nature.

Dylan McKeown landed the point of the game from an impossible angle out on the touchline for the Gaels solitary respite.

Either side of that sublime effort at the road end Mochta’s were also clocking up the scores.Veteran Declan Byrne tapped over a brace of frees while Jamie Farrell and Gerry Garland started strongly.

Gaels were dealt a blow when regular goalkeeper Adrian Rafferty suffered an injury off the ball and Tom Mahon came in. His first piece of play was a well placed kick out before he denied Liam O’Flaherty with a smothering save after Byrne struck the upright.

That would have killed the game as a contest because the Gaels were struggling to stay with the Louth Villagers coat tails. A few high balls aside, the story of the first half was what might have been for John Moylan’s men as they clocked eight first half wides.

Ruthless before the half time whistle however, Declan Byrne turned over James O’Connell at the heart of the Gaels defence. Loose and in broken play Byrne knew it would be wise to find Craig Lennon to finish off the move.

With that score, the momentum shift changed completely, Naomh Mairtin were suddenly getting worried and the match was now all about how much St. Mochta’s were going to win by.

First point upon the resumption, Meath man Mark McCabe settled his side, but Mochta’s interval replacement Cormac Smyth was in the mood to win his place back with a quick score. Gary Shevlin boomed over from long range to ease Monasterboice minds however.

Byrne pushed the league champions nine points ahead but no Gaels sweeper and Teenager Liam O’Connor’s deployment on the wing was a useful avenue for the Dundalk men to get into the game from restarts. That positive play resulted in a Dylan McKeown brace.

Then the rain poured and Mochta’s huge push began. Seán Flynn was excellent throughout and he pointed before Conor Garland fired to the net. David Lennon then punched over the required lead of 14 points.

But then the Mochs collapse. Intensity dropped and Craig Lennon substitution indicated the job was done but the Gaels put some respectability on the scoreline and Mochta’s once again must now do it the hard way.

DUNDALK GAELS: Adrian Rafferty; Oisín Murray, Paul McCrave, Eamonn Kenny; Shaun Duffy, Jordan Keating, James O’Connell; Mark McCabe 0-1, David Moloney 1-0; Liam O’Connor 1-0, Seán McCann, Cian Walsh; Gary Shevlin 0-1, Thomas O’Connell 0-1, Dylan McKeown 0-4 (2f). Subs: Tom Mahon for Rafferty (17), Jack Mullen for T O’Connell (HT), Mark Hanna for Kenny (33), Seán Murray 0-1 for McCabe (44), Luke Murray for Keating (50).

ST MOCHTA’S: Liam Kindlon; Andrew English, Andrew Lennon, David Lennon 0-1; Conor Garland 1-0, Oisín Callan, Ben Goss-Kieran; Seán Flynn 0-2 (1f), Gerry Garland 0-2; Jamie Farrell 0-2, Phily Englishby 0-1, Liam O’Flaherty; Darren McMahon, Declan Byrne 0-5 (4f), Craig Lennon 1-0. Subs: Cormac Smyth 0-2 for O’Flaherty (HT), Barry Mulholland for A Lennon (55), Dylan Farrell for C Lennon (55).

REFEREE: Damien Connor (St Patrick's)