Louth GAA: Nothing to separate Mochta's and Máirtín's in pulsating encounter
NAOMH MÁIRTÍN 2-7
ST.MOCHTAS 0-13
No quarter given in Darver on Monday night as Naomh Máirtín and St. Mochta’s couldn’t be separated whilst serving up another pulsating encounter. Both sides are sparring to good effect, both fine tuning before the business end of the championship.
Mochta’s aren’t in the knockout stages just yet, they will take on Dundalk Gaels this Sunday in a straight shootout. If the Louth Villagers beat the Gaels by 14 points they will top the group. Mairtin’s with three points now in total are through but must wait to see where they land.
In the games last play, Ben Goss Kierans had the awareness to drive close to the Monasterboice goal and punch over the bar to take a share of the spoils. With Declan Byrne and Craig Lennon probing, Lennon eventually skied a Garryowen and Goss Kierans thought on his feet, he simply had to.
Naomh Máirtín once again will rue their waste in front of the posts and sloppiness of their play. You can’t leave the door ajar for the league champions because they’ll not know when they are not welcome.
Two second half goals looked to be enough to break John Moylan’s sides resolve. They came of the highest quality. Sam Mulroy playing a huge assisting role in both. First one along the end line, Mulroy played the ball back to Val Leddy to floats in a screamer for this sides first score of the second half.
Declan Byrne responded from a narrow angle to level but Conor Healy’s goal was sublime. Mulroy with the neat lay put Healy right through and his finish is immaculate. Keeper rooted to the spot, Healy puts his effort right in the top corner.
So, after edging the first half by a point, Mochta’s once again chipped away, kept in touch through Byrne and the excellent Gerry Garland to hit five out of the next seven points to finish strong once again.
League final revenge wasn’t a factor, the confidence St. Mochta’s have in what they are doing was.
Declan McCoy’s troops are hard bet, but are still searching for that spark that might well be in Australia but they are still there searching on without John Clutterbuck, Eoghan Callaghan, Conor Morgan and Mark Whelan.
Fascinating few weeks still await this duo, regardless of where they land, both sides are the better for each other.
ST MOCHTA’S: Liam Kindlon; Andrew Lennon, Ben Goss-Kieran 0-2; Liam Lawlor; Conor Garland, Andrew English, Oisín Callan; Seán Flynn, Gerry Garland 0-3; Jamie Farrell, Philly Englishby, Declan Byrne 0-5 (3f); Darren McMahon; Craig Lennon 0-2 (1m), Cormac Smyth 0-1. SUBS: Liam O’Flaherty for Smyth (49), David Lennon for Englishby (49), Barry Mulholland for McMahon (58).
NAOMH MÁIRTÍN: Craig Lynch; Shane Morgan, Connor Smyth, Conor Healy 1-0; Evan Whelan, Seán Healy, Jack Murphy; Wayne Campbell 0-2 (2f), Dara McDonnell; Ben Callanan, Sam Mulroy 0-3 (1f), Stephen Campbell; Tom Gray 0-1, Val Leddy 1-1, Conor Whelan. Subs: Thomas Sullivan for Smyth (ht), Darragh Dorian for Callanan (ht), Cian Sands for Morgan (43), Joe McGrane for C Whelan (53).
REFEREE: David Fedigan (Hunterstown Rovers).