Jocks get the better of the Joe's in Louth SFC

Naomh Máirtín booked their place in the Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship semi-final with a victory over St. Joseph’s on Sunday afternoon at Darver.

The game began at a rapid pace, with captain Sam Mulroy putting Naomh Mairtin ahead in the opening minute from a free.

The Monasterboice side had built a comfortable lead by the seventh minute through further points from Tom Gray and Val Leddy.

St. Joseph’s found it difficult to get into the game early on and managed just one point in the first 14 minutes courtesy of Conal McCaul.

The Jocks extended their lead by six points but the game swung back in St. Joseph’s favour when they were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute. 

Gabriel Bell was brought down and Oisin McGuinness dispatched the spot-kick to bring the Joes back into the game.

Ben Collier and Alan Quigley reduced Naomh Mairtin’s lead to just one point and when Pearse Grimes-Murphy levelled the scores at 1-4 to 0-7 it seemed like St. Joseph’s had found their stride.

However, Naomh Máirtín responded quickly. Mulroy and Gray combined to add crucial points before the break, and the Jocks went into half-time leading 0-11 to 1-4, having reasserted their dominance in the final minutes of the first half.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with John Clutterbuck adding a point immediately after the restart.

Despite St. Joseph’s hitting the upright twice early on, Naomh Máirtín continued to press ahead, with Mulroy adding another couple of points.

Alan Quigley’s free gave the Joes their first point of the half but they struggled to close the gap further as Naomh Máirtín’s defence stood firm.

Pearse Grimes-Murphy gave St. Joseph’s a glimmer of hope in the 53rd minute with a well-taken goal, cutting in from the left to beat Craig Lynch and make it 2-5 to 0-15.

However, just as the Joes looked like they might stage a late comeback, Mulroy struck again—this time with a goal in the 58th minute to seal the result. 

David Kieran added a late point for St. Joseph’s, but it was too little, too late as Naomh Máirtín ran out six-point winners.

St. Josephs: Adam Cassidy; Rian Devlin, Michael Staunton, Cormac McKeown; Killian McDonnell, David Kieran (0-1), Gabriel Bell; Conor Neary, Craig Doherty; Alan Quigley (0-2, 2f), Conal Smyth, Conal McCaul (0-1); Pearse Grimes-Murphy (1-1), Oisin McGuinness (1-0), Ben Collier (0-1).

Subs: Killian Staunton on for Conor Neary (45'), Cian Sheridan on for Killian McDonnell (49').

Naomh Máirtín: Craig Lynch; Shane Morgan, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; Evan Whelan, Seán Healy, Stephen Campbell; Adam Booth, Wayne Campbell; John Clutterbuck (0-1), Eoghan Callaghan, Val Leddy (0-4); Bryan McQuillan, Sam Mulroy (1-7, 6f), Tom Gray (0-3).

Subs: Conor Whelan on for Bryan McQuillan (HT), Dara McDonnell on for Adam Booth (HT), Darragh Dorian on for Evan Whelan (43'), Craig Callanan on for Stephen Campbell (56').

Referee: Paul Kneel (Kilkerley Emmets).