Mochtas into Louth SFC semi-final

St. Mochtas secured their place in the semi-finals of the Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship with a 0-12 to 1-5 win over Dreadnots low-scoring affair on Monday night at McGeough Park, Haggardstown.

Both teams set up conservatively and as a result, there was a lack of clear scoring chances.

St. Mochtas edged the contest on the scoreboard throughout, but it was far from a comfortable evening. Mochtas held a slender lead as the clock ticked into the final minute of normal time.

However, the game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the 59th minute when Dreadnots, who had been struggling to break through, found a way past the Mochtas defence with a crucial goal.

Now one point behind and trailing for the first time in the game the Mochtas were forced to chase an equaliser in the dying moments. 

Seán Flynn stepped up under immense pressure to convert a vital free two minutes into injury time to bring the sides level at 0-9 to 1-6.

With tension running high and both sides fighting tooth and nail, the game wasn't done with drama yet. In the final play of normal time, the Dreadnots earned a 45 and had a golden opportunity to snatch victory at the death.

James Califf took on the responsibility but saw his effort drift agonisingly left of the posts to leave the sides tied as the full-time whistle blew. 

A scuffle broke out in the centre of the pitch as the whistle went and resulted in heated scenes.

It took some time for calm to be restored before referee Stephen Johnson brandished red cards to Mochtas coach Stephen Poacher and forward Declan Byrne.

Former Louth star Byrne had been an unused substitute due to injury but found himself in the thick of things on the sideline.

With tensions still high, the game moved into extra time.  Unlike the cagey approach of normal time, Mochtas seized control and showed why they were favourites.

Their fitness and composure shone through as they scored four unanswered points to pull away from the Dreadnots, who struggled to create any meaningful chances in the added periods.

The Dreadnots will rue their missed opportunities after having worked so hard to stay in contention. 

They had several chances to keep the game alive in extra time but failed to convert when it mattered most but their shooting let them down at key moments.

As the game wore on, it became clear that the Dreadnots' energy was fading, while the Mochtas showed their championship credentials. 

They finished with a total of 12 points to Dreadnots' 1-5, earning a hard-fought victory to book their place in the last four.

While it may not have been a classic in terms of free-flowing football, the game delivered in terms of drama, especially in those closing minutes of normal time.

The Mochtas will be pleased to have come through a tough test, though they will likely need to find another gear as the competition heats up.

It was a case of what might have been for the Dreadnots. That late goal gave them a chance to snatch victory but they couldn’t hold on as Mochtas proved their worth in extra time.

St. Mochtas will now look ahead to their semi-final clash knowing they survived a serious scare on Monday night, but with the belief that they can go all the way in this year’s championship.

St. Mochta’s: Daire O’Se; David Lennon, Andrew English, Oisin Callan; Craig Lennon (0-1), Ben Goss Kieran, Conor Garland; Ciaran Byrne (0-2, 1f), Sean Flynn (0-3, 3f); Gerry Garland (0-2), Philip Englishby (0-1), Darren McMahon (0-1); Danny Kindlon, Cormac Smyth, Shane Lennon (0-1).

Subs: Jamie Farrell (0-1, 1 mark) for Smyth (37'), Owen Lennon for Callan (50'), Dylan Farrell for Kindlon (62'), Daniel Craven for Englishby (3' ET), Andrew Lennon for Conor Garland (7' ET), Andrew English for Craven (20' ET).

Dreadnots: Dylan Cassidy; Conor Clarke, Padraig Rath, Aaron Scullion; Alex Aspell, Dermot Campbell, Conor Faulkner; Anthony Williams, James Califf (0-3, 2f); Darragh Shevlin (0-1), Pauric Smith, Ciaran Finnegan (0-1); Peter Kirwan, Craig Shevlin, Gustas Knystautas.

Subs: Cian McEvoy for Kirwan (37'), Carl Monaghan 1-0 for Craig Shevlin (42'), Conor Shevlin for Darragh Shevlin (54'), Ciaran Cunningham for Gustas Knystautas (58'), Owen Murphy for Finnegan (9' ET).

Referee: Stephen Johnson (Glen Emmets).