Dundalk Gaels edge past Mattock to reach IFC final

Dundalk Gaels are through to the CTI Business Solutions Louth Intermediate Football Championship final after a thrilling one-point victory over Mattock Rangers in McGeough Park on Saturday night.

It took extra time to separate the sides with a goal from Tony McDonnell proving to be the decisive moment in a tightly contested affair. 

Both teams had drawn in their group stage meeting and the semi-final under the lights in Haggardstown didn’t disappoint.

The first half was a cagey, low-scoring battle with Mattock Rangers leading 0-3 to 0-2 at the break. 

Mattock's Seán Flynn was accurate from frees, while Dundalk Gaels’ Dylan McKeown was on target to keep his side in the contest.

The second half began with Mattock extending their lead through a Liam Flynn free, but Gaels responded quickly. 

Tony McDonnell’s mark and point levelled the score, and soon after, McKeown put Dundalk Gaels ahead with another free. The lead swung back and forth with both sides struggling to pull away.

Cathal Fleming levelled the scores for Mattock in the 59th minute, but a quick response from Jack Mullen in injury time looked to have sealed it for Dundalk Gaels.

However, Daire Englishby equalised for Mattock Rangers with the last kick of normal time to send the game to extra time at 0-8 each. 

Dundalk Gaels started strong in extra time. McKeown’s free put them ahead but Mattock Rangers kept coming back with James Caraher equalising.

However, McDonnell’s poacher's instinct paid off when he latched onto McKeown’s long ball to tap home the only goal of the game, giving the Rampart side a three-point cushion.

Mattock Rangers, to their credit, fought back. Points from Oisin McKenna and Ben McKenna cut the gap to one, but despite late pressure and a missed ’45 from Ben McKenna with the last kick of the game, the Collon men couldn’t find an equaliser.

The final whistle blew with Dundalk Gaels winning 1-11 to 0-13, securing their place in the Louth IFC final. 

It was a pulsating finish and the goal from McDonnell will be remembered as the key moment that sent his team into the final.

Mattock Rangers will feel hard done by having fought bravely and taken the game to extra time, but Dundalk Gaels held their nerve when it mattered most. 

They will now look ahead to the IFC final with hopes of securing silverware after a gripping semi-final performance.

Dundalk Gaels: Aaron Culligan; Shaun Duffy, David McComish (0-1), Pauric Tinnelly; Oisin Murray, James O'Connell, Jordan Keating; James Stewart, Seán McCann; Tony McDonnell (1-2, 2 mark), Seán Murray, Luke Murray; Kyle Rafferty, Tom O'Connell, Dylan McKeown (0-6, 5f, 1 mark).

Subs: Gary Shevlin (0-1) on for David McComish (36'), Jack Mullen (0-1) on for Kyle Rafferty (55'), Liam O'Connor on for Jordan Keating (58'), Cian Walsh on for Tom O'Connell (65'), Tom Murphy on for Shaun Duffy (75').

Mattock Rangers: Stephen Smith; Alan Caraher, Cillian Hickey, Shane Maguire; Cathal Fleming (0-2, 1f), Terry Donegan, Adrian Reid; Ben McKenna (0-2), Jason Condon; Robert Holmes, Liam Flynn (0-4, 3f), Ronan Kilbane; Seán Flynn (0-2, 2f), James Caraher (0-1), Daire Englishby (0-1).

Subs: Brian Corcoran on for Robert Holmes (28'), Oisin McKenna (0-1) on for Jason Condon (42'), Pauric Bannon on for Adrian Reid (55'), JP Watters on for Brian Corcoran (66'), Tom Grimes (79').

Referee: Cathal Sweeney (Stabannon Parnells).