Louth GAA club | Glyde defeat the Mals in hope for swift return to Intermediate ranks

Glyde Rangers’ hopes for a swift return to the Louth GAA Intermediate ranks at the first time of asking got off to the perfect start with this win over Naomh Malachi in Darver on Sunday afternoon.

Ultimately it was a deserved victory for Rangers, who boasted a blend of youth and experience, from Darren and Mark McKeever, who produced key turnovers in the full back line, to the hard running young wing backs Shane Byrne and Sean Devanney, anchored by Jack McKeever at centre half, while hardworking midfielder Adam Sweeney finished with 29 possessions over the hour.

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On a night when Oasis rocked the stage at Croke Park fronted by Liam Gallagher, it should be appropriate that the last of the winning sides from Sunday’s club championship fixtures should feature a player of the same name. Glyde’s Gallagher was also a key component to their solid defence.

In attack, there was a blend of youth and experience, with the returning Brian Duffy providing leadership, alongside Lennon Cup All Star Cormac Lundon and Tadgh Kellet, whose score taking delighted those in attendance.

It was Lundon’s early second half goal which went a long way to sealing the win for Glyde, who were able to keep their opponents at arm’s length after that, with the Malachis only managing to narrow the gap to four points on three occasions in that final quarter, including a late stoppage time penalty from Darren Clarke.

However, Glyde held their nerve, with the excellent Lundon having the final say, with a late point ensuring Wayne Callan’s side took home the points.

Early on, it was Naomh Malachi who started on the front foot, and opened the scoring through Padraig Moley, which was cancelled out in the 5^th minute by Cormac Lundon.

The Malachis’ kickout is a key facet to their play, and Larry McAlinden’s charges won 14 out of 24 kickouts with the fetching of Michael McLoughlin and Malachy Mackin noticeable. Michael McLoughlin and former Armagh county player Malachy Mackin provided important outlets for the Mals kickouts.

It is no surprise that Glyde’s second half supremacy coincided with Malachy Mackin having to withdraw due to injury. Mackin and McLoughlin combined to set up Andrew Begley regain the lead for the Mals after six minutes.

Tadgh Kellet was the provider for the next Glyde score, which saw Brian Duffy fire over with the left boot to make it 0-2 apiece after 11 minutes, with Glyde Rangers guilty of some poor shooting, finishing with 1-9 from 27 shots in open play over the hour.

A Stephen Kelly free put the Malachis ahead again, before a two pointer from Brian Duffy left Glyde Rangers 0-4 to 0-3 ahead by the end of the opening quarter.

With the imposing figure of Pierce Caherty standing at the edge of the square, the Mals did have the option of kicking that ball into the inside line directly, which almost led to a major when Caherty flicked a long ball narrowly wide.

As both sides continued to shoot wildly in front of the posts, scores were at a premium. Mals keeper Darrin Kearney (f) and Killian Scott traded scores to leave Glyde still a point ahead by the 25^th minutes.

A fine pass from Malachy Mackin found the lively Stephen Kelly, who levelled things up for the Mals from open play.

However, the longer the game continued, you just felt Glyde Rangers possessed those players capable of crafting openings easier than their opponents, and having combined with Shane Byrne and Jack McKeever to set up Cormac Lundon for a lead score, Brian Duffy found the range shortly after to leave the Tallanstown side ahead by 0-7 to 0-5 in a tight first half.

Second Half:

The first goal in this game was going to go a long way in deciding this outcome, and so it proved just two minutes after the restart. Following a mazy run from Ciaran Sheridan, Cormac Lundon managed to smuggle the ball into the net from close range to give Glyde a five point buffer.

Moments later, Sean Devaney fired over the bar as Glyde opened out six point lead to their opponents. As both teams continued to kick wides, there was only one more score in that third quarter, which came from a Stephen Kelly free for Naomh Malachi.

In that last quarter, Glyde Rangers’ Tadgh Kellet really came to life, with five points in that period, as Rangers managed to keep their opponents at arm’s length, despite the best efforts of the Malachis, who did close the gap to four at different stages in that quarter.

Back-to-back Kellet white flags including one free, stretched Glyde’s lead to six, with 13 minutes left.

Despite missing a few frees earlier, Malachis’ keeper Darrin Kearney stepped up to convert a brace of two pointers either side of Kellet and Duffy strikes for Glyde Rangers. This left four between the sides in that final five minutes.

The wide pitch of Darver catered to the needs of lively forwards like Kellet, and Lundon, to go with the hard running Shane Byrne, Jack McKeever, and Sean Devanney for Glyde.

Kellet who finished with 21 possessions, landed two more points (1f) to leave Glyde 1-14 to 0-10 to the good heading into added time. However, to their credit, Naomh Malachi did not throw in the towel, and when Darren Clarke drove a penalty high to the net, it meant for a grandstand finish.

Possession of the next kickout was paramount and it went the way of Glyde Rangers, thanks to sub Gerard Bourton, in a move which was finished off by Cormac Lundon who slotted over the bar after a Brian Duffy shot came back off the post.

This sealed a five point win for Glyde, who showed the quality when it mattered, as they seek a second Christy Bellew Cup triumph in three years.

Glyde Rangers: David Brennan; Darren McKeever, Liam Gallagher, Mark McKeever; Sean Devaney(0-1), Jack McKeever, Shane Byrne; Adam Sweeney, Ciaran Sheridan; Killian Scott (0-1), Aaron Devlin, Leigh Byrne; Tadgh Kellet (0-5) (4f), Brian Duffy (0-5) (1 tp), Cormac Lundon (1-3).

Subs: Aaron Myles for Leigh Byrne (42), Conor McCauley for Devlin (48), Gerard Bourton for Shane Byrne (56), Oisin Reenan for Scott (60).

Naomh Malachi: Darren Kearney (0-5) (2 tpf) (1f); Conor Begley, Daniel Mulligan, Sean Watters; Darren Clarke (1-0) (1pen), Stephen Burns, Andrew Begley (0-1); Malachy Mackin, Padraig Moley (0-1); Matthew Campbell, Padraig McLoughlin, Donal Begley; Conor Nicholson, Pierce Caherty, Stephen Kelly (0-3) (2f).

Subs: Sean McArdle for Mackin (42), Jason Clarke for Kelly (50), Michael McLoughlin for Campbell (57).

Referee: Cathal Sweeney (Stabannon Parnells).