Louth GAA club | Dundalk Gaels impress in win over Roche

Dundalk Gaels marked their return to senior championship football in style with an impressive ten-point win over Roche Emmets at Fr. McEvoy Park on Saturday evening.

In a game that began as a cagey battle, the Ramparts men found their rhythm after the break, delivering a commanding second-half display to secure victory.

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Both sides entered this opener with plenty of expectation, but it was Dundalk Gaels who left with the spoils and, perhaps more importantly, a statement of intent.

The opening exchanges were tense, with both teams struggling to settle. Roche had early chances but kicked two wides inside the first two minutes.

The Gaels, by contrast, struck first blood through Tom O’Connell, who clipped over a neat point on four minutes. Roche responded well, and a fine two-pointer from distance by DD Reilly had them in front after eight minutes.

But O’Connell was equally sharp at the other end, converting a superb long-range free to restore the Gaels’ advantage. At this stage, both sides looked evenly matched, probing cautiously but also guilty of wayward shooting.

Roche racked up a series of wides in a frustrating spell, while Gaels themselves passed up opportunities to push clear. As the half wore on, scores from Dylan McKeown and O’Connell kept Gaels in touch, but Roche refused to wilt.

Barry O’Hare, who carried their scoring threat, slotted frees in the 23rd and 26th minutes before adding another to level the match at five points apiece.

The talking point of the half arrived just before the whistle when a Gaels effort appeared to sail between the posts but was waved wide by the officials, leaving the sides locked together at the break.

Half-time: Dundalk Gaels 0-5 Roche Emmets 0-5

The second half was explosive. Roche edged ahead two minutes after the restart thanks to another O’Hare dead ball, but that would be as good as it got for them.

McKeown equalised almost instantly with a smart point before Gaels created the game’s first real goal chance. Cian Bromley burst through, only to see his shot cannon back off the post.

The let-off was brief, however, as O’Connell soon made no mistake, rifling low to the net to put Gaels 1-6 to 0-6 ahead.

Roche responded admirably through Liam Dawe and another O’Hare free, narrowing the deficit to a single point, but momentum had shifted.

McKeown’s accuracy from frees kept Roche at bay before he landed a superb two-pointer from distance that drew applause from the Gaels' support.

From there, the floodgates opened. Tony McDonnell got on the scoresheet with a tidy point before striking the killer blow in the 52nd minute.

Collecting a clever pass from McKeown, he shrugged off his marker and lashed an unstoppable shot to the roof of the net.

Suddenly, Gaels led 2-11 to 0-8, and the contest was effectively settled. The Ramparts outfit played with confidence in the closing stages.

Chris Sweeney split the posts with a fine score from the right flank, while Thomas Kavanagh added the icing with a neat point on the turn in the final minute.

Roche, who toiled gamely throughout, could only manage one more O’Hare free, and their tally of wides, combined with Gaels’ ruthless finishing, told the story of the evening.

At the final whistle, Gaels emerged ten-point winners, a result that underlined both their superior second-half firepower and their readiness for life back among the county’s elite.

Full time: Dundalk Gaels 2-13 Roche Emmets 0-9

Dundalk Gaels: Aaron Culligan; James Lynch, James O'Connell, Padraic Tinnelly; Luke Murray, Liam O’Connor, Alan Jumbo; Seán Murray, James Stewart; David McComish, Dylan McKeown (0-, 3f, 1tp), Jordan Keating; Cain Bromley, Tom O'Connell (1-3, 1tp), Tony McDonnell (1-1).

Subs: Shaun Duffy on for Liam O’Connor (25'), Chris Sweeney (0-1) on for David McComish (48'), Thomas Kavanagh (0-1) on for Cian Bromley (54'), Tom Murphy on for Luke Murray (57'), Seán Lambert on for Tony McDonnell (60').

Roche Emmets: Even Quigley; James McDonnell, Seán Connolly, Marc Murphy; Fionn Connolly, David Quigley, Gerard Browne; Peter Lynch, Glen Stewart; Seán Dawe, Liam Dawe (0-1), Conor Carthy; DD Reilly (0-2, 1tp), Shane Byrne, Barry O'Hare (0-6, 4f, 1 '45).

Subs: Mark Byrne on for David Quigley (HT), Ryan Rice-Martin on for Conor Carthy (48'), Callum Grant on for Marc Murphy (57').

Referee: Bryan Smith (O'Raghallaighs).