Louth GAA club | Gaels fall just short against Cooley

Dundalk Gaels and Cooley Kickhams played out a thrilling contest that kept the crowd on edge right until the final whistle at St. Brigid's Park, Dowdallshill on Sunday evening.

Ultimately, it was Cooley who shaded matters by a single point, but not before the Gaels missed two golden opportunities to salvage a draw deep in injury time.

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The Gaels came into this Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship, Group One, Round Two clash brimming with confidence after their opening-round victory over Roche, and they began as though determined to stamp authority on proceedings from the off.

Inside the first ten minutes, captain Dylan McKeown punished Cooley's indiscipline with three pointed frees, while Luke Murray chipped in from distance to leave the Gaels four points to the good before Cooley had even settled.

It was Michael Rafferty who finally got Cooley off the mark on ten minutes, and the scoreboard began to tilt thereafter.

The ever-reliable Cian Connor converted a pair of frees to close the gap. Though McKeown responded with another sweet strike, Connor’s accuracy ensured parity was restored at five points apiece after 19 minutes.

The north Louth side then grew into the game. County player Fearghal Malone split the posts with a superb effort before adding another soon after, while Michael Carron got on the scoresheet to push Cooley three clear.

When Carron thumped over a two-pointer approaching the half-hour mark, the visitors looked to be taking control at 0-11 to 0-7. Yet just as Cooley seemed to have seized momentum, the Gaels produced a blistering response.

McKeown delivered a two-point strike of his own to narrow the deficit, and moments later, a sweeping move saw James O’Connell pick out his brother Tom.

The young forward showed composure beyond his years to slot the ball under Niall Brady and put the Gaels in front by a single point at the break.

Half time: Dundalk Gaels 1-9 Cooley Kickhams 0-11.

The second half opened with drama. Padraic Tinnelly made a magnificent diving block before Aaron Culligan produced an excellent save to deny Seán Hoey.

Cooley made the most of their reprieve, with Connor and Enda O’Neill pointing in quick succession to reclaim the lead. But the Gaels came back through Tony McDonnell, who struck from distance to restore parity at 1-10 to 0-13.

The game swung back and forth, Connor and Rafferty converting frees for Cooley while McKeown responded in kind for the Gaels.

Then came a crucial moment on 42 minutes when Connor, calm as ever, landed a two-pointer from a placed ball to give Cooley a cushion.

Though Kevin McKernan's Gaels battled gamely, registering further frees through McKeown, Cooley’s accuracy in front of goal kept them that step ahead.

With time ticking away, Cian Connor again underlined his quality with a brilliant two-point effort, followed by a neat left-footed finish from Malone. At 0-20 to 1-12 with just minutes remaining, they seemed home and dry.

But Gaels are nothing if not spirited. McKeown slotted another free to keep hope alive, and then, with the clock in red, Tom O’Connell rose highest to meet a searching ball inside.

He rifled it into the roof of the net, sending the Blue supporters into raptures. Suddenly, it was a one-point game.

The drama didn’t end there. Shaun Duffy had a chance to level at the death but dragged his effort wide, and moments later Thomas Kavanagh spurned a free that would have secured a share of the spoils.

The final whistle sounded seconds later, leaving Cooley relieved and the Gaels rueing what might have been. This was championship football at its finest, fast-paced and full of action.

The Gaels will look back on those late misses with frustration, but they can also take heart from their resilience and their ability to carve out goal chances.

For Cooley, the win represents a hard-fought two points and keeps them firmly in contention in Group One.

Full time: Dundalk Gaels 2-13 Cooley Kickhams 0-20.

Dundalk Gaels: Aaron Culligan; James Lynch, James O'Connell, Padraic Tinnelly (0-1); Luke Murray (0-1), Alan Jumbo, Tom Murphy; James Stewart, David McComish; Dylan McKeown (c) (0-9, 6f, 1tp), Jordan Keating, Cain Bromley; Thomas O'Connell (2-0), Tony McDonnell (0-1), Chris Sweeney (0-1).

Subs: Shaun Duffy on for Tom Murphy (41'), Jack Mullen on for Cain Bromley (44'), Thomas Kavangh on for David McComish (53').

Cooley Kickhams: Niall Brady; Ronan McBride, Dean McGreehan, Ian Arnold; Gerry Malone, Darren Marks, Sean Hoey; Fionn O'Reilly, Paul Brennan; Fearghal Malone (0-3), Michael Carron (c) (0-3, 1tp), Gerard Hanlon; Cian Connor (0-9, 6f, 2tp), Enda O'Neill (0-1), Michael Rafferty (0-2, 1f).

Subs: Patrick Johnston on for Gerard Hanlon (42'), Richard Brennan on for Fionn O'Reilly (52'), Jason Brady on for Michael Carron (52'), Niall Morgan on for Ian Arnold (56'), MJ Hanlon (60').

Referee: Colm McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra).