Louth GAA club | Kilkerley secure IFC status with victory over Young Irelands

Kilkerley Emmets brushed aside Dundalk Young Irelands on wet Friday night at PPFS Darver to secure their CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship status for another year.

A ten-point victory in the first of the Louth IFC relegation play-off semi-finals ensured that Kieran Quinn’s men avoided the drop into junior football next season.

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The Young Irelands came into the contest with something to prove, having endured a tough group stage in which they lost to Glen Emmets and St. Kevins, and it was them that started the better.

The conditions may have been heavy underfoot, but Ruairi Kelly wasted no time in opening the scoring after just two and a half minutes.

That early confidence grew when Jordan O’Donoghue doubled their advantage from a close-range free moments later to leave Kilkerley chasing shadows in the opening exchanges.

However, Kilkerley’s response was measured as Tadhg McEneaney got his side on the board with a tidy effort before adding a free to draw the sides level at 0-3 apiece by the quarter-hour mark.

Ciarán Bellew and Fionn Cumiskey nudged them into the lead, but just as they looked to be taking control, the Young Irelands struck their lifeline.

Seán Murphy combined brilliantly with O’Donoghue, who rifled a shot into the net to restore his side’s advantage at 1-3 to 0-5 on the 24th minute.

But Kilkerley refused to panic, and McEneaney’s accuracy from placed balls and a 45 from Cormac Mallon had them two points clear at the break.

Half time: Dundalk Young Ireland 1-3 Kilkerley Emmets 0-8

Kilkerley opened up a six-point cushion when Darragh Conlon slotted calmly beneath goalkeeper Ferghal Sheeky after a sweeping move within five minutes of the restart.

Young Irelands tried to hang in, with Cian O’Donoghue knocking over back-to-back frees, but it was a case of one step forward, two steps back.

McEneaney continued to torment the Young Irelands’ defence as he added a free before Cumiskey landed another neat score.

Then came the killer blows when McEneaney’s close-range goal in the 45th minute was swiftly followed by a clinical finish from Micheal Begley barely 90 seconds later.

Suddenly, the scoreboard read 3-11 to 1-5, and a 12-point gap that reflected Kilkerley’s dominance in every department.

The Young Irelands never stopped battling to their credit as Cian O’Nairigh, Jack McArdle and James Prendergast pointed late on, but the game had long since slipped away.

Cathal Bellew chipped in with a stylish point to round off Kilkerley’s tally and secure a ten-point victory and IFC safety.

For Young Irelands, the defeat was another bitter pill in a season of struggles, having lost all their group fixtures, they now play in a relegation final.

Full time: Dundalk Young Ireland 1-8 Kilkerley Emmets 3-12

Dundalk Young Irelands: Ferghal Sheekey; Conn O’Donoghue, Ciarán Murray, Lee O'Donoghue; Caolán McCabe, Seán Murphy, Joe Mee; Ruairi Kelly (0-1), Michael O’Shea; Liam McStravick, James Prendergast (0-1), Jack Watters; Jordan O'Donoghue (c) (1-1, 1f), Cian O'Donoghue (0-3, 3f), Dermot Mone.

Subs: Cian O’Nairaigh (0-1) on for Caolán McCabe (38’), Dean Maguire on for Jordan O’Donoghue (38’), Evan McArdle on for Liam McStravick (42’), Mark Lee on for Cian O’Donoghue (46’), Jack McArdle (0-1) on for Michael O’Shea (52’).

Kilkerley Emmets: Callum Mulholland; Fintan Brady, Ciarán Bellew (0-1), Kieran Murtagh; Ronan Deery, Patrick Murtagh (c), Cathal Bellew (0-1); Ewan McEnteggart (0-1), Tadhg McEneaney (1-5, 1f, 1 tpf); Cormac Mallon (0-1, 1‘45), Michael Begley (1-1), Brian Brady; Fionn Cumiskey (0-2), Darragh Conlon (1-0), Aaron Crawford.

Subs: Darren Geoghegan on for Fionn Cumiskey (57’), Ultan McEneaney on for Brian Brady (57’).