Louth GAA club | Naomh Máirtín defeat the Pats to progress to SFC last four

Naomh Máirtín booked their place in the Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship semi-final after a seven-point victory over St. Patricks at PPFS, Darver on Saturday night.

The quarter-final tie was a replay after last Sunday's 1-16 to 1-16 draw and was played out in bitter conditions.

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Both sides had to contend with the elements, with the Jocks facing into the wind in the first half before enjoying the advantage after the break.

It was the Monasterboice men who got the first score after just three minutes, with talisman Sam Mulroy scoring a 45' into the wind. St. Patricks hit back quickly through Seán Fearon, and the game settled into rhythm.

The opening goal came on 15 minutes when Evan Whelan finished off a flowing team move he had started, combining with Mulroy and Darragh Dorian before drilling home from close range.

The Lordship sides responded instantly, with Jack Murphy raising a two-point flag to keep the tie in the balance. The teams exchanged scores in a tit-for-tat first half where long-range frees were crucial.

Mulroy and goalkeeper Martin McEneaney both showed accuracy from placed balls, with Murphy also keeping the Pats in touch.
Naomh Máirtín held the narrowest of leads by the half-time break, with everything still to play for in the second half.

Half time: Naomh Máirtín 1-6 St. Patricks 0-8

If the first half was cagey, the second was anything but, as straight from the restart, Leonard Gray levelled matters for the Pats, but the Jocks struck back with a flurry of points.

Jack Martin’s fine two-pointer was followed by scores from Mulroy, Wayne Campbell and Seán Healy, who pushed them into a 1-11 to 0-9 lead, and the momentum had firmly shifted.

McEneaney briefly reduced the deficit with another two-pointer, but the Jocks’ energy, movement, and use of the wind carried them further clear.

Dorian, Mulroy and Jack Murphy all added to the tally as the Mairtins displayed resilience in defence and sharpness in attack.

Even when McEneaney produced a stunning double save on 52 minutes to deny Murphy and then Whelan in quick succession, the pressure remained relentless.

Eoghan Callaghan curled over a superb point soon after, before Mulroy closed out the game with a couple of late points.

As the final whistle approached, frustration got the better of St. Patricks as defender Conor Grogan saw red in the 60th minute, and Eoin O’Connor followed with a black card moments later.

Reduced to 13 men, the Pats could only watch as Naomh Mairtin saw out the game in comfort.

Full-time: Naomh Máirtín 1-16 St. Patricks 0-12

Naomh Mártín: Darren Morgan; Cian Sands, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; Evan Whelan (1-0), Eoghan Callaghan (0-1), Jack Murphy (0-2, 1 tp), Adam Booth, Wayne Campbell (0-1); Dara McDonnell, Sam Mulroy (0-8, 1 ’45,  2 tpf, 1 tp), Seán Healy (0-1); Darragh Dorian (0-2), Val Leddy, Tom Gray.

Subs: Ben Callanan on for Tom Gray (51'), Tadhg O’Brien on for Cian Sands (57'), Craig Callanan on for Sean Healy (57'), Joe McGrane on for Dara McDonnell (62').

St. Patricks: Marty McEneaney (1 tpf); Seán Holland, Kevin Toner, Darren O’Hanlon; Conor Grogan, Barry Dunne, Darren Connor; Leonard Gray (0-1), Eoin O’Connor (0-2, 1 tp),; Michael O’Shaughnessy, Jack Murphy (0-4, 2f, 1 tp), Joseph Connor; Aidan McCann, Danny O’Connor, Seán Fearon (0-1).

Subs: Padraig Duffy on for Joseph Connor (51'), Rory Duffy on for Darren O’Hanlon (51'), Daniel Tumulty on for Kevin Toner (54'), Brian Commins on for Aidan McCann (56'), Conor McGuinness on for Seán Fearon (57').

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).