Louth GAA club | Blues edge out Dreadnots in tight semi-final battle

Newtown Blues booked their place in the Louth Senior Championship final with this victory over the Dreadnots under the Darver lights on Sunday night.

It was more semi-final heartbreak for the Dreadnots, who will look back and regret missing several chances in front of the posts, including seeing Newtown Blues keeper Johnny McDonnell tipping a Paraic Smith penalty over the bar just before the break, with the score standing at 0-10 to 0-5 in the Blues’ favour at the time.

Both sides failed to bring their shooting boots in this one, with the Dreadnots particularly paying a heavy price for their profligacy, amassing 15 scores (0-16 including 2 pointers) from 30 shots at the posts.

While they prevailed in the end, the Newtown Blues were equally disappointing in attack, having managed 16 scores (0-18 including 2 pointers) from 29 shots at the target. But they still found the gears to go through when they needed to.

Straight from the throw-in, Andy McDonnell opened the scoring from play after being set up by the impressive Fergal Donohoe, who attacked every loose ball and 50/50 challenge from wing back.

With both sides kicking consecutive wides, the next score did not arrive until the 7th minute, which saw McDonnell fire over a two-pointer for the Blues.

The Dreadnots continued to miss opportunities, including a goal chance, when Jay Hughes fired wide from close range following clever play from Donnacha Skinnader, who added to his growing reputation as a young star in the making for Clogherhead in Darver.

Back to back Dreadnots points from Skinnader and Ciaran Finnegan did get the Dreadnots off the mark.
Ryan Kelly then set up Andy McDonnell for his second two-pointer to leave the Blues 0-5 to 0-2 ahead approaching the 12th minute.

After Blues keeper Johnny McDonnell was penalised for taking too long on a kickout, Jay Hughes (f) left two between the sides by the end of the first quarter.

Ciaran Downey (f) regained that three-point lead for the Blues, which was moved to four, thanks to Ryan Kelly for the Blues.

A common feature throughout this championship for the Dreadnots has been the number of scores they have got from their own kickout, with Ronan McCartan’s side accruing 0-9 off their own restarts over the hour.

One such set piece saw Conor Faulkner and Paraic Smith combine to set up Anthony Williams to score from play. Williams continued to drive at the opposition at every opportunity from his half back line.

The Blues did stretch their lead thanks to Fergal Donohoe in a move once again involving Conor Brannigan. It is no exaggeration to say that everything came through Brannigan with 41 possessions to his name. That left the Blues 0-8 to 0-4 ahead after 19 minutes.

The Dreadnots struck 6 wides by the time Donnacha Skinnader landed his second score to leave three between the sides once again.

The Blues then responded in kind through Emmet Carolan in another move involving Brannigan, before Andy McDonnell found the target from close range following a quick free from Eoin McCoy to leave his side 0-10 to 0-5 ahead in the 28th minute.

Another chance came the Dreadnots way, when the marauding Conor Clarke was the recipient of a challenge by Alan Connor, which saw referee Stephen Johnson award a penalty.

But Blues’ keeper Johnny McDonnell came to his sides’ rescue, parrying a fierce spot kick from Paraic Smith over the bar to leave the Blues ahead by four. A key moment in this encounter.

Sam Reilly did at least manage to leave the Dreadnots just three in arrears at 0-10 to 0-7 at the break.

Second Half

The second half began in the same manner as the first with the Newtown Blues pointing straight from the throw-in, with Conor MacCriosta finding the target, with Fergal Donohoe again involved.

When it comes to moving the ball in the transition, the Newtown Blues are one of the best in the business, scoring 0-8 from turnovers in the game, with Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly and Alan Connor producing timely turnovers in their defence.

Their next score was a case in point, which led to Conor MacCriosta setting up Fergal Donohoe to fire over on the angle.
Alan Connor then left the Blues 0-13 to 0-7 ahead after 35 minutes.

The Dreadnots opened their account for the second period through Ciaran Finnegan, before Donnacha Skinnader teed up Craig Shevlin for his first score of the day, closing the gap back to four.

Conor Brannigan and Jay Hughes traded scores, before a free from Hughes left the Dreadnots just three behind heading into the final quarter at 0-14 to 0-11.

Following a clever defensive tackle from Conor Brannigan, the Blues broke away at pace with Emmet Carolan and sub Colm Judge combining for Alan Connor to score his second point.

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Despite their wastefulness in attack, the Dreadnots responded with two scores from Craig Shevlin and Donnacha Skinnader to leave just two behind with 2 minutes left.

However, the Blues stepped up another gear, with Ciaran Downey coming to the party. A brace of scores from the captain, including a free which was brought up for dissent, and Jamie Kelly from play, left the Blues five points clear with 2 minutes left.

The Dreadnots went for broke, and late scores from Jay Hughes, including a wonderfully struck two-pointer set up a grandstand finish in stoppage time, with the Dreadnots trailing by two at 0-18 to 0-16.

From the next kickout, the Dreadnots won the ball back thanks to Dermot Campbell and they headed straight for goal, which resulted in Jay Hughes going down following another Alan Connor challenge.

But referee Stephen Johnson waved away strong Clogherhead appeals for another penalty, as the Blues managed to eventually hold out for a place in the Joe Ward decider at the end of the month, their first final appearance since 2022.

Newtown Blues: Johnny McDonnell; Emmet Carolan (0-1), Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly, Alan Connor (0-1); Fergal Donohoe (0-2), Daire Nally, Ryan Kelly (0-1); Brian Kermode, Andy McDonnell (0-6) (2 x tp); Conor Branigan (0-2), Conor MacCriosta (0-1), Ciaran Downey (0-3) (2f); Jamie Kelly (0-1), Conor Moore, Eoin McCoy.
Subs: Colm Judge for Moore (40), Niall Devlin for McCoy (42), Aidan O’Brien for Kermode (60).

Dreadnots: Dylan Cassidy, Aaron Scullion, Dermot Campbell, Padraig Rath; Donnacha Skinnader (0-3), Anthony Williams (0-1), Conor Faulkner (0-1); Leon Fox, James Califf; Ciaran Finnegan (0-2), Sam Reilly, Conor Clarke; Jay Hughes 0-6 (3f) (1 x tp), Craig Shevlin 0-2, Paraic Smith 0-1 (1f).
Subs: Darragh Shevlin for Smith (40), Ciaran Cunningham for Reilly (44), Owen Murphy (54), Paraic Smith for Craig Shevlin (54).

Referee: Stephen Johnson (Glen Emmets).