Louth GAA club | Keely: It just opened

Forward Stephen Keely was the hero for Oliver Plunketts as his late goal against Glyde Rangers forced extra time in the DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football Championship final replay at Castlebellingham on Saturday evening.

Speaking on his goal, Keely said: “We didn't really get that many goal opportunities. We have been working on them, but we've actually been quite good in front of goal in the last few games.

READ NEXT: Louth GAA club | Plunketts defeat Glyde to claim Christy Bellew Cup

“So I just knew if we got a chance we'd take it and just swung the boot at it and it went in the top corner, so I was lucky enough.

“It was a last chance, so luckily I stepped one way, the defender stepped the other, and it just opened and I just said right, I'll swing the boot out, and it went in, thank God.”

Having trailed for much of normal time, Plunketts showed heart to produce a comeback.

“In previous years, when we went down, the heads were dropping that, but look, we've built up resilience there this year under Darren Moore.

“We just kept on saying to ourselves every training session, every game, stick to the process, stick to the game plan, if we go down a few scores, just stick at it.

“Even when we went ahead last week by a few scores, we actually didn't stick to the process, so it's about sticking with it when you're ahead and when you're behind.

“Luckily, we did it there today, and we just kept on shooting, and luckily we got over the line in the end, but yeah, the shooting was a bit off. There was a bit of a breeze here as well today, which didn't help.”

After the late equaliser, the momentum shifted behind the Drogheda men heading into extra time.

“Oh, definitely, like you know yourself, you concede a goal like that in the dying seconds, and I'd say they thought they had it won, to be honest. They're a great team, Glyde; they never give up.

“They beat us in the semi-final down in Clogherhead, which brought the extra time a few years ago. They went on a big run in Leinster, so they're a great team, but yeah, just delighted to get over the line to be honest.”

Keely was full of praise for goalkeeper Luke Haggins, who struck a huge two-point free from distance in extra time.

“We always believe in Luke. I keep saying to him, if he missed a few, keep going against the Clans for us to stay up intermediate league, he slotted over some unbelievable scores above in our pitch.

“So I'd always back Luke to always get us over the line. In the end, he's some left foot and I'm like one of the best in the county.

“It was just brilliant to see it sail over, and it was against the breeze as well, which was some kick like it's nearly the halfway line, so that’s Luke Haggins where he's just class.”

The Plunketts substitutes also played their part in the win.

“This year we've said it versus other years that we've had such a big panel. Cian Matthews didn't really play the league, but when he came back into the championship, he gave us a huge boost.

“He says the legs aren't what they used to be, but jeez, I can't see any signs of that, like he's kicked some really important scores there in extra time.

“Ben Boyce as well, he started the last day, he was unlucky not to start today, and it just shows you all the lads that are not starting they want to just come in and make an impact, and we've a great depth in the squad now, which is great.”

The forward credited the squad’s fitness levels and preparation for their extra-time advantage.

“Adam Brodigan, the blessing was that there was a hall up in the club, not really being used, and Adam and Chloe (Sawyer) turned it into a really successful gym.

“Chloe's got a massive membership with a load of the ladies up and all of us go up and we've been doing it since the start of the year, really we do an hour before training on a Thursday.

“It's really stuck to us. I thought that in extra time, you could see that the lads had more in the locker.

“Adam Lambe, there for instance just kept on driving, and he was marking arguably one of the best halfbacks in the county, it was an absolutely brilliant performance out of him.”

Even in the dying moments, there was tension as Glyde scored a goal late in extra time.

“I was just like, not again, Glyde, they just never give up, like, and I was keeping an eye on Ciarán Sheridan because you just know he's gonna be out around there looking for the two-pointer.

“So luckily there was only a minute left and they fight to the end are just relentless, they're wily as well, they know how to come back into a game.

“They believe in each other, they're a great team, so look, we are just lucky to win by the narrowest margins.”

After last week’s disappointment of conceding a late free that would let Glyde level the game, Plunketts regrouped superbly to finish the job.

“We were very disappointed after the game, and we had to do some serious soul searching. Mattie Rice came in and gave a talk with us on belief and everything like that. He's done great work.

“He's with the Jocks, and he came in and did a talk just about sticking to the process and kind of just hitting home the points that Darren's been hitting with us all year.

“We have to just do the simple things better this week, and luckily, we thought we did, although the shooting at times wasn't great. We just stuck to it, and eventually the scores started coming, which was great.”

The win, Keely said, is a massive lift for the club.

“We've had a disappointing few years. We were beaten in the quarter-final last year and the semi-final the previous year.

“We believe with the young lads we have coming through that we can keep going and compete in intermediate. We need to build on this for next year. We've a really young team, there aren't many lads in their late 20s, they're in their early 20s.

“Then there are a few of us sticking around that are well over 30. I just love it. I don't know what I'd do to replace it, but I'll keep going as long as I can.”