Mitchels edge past Lannleire to book place in JFC final

Mikey Nulty was the hero as the John Mitchels booked their place in the Louth Junior Championship final for the first time since 2021 following a dramatic late comeback against Lannleire in a heart-stopping final 10 minutes in which the Dunleer side led by three points.

Bob Murphy’s penalty and a Colin Murphy free gave Lannleire a three point lead with 10 minutes remaining, and you started to feel that the Dunleer side were set to kick on and book their place in the Junior decider. But in another incredible twist, a delightful kick pass from John Gallagher found Mikey Nulty in space.

With goalkeeper Paul Doyle coming out to meet him, Nulty clever flicked the ball over him and into the net soccer style, to regain the lead for the Mitchels, who had looked like their race was ran.

Nulty’s goal had preceded two crucial scores from John Bingham and John Gallagher, as the Mitchels held on to dramatically seal their place in a Junior decider, akin to their exploits in that unforgettable JFC semi final with Na Piarsagh in 2021.

It was the Mitchels who impressed in that first half, with Jimmy Murray’s side set up as a defensive unit, making life difficult for Lannleire, who lacked urgency, passing the ball sideways, and lacking penetration for long spells. The Ballybaile side led by 0-4 to 0-2 by the end of the first quarter.

Trevor Matthews opened the scoring from play following a great run and assist from Andrew Bingham who impressed alongside John Bingham in the middle sector for the Mitchels.

An Alex Carroll mark for Lannleire was quickly cancelled out by a John Gallagher free, before the same player calmly slotted over from play, having been found by a neat Trevor Matthews footpass, who had fetched a Lannleire kickout.

The Mitchels who sat back with players behind the ball, with Anthony Coyle as sweeper, grabbed points on the break, with James Sands and John Gallagher combining for Andrew Bingham to swing over a strike from range, for 0-4 to 0-1.

Lannleire struggled in attack managing just 0-4 from 18 shots from open play over the hour, with their first arriving via a wonderful strike from scorer-in-chief Darragh Malone to close the gap to two points.

A Pierce Hawkins mark closed the gap again, but Lannleire were guilty of conceding costly frees in the scoring zone, with one each from John Gallagher and Trevor Matthews stretching the Mitchels’ lead to five approaching the 24^th minute.

The Dunleer side were also dealt an early blow when midfielder Kyle Van Rhijn had to be withdrawn after 8 minutes due to injury.

One on of the few occasions in the first half where they moved the ball decisively, Lannleire opened up the Mitchels, when a quick free from Briain McGuinness found Darragh Malone in space heading towards goal.

Malone’s pass across found Killian Gregory, whose shot was denied by Mitchels’ keeper Micky Quinn who produced a crucial save. A Darragh Malone free did give Lannleire hope heading into half time, leaving just two between the sides at the break.

Second Half:

The second half saw the tide begin to turn, with Lannleire slowly but surely imposing themselves on proceedings.

Colin Lambe’s side pushed up on their opponents, winning 5 out of 10 Mitchels’ kickouts after the restart, with Pierce Hawkins seeing more of the ball, supported by Caoimhin Maher winning breaks, and the aggressive tenacity of Jason Torris in the half back line, alongside Briain McGuinness, who finished with 32 possessions over the hour.

But it took until 13 minutes into the second half for Lannliere to trouble the scoreboard through Ian Mulroy following a clever dummy solo to get away from his marker, for Lannleire’s only score from 10 second half shots in open play.

Prior to that, a marvellous footpass from Tristan Knowles found Trevor Matthews to point for the Mitchels on the counter attack, who scored 1-5 from 8 shots in open play themselves over the hour.

Lannleire sent on subs Colin Murphy and Paul McGeough in an attempt to rescue this game, with McGeough’s introduction moving sweeper Bob Murphy into the inside line.

This move worked a treat, as referee Cathal O’Brien awarded a penalty for a foul on Bob Murphy, who converted from 12 yards to give the Dunleer side the lead for the first time in the game at 1-6 to 0-7.

Cue the drama, as a Colin Murphy free put Lannleire three ahead with 6 minutes remaining, and you felt Lannleire would push for a second Junior final appearance in 5 years. They say this is when you find out about a side’s character or like that song says “this is how legends are made”.

The Mitchels’ key characters stepped up, with Mikey Nulty and Andrew Bingham running the ball out of defence through the hands to set up John Bingham who kicked over from play to leave two between the sides.

A John Gallagher free narrowed the gap to a point, and the game was on a knife edge. A fine turnover from Mitchell Keenan, saw an Aaron Keely free find John Gallagher on the Lannleire 45 metre line.

Gallagher instinctively swivelled and kicked the ball over the Lannleire press, for Mikey Nulty to run onto, and the centre half got there before keeper Paul Doyle to deftly dink the ball over him and into the net for another twist to an absorbing last 10 minutes.

The Mitchels were 1-9 to 1-7 ahead, before a late Darragh Malone free narrowed the gap to a point again.

Once again, the character of the John Mitchels withstood the Dunleer storm as a Mikey Nulty turnover led to Trevor Matthews (f) sealing victory and their place in the Junior Championship final on dramatic night in Darver.

John Mitchels: Micky Quinn; Barry Kirk, Mitchell Keenan, Aaron Kane; Jake Gillespie, Mikey Nulty (1-0), Jamie Durnin; John Bingham (0-1), Andrew Bingham (0-1); James Sands, John Gallagher (0-4) (3f), Tristan Knowles; Trevor Matthews (0-4) (2f), Aaron Keely, Anthony Coyle.

Subs: Robbie Coyle for Keely (38 mins).

Lannleire: Paul Doyle; Lawrence McEntee, Darragh Goodman, Alex Carroll (0-1) (1 mark); Briain McGuinness, Jason Torris, Caoimhin Maher; Kyle Van Rijn, Pierce Hawkins (0-1) (1 mark); Cathal McEvoy, Killian Gregory, Darragh Malone (0-4) (3f); Niall Lennon, Ian Mulroy (0-1), Bob Murphy (1-0) (1 pen).

Subs: Mark Gorgan for Van Rijn (8 mins), Colin Murphy 0-1 (1f) for Lennon (38 mins), Paul McGeough for McEvoy (49 mins).

Referee: Cathal O’Brien (Geraldines).