Dundalk Gaels exit Leinster IFC after narrow defeat

Dundalk Gaels' AIB Leinster Club Intermediate Championship campaign came to an end as they were defeated by Naomh Mearnóg by the narrowest of margins at McGeough Park, Haggardstown on Saturday afternoon.

The Gaels led for much of the match but couldn't hold off a second-half comeback from the Dublin visitors who secured victory in the dying moments through a Gavin Nangle point.

The Ramparts men got off to a strong start as captain Dylan McKeown opened the scoring in the fourth minute from a free. David McComish added another well-taken point soon after and the Gaels settled into a confident rhythm.

Kevin McKernan's team kept Mearnóg scoreless for the first 25 minutes as they played with a disciplined defence and sharp focus going forward.

McKeown’s accuracy from frees was key as he converted twice more to keep the Gaels in front as Mearnóg struggled to find their footing early on and missed a few scoring opportunities.

However, they eventually broke through with a free from Shane Kavanagh in the 25th minute which was followed by a fine point from Fintan O’Connor.

Dundalk Gaels were hanging onto a slim 0-4 to 0-3 lead by halftime thanks partly to a crucial save by Aaron Culligan just before the break to deny Michael Gibbs a goal-scoring chance.

Half time: Dundalk Gaels 0-4 Naomh Mearnóg 0-3

The Gaels came out firing in the second half when McKeown quickly added another point for the Gaels to stretch their lead to 0-5. 

However, the Portmarnock side responded strongly with Karl Lynch-Bissett and Seán Hawkshaw finding the target to level the game at 0-5 apiece.

Substitute Gary Shevlin and Tom O’Connell briefly put Dundalk Gaels back in the lead in a late push but Mearnóg kept fighting.

Lynch-Bissett brought the sides level again before Gavin Nangle struck a point in injury time to put Mearnóg ahead for the first and final time to seal a 0-8 to 0-7 win.

It was a hard-fought and heartbreaking end for Dundalk Gaels who had controlled much of the match but couldn’t close it out in the face of Mearnóg’s persistent challenge.

The Louth Intermediate Football champions exit the Leinster campaign as Naomh Mearnóg marches on with a one-point victory.

Full Time: Dundalk Gaels 0-7 Naomh Mearnóg 0-8

Dundalk Gaels: Aaron Culligan; Padraic Tinnelly, James O’Connell, Shaun Duffy; David McComish (0-1), James Stewart, Oisin Murray; Seán McCann, Jordan Keating; Seán Murray, Liam O’Connor, Luke Murray; Thomas O’Connell (0-1, 1mark), Tony McDonnell, Dylan McKeown (0-4, 3f) (c).

Subs: Gary Shevlin (0-1) on for Liam O'Connor (33'), Jack Mullen on for David McComish (40’), James Lynch on for Tony McDonnell (59’).

Naomh Mearnóg: Mark O’Connor; Rory O’Loughlin, Gavin Nangle (0-1), Darren Byrne (c); Fintan O’Connor (0-1), Conor Archer, Tommy Cosgrove; Seán Hawkshaw (0-1), Cian Madden; Shane Kavanagh (0-3, 3f), Karl Lynch-Bissett (0-2, 1f), Oisin Taylor; Jamie Walsh, Michael Gibbs, Harry Collier.

Subs: Bobby Smith on for Harry Collier (47’), Bernard Deay on for Shane Kavanagh (53’).

Referee: Enda Kenny (Westmeath).