Louth GAA club | Blues bow out of Leinster SFC with narrow defeat

Newtown Blues were knocked out of the Leinster GAA Senior Club Football Championship at the first hurdle after a late free from substitute Seán Forde gave Kilanerin-Ballyfad a one-point win at Chadwicks Wexford Park on Sunday afternoon.

The Drogheda side had fought back from three points down at half-time and looked to have earned a draw when captain Ciarán Downey levelled the game at the end of normal time.

However, Forde kicked the winning point two minutes later to send the Wexford champions through.

The Joe Ward Cup winners came into the game after their dramatic Louth GAA senior final replay victory over St Mochta's and made a good start on a sunny afternoon in Wexford.

Padraig Jones opened the scoring for the home side in the second minute before Conor Branigan replied for the Blues.

Ross Nally then gave the visitors a great start when he scored a goal as the forward found himself in space and drove a low shot into the corner of the net.

Dean O'Toole replied with a free for Kilanerin-Ballyfad, but Conor Mac Criosta kicked a point to keep Johnny Clerkin's side ahead.

O'Toole added another point before Niall Hughes landed a fine two-pointer in the 10th minute. His effort struck the crossbar on its way over to bring the sides level.

The home side then began to get on top, and O'Toole put them ahead with a free before Emmett Carolan replied for the Blues after good work from Andy McDonnell.

Hughes and O'Toole added further points for Kilanerin-Ballyfad, although Branigan kept the Blues in touch with a good score at the other end.

O'Toole converted another free with little over ten minutes left of the first half before Hughes kicked his second two-pointer of the afternoon to open up a four-point lead.

Kilanerin-Ballyfad had a great chance to increase that advantage when Hughes won a penalty, which he took the kick himself, but Blues goalkeeper Ronan Brown got down well to his left to make an important save.

Downey converted a free shortly before the break to leave three points between the teams at the half time interval.

Half-time: Kilanerin-Ballyfad 0-11 Newtown Blues 1-5.

Tom Mordaunt got the first point of the second half for the home side, but MacCriosta replied for the Blues. Cian Hughes then scored for Kilanerin-Ballyfad before Branigan kicked an excellent two-pointer to bring the visitors back within two points.

O'Toole responded with a free, but Downey landed a two-pointer to reduce the gap to just one before another O'Toole free kept the home side ahead.

They had a great chance when a misplaced pass from Niall Hughes went straight to Downey who broke through on goal, but his shot came back off the post.

Cian Hughes kicked another point for the Wexford side three minutes later before Alan Connor replied for the Blues. Jamie Kelly then converted a left-footed free with three minutes left on the clock to leave just one point between the teams.

Mac Criosta had a chance to level the game a minute later but sent his effort wide before captain Downey eventually brought the sides level. A draw looked possible at that stage, but Kilanerin-Ballyfad were awarded a free in added time.

Substitute Forde stepped up and sent a fine left-footed effort over the bar in the 62nd minute to put the home side back in front. There was no time for the Blues to respond, and the final whistle brought an end to their Leinster campaign.

It was a frustrating defeat for the Louth champions who had recovered well in the second half but were unable to get over the line.

Full-time: Kilanerin-Ballyfad 0-17 Newtown Blues 1-13.

Kilanerin-Ballyfad scorers: Dean O'Toole (0-7, 4f), Niall Hughes (0-5, 2tp), Cian Hughes (0-2), Padraig Jones (0-1), Tom Mordaunt (0-1), Seán Forde (0-1,1f).

Newtown Blues scorers: Ciarán Downey (0-4 1tp, 1f), Conor Branigan (0-4, 1tp), Conor MacCriosta (0-2), Ross Nally (1-0), Emmett Carolan (0-1), Alan Connor (0-1), Jamie Kelly (0-1, 1f).

Kilanerin-Ballyfad: Conor Hughes; Andrew Smyth, Conor Jones, Kian Steadmond; Paraic Hughes, Eoin Hughes, Padraig Jones; Tom Mordaunt, Mikey Hughes; Niall Hughes, Michéal McGonigle, Conor Devitt; Cian Hughes, Conor Kinsella, Dean O'Toole.

Subs: Seán Hughes on for Tom Mordaunt (41’), Vincent Higgins on for Michéal McGonigle (44’), Seán Forde on for Mikey Hughes (54’).

Newtown Blues: Ronan Brown; Alan Connor, Ciarán Cluskey-Kelly, Ian Connor; Liam Branigan, Daire Nally, Jamie Kelly; Emmett Carolan, Andy McDonnell; Conor MacCriosta, Ciarán Downey (c), Conor Branigan; Conor Moore, Ross Nally, Ewan Hoban.

Subs: Colm Judge on for Conor Moore (39’), Ryan Kelly on for Ewan Hoban (46’).

Referee: James Foley (Carlow)