Louth GAA club | Brides dismantle Clans to progress to IFC last eight

St Brides powered into the semi-finals of the Louth GAA Intermediate Football Championship after a convincing 14-point victory over Clan na Gael at Darver on Saturday night.

The Knockbridge men produced a dominant first-half display, hitting three goals before the break and never looking in danger after opening up an 11-point half-time lead.

Kieran McArdle was at the heart of the victory, scoring 2-3, while Ruairi Carpenter, Senan Hoey and Donal McArdle also found the net.

Having defeated the Geraldines in their opening game, Brides went into the contest as Group Three leaders, and they quickly took control at the Cullen Autoparts Louth GAA Training Centre.

Joint-captain Sean Marry opened the scoring after two minutes, turning and firing over. Clan na Gael had an early goal chance when Billy Smith tried to palm the ball into the net, before Liam O’Hanlon levelled from a close-range free.

Andrew Smyth fisted over to restore the Bride's lead and the Knockbridge men soon began to pull clear. McArdle landed a two-point free before Donal McArdle, and Hoey followed with points to make it go five points ahead.

Liam O’Hanlon replied with another free, but Brides then took a firm grip on the contest with three goals in the space of four minutes. Carpenter got the first in the 16th minute when he fisted the ball home from close range.

McArdle struck again a minute later after finding a way past Sean Smyth in the Clan na Gael goal. Smith replied with a point, but there was no stopping Brides at the other end as Hoey grabbed their third goal and the Knockbridge side moved 12 points clear.

Liam O’Hanlon converted another free before Louth player Conall McKeever added a point for the Dundalk men. O’Hanlon landed his fourth free of the half with five minutes left on the clock to leave Brides ahead by 3-6 to 0-6.

Marry then struck a fine point while off balance before adding another from a free in first-half stoppage time to send the Brides into the dressing room with an 11-point lead.

Half time: St. Brides 3-8 Clan na Gael 0-6

Clan na Gael faced a huge task after the restart, and Brides quickly made sure there would be no comeback. Donal McArdle added his second point of the night before Kieran McArdle converted a free to stretch the lead further.

Brides then struck for their fourth goal when Donal McArdle found the net, although Clan na Gael responded with back-to-back points from Jason Cullen and Smith.

Gavin Gaffey landed a two-pointer, but the Brides remained firmly in control, and McArdle put the result beyond any doubt in the 50th minute.

The Louth sharpshooter produced a lovely finish with the outside of his boot to find the net for his second goal of the night and Brides’ fifth.

Sean O’Hanlon replied with a point a minute later, but that proved to be the final score of the contest. Brides had several chances to add to their tally in the closing stages but sent a number of efforts wide with the result already beyond doubt.

The final whistle confirmed an emphatic victory and an unbeaten finish at the top of Group Three for the Knockbridge men.

Their ruthless spell in the opening half proved decisive, with three goals in four minutes leaving Clan na Gael with too much ground to make up.

Brides now move straight into the quarter-finals after an impressive group campaign, while Clan na Gael will face the Geraldines in their Round Three fixture in Cooley on Saturday, 12th September at 6pm.

Full time: St. Brides 5-10 Clan na Gael 0-11

St Brides scorers: Kieran McArdle 2-3 (1tpf, 0-1), Donal McArdle 1-2, Senan Hoey 1-1, Sean Marry 0-3 (1f), Ruairi Carpenter 1-0, Andrew Smyth 0-1.

Clan na Gael scorers: Liam O’Hanlon 0-4 (4f), Billy Smith 0-2, Gavin Gaffey 0-2 (tp), Conall McKeever 0-1, Jason Cullen 0-1, Sean O’Hanlon 0-1.

St. Brides: Aaron Devin; Steven Hoey, Cillian Kirk, Padraig Mackin; Ruairi Carpenter, Bernard Laverty, Ross Murnaghan; James Costelloe, Paddy Reilly; Donal McArdle, Neil Thornton, Morgan Tobin; Kieran McArdle, Sean Marry, Senan Hoey.

Subs: Padraic Mackin on for Steven Hoey (HT), Neil Thornton on for Ruairí Carpenter (43’), Nathan Kirk on for Senan Hoey (43’), Kevin Slowey on for James Costelloe (53’), Kevin Hearty on for Andrew Smyth (53’).

Clan na Gael: Sean Smyth; Lee O’Carroll, Gerard Curran, Kevin Carroll; Conall McKeever, Michael McDonnell, Jack Callan; Robbie Curran, Stephen Coleman; Gavin Gaffey, Jason Cullen, Liam O’Hanlon; Sean O’Hanlon, Billy Smith, Shane Carroll.

Subs: Tiarnan Weldon on for Kevin Caroll (40’), Craig Long on for Stephen Coleman (40’), Mark McKeown on for Jason Cullen (49’).

Referee: Craig Kirwan (Wolfe Tones)