Louth GAA club | Geraldines leave it late to book place in IFC quarter-final

Geraldines booked their place in the Louth GAA Seamus Flood Cup quarter-finals after Jim McEneaney held his nerve to land a series late frees in their two-point victory over Clan na Gael at Fr McEvoy Park in Cooley on Saturday evening.

With both sides having lost to St Brides earlier in Group Three, this was effectively a winner-takes-all contest, and it remained in the balance until the closing stages.

The Clans led by two points at half-time and were a point ahead with three minutes of normal time remaining, but Geraldines finished strongly despite playing the closing stages with 14 men.

McEneaney levelled the game on the hour before converting another free in added time to put the Gers ahead before adding a further point two minutes later to seal the win.

Heavy showers before throw-in had left the surface slippery, but the rain cleared for what developed into a closely fought encounter.

Liam O’Hanlon opened the scoring inside the first minute with a fine left-footed point before Robbie Curran converted a 45 to double the Dundalk side’s advantage.

The Gers thought they had an early goal, only for the effort to be ruled out for a square ball before Darragh Burke eventually opened their account, but Gavin Gaffey restored the Clans’ two-point advantage.

O’Hanlon then landed a superb two-pointer before Beanon Corrigan replied with a two-pointer of his own.

Michael Rogers levelled matters with a two-point free with a quarter of an hour gone, and Thomas McNamara put the Gers ahead for the first time five minutes later.

O’Hanlon responded from a free before Cian Spaight and Billy Smith traded scores. Sean O’Hanlon edged the Clans back in front before Liam O’Hanlon's free sent them into the break leading by a couple of points.

Half time: Geraldines 0-7 Clan na Gael 0-9

Smith extended the advantage immediately after the restart, but the game was turned on its head during an excellent spell from Geraldines.

The impressive Spaight landed his second point before McEneaney converted a free, and Spaight then struck for the game’s only goal five minutes into the second half to put the Haggardstown men two points ahead.

The sides continued to trade scores, with Liam O’Hanlon and McEneaney exchanging frees before another O’Hanlon placed ball reduced the gap. Sean O’Hanlon levelled matters, but Spaight responded almost immediately with another excellent score.

The Gers suffered a setback when they were reduced to 14 men following a second yellow card, and O’Hanlon converted the resulting free to bring the sides level once more.

McEneaney edged Geraldines ahead with six minutes left before Jason Cullen equalised two minutes later. Smith then produced a superb long-range point to put the Clans in front by one point and leave them within touching distance of the quarter-finals.

Geraldines, however, refused to buckle as McEneaney converted a close-range free on the hour to level the game before another placed ball two minutes later put his side ahead.

The experienced forward was presented with another opportunity deep in injury time and made no mistake, completing a run of three unanswered frees to secure the victory.

The result sends Geraldines through to the Seamus Flood Cup quarter-finals, while Clan na Gael will now face a relegation play-off.

Full-time: Geraldines 1-15 Clan na Gael 0-16

Geraldines scorers: Jim McEneaney 0-6 (5f), Cian Spaight 1-3, Beanon Corrigan 0-2 (1tp), Michael Rogers 0-2 (1tpf), Darragh Burke 0-1, Thomas McNamara 0-1.

Geraldines: Cian O’Donoghue; Tiarnan Hand, Darragh O’Gradaigh, Jack Traynor; Jamie Callan, Gareth Neacy, Thomas McNamara; Beanon Corrigan, Brian Cafferty (c); Cian Spaight, Michael Rogers, Darragh Burke; Jim McEneaney, Daniel Nordon, David O’Connell.

Subs: Josh Arrowsmith on for David O’Connell (28'); Niall Brennan on for Daniel Nordon (44'); Noah Luaki on for Michael Rogers (53'); James Craven on for Thomas McNamara (53').

Clan na Gael scorers: Liam O’Hanlon 0-8 (1tp, 5f), Billy Smith 0-3, Sean O’Hanlon 0-2, Robbie Curran 0-1 (45), Gavin Gaffey 0-1, Jason Cullen 0-1.

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

Sub: Mark McKeown on for Gavin Gaffey (57').

Referee: Damien Connor (St Patrick’s).