Louth GAA club | Geraldines produce best performance to book place in IFC semi-final

The Geraldines produced their best performance of their championship campaign as they booked their place in the semi-finals of the Louth Intermediate Championship with this deserved victory over Kilkerley Emmets in Darver on Saturday night last.

The Gers were full value for this victory, with their slick movement of possession too much for Kilkerley on the night, and with performances like this, Ronan Sexton’s side could have a major say in the destiny of the Seamus Flood Cup for 2026.

From the moment that Daniel Nordon sidestepped his marker before planting the ball to the Kilkerley net in the 5th minute following a slick move involving a wonderful Josh Arrowsmith pass to pick out the marauding Gareth Neacy.

The result was never in doubt as the Gers led from there until the finish, amassing and impressive 1-24 from 30 shots over the hour, including some wonderful two point shooting from players like Brian Cafferty, and Beanon Corrigan, who excelled at midfield, supporting Gareth Neacy’s hard running from half back.

The second half saw the Gers win 9 out of 14 on Kilkerley’s kickout, emphasising their dominance, with Corrigan, Cafferty, Neacy, and Darragh Burke all impressing here, along with James Carven and Jamie Callan at half back.

What had preceded Nordon’s 5th minute goal, was a close range free from Kilkerley’s Tadgh McEneaney, the one and only time that Emmets led in the contest.

Emmets did come close to adding to that lead when Geraldines’ keeper Cian O’Donoghue produced a wonderful save to deny Ewan McEnteggert from close range following a Conor Quigley pass across the square.

By the end of the first quarter, the Gers established firm daylight between the sides, when Brian Cafferty and Jim McEneaney (f) gave them five point lead, before McEneaney from play following decent work from Jamie Callan and a wonderful Beanon Corrigan two pointer left them with a 1-5 to 0-1 lead at that stage.

The Gers hard running with the ball was causing no end of problems for Kilkerley, with Emmets defender Fintan Brady doing exceptionally well to clear a Brian Cafferty strike off his goal line in the midst of all this.

Darragh Burke added to the Gers’ lead from play. Kilkerley were in trouble at this stage, but Donal McElroy’s side were soon handed a lifeline.

After landing their first score in 14 minutes, Kilkerley’s Conor Quigley slotted low to the net after Michael Begley collected a short Gers’ kickout to close the gap to four after 18 minutes.

A minute later, Tadgh McEneaney who was kept under a tight leash by Geraldines’ Tiernan Hand, converted another free to leave three between the sides.

The Geraldines finished with 1-6 from their own kickout, and one such kickout saw Thomas MacNamara and Josh Arrowsmith combine to tee up Brian Cafferty for a two pointer to leave the Haggardstown side, 1-8 to 1-3 ahead after 20 minutes.

Frees from Tadgh McEneaney and Conor Quigley once again closed that deficit to three. The Gers’ Beanon Corrigan traded white flags with Kilkerley’s Fionn Cumiskey in a build up involving Ewan McEneteggart and Shaun McElroy.

A Jim McEneaney free following a foul on Brian Cafferty saw the Geraldines retire for the half time break with a four point lead, the least that they deserved in truth.

Second Half:

Akin to the first half, Kilkerley’s Tadgh McEneaney got the opening score of the second half with a close range free.

Gareth Neacy’s relentless forward running was rewarded with a point from play for the Gers, before a neat Ciaran Bellew kick pass found Tadgh McEneaney in behind, before the forward turned back inside to kick his first point from play.

Back to back Brian Cafferty scores (including 1f), and a Jim McEneaney point from play after being set up by the excellent James Craven, saw the Gers stretch their lead by six after 40 minutes, as the Gers continued to keep the ball effectively and move it with purpose.

Tadgh McEneaney (f) and Danny Nordon traded points as the Gers kept Kilkerley at arm’s length by the end of that third quarter.

Kilkerley keeper Callum Mullholland came to his side’s rescue when he denied Gareth Neacy from close range, while Tadgh McEneaney and Cian Spaight traded white flags heading into that final quarter.

The Gers kicked on to land four points without reply, through Neacy, Jim McEneaney, Darragh Burke and another from Cian Spaight who came alive in the second half, with the Gers continuing to be almost flawless in front of the posts.

Kilkerley went for broke, springing Luke Shevlin and Cathal Bellew from the bench, and a long ball from Kieran Murtagh was flicked to the net by Bellew to close the gap to seven at 1-20 to 2-10 with four minutes remaining.

The Geraldines shook that off and finished strongly, with Cian Spaight, Beanon Corrigan, Danny Nordon and a free from sub Michael Rogers capping off an impressive, statement victory for the Geraldines, who made a strong case for making a quickfire return to the senior ranks with this victory in Darver.

Geraldines Scorers: Daniel Nordon (1-2), Brian Cafferty (0-5) (1 tp), Jim McEneaney (0-5) (3f), Beanon Corrigan (0-4) (1 tp), Cian Spaight (0-3), Darragh Burke & Gareth Neacy (0-2 each), Michael Rogers (0-1) (1f).

Kilkerley Emmets Scorers: Tadgh McEneaney (0-7) (5f), Conor Quigley (1-2), Cathal Bellew (1-0), Fionn Cumiskey (0-1).

Geraldines: Cian O’Donoghue; Tiernan Hand, Darragh O’Gradaigh, Jack Traynor; Jamie Callan, Gareth Neacy, James Craven; Beanon Corrigan, Brian Cafferty; Thomas MacNamara, Cian Spaight, Darragh Burke; Josh Arrowsmith, Jim McEneaney, Daniel Nordon.

Subs: Finn Madine for Traynor (46), David O’Connell for Arrowsmith (52), Michael Rogers for McEneaney (55), Niall Brennan for Neacy (59).

Kilkerley Emmets: Callum Mullholland; Cormac Bellew, Patrick Murtagh, Cillian Mulligan; Ewan McEnteggart, Kieran Murtagh, Shaun McElroy; Ronan Deery, Ciaran Bellew; Conal Brady, Cormac Mallon, Michael Begley; Tadgh McEneaney, Conor Quigley, Fionn Cumiskey.

Subs: Luke Shevlin for Conal Brady (41), Daniel McKeown for Ciaran Bellew (41), Cathal Bellew for Quigley (47), Conall Quinn for McEnteggert (48).

Referee: Bryan Smith (O’Raghallaghs).