Louth GAA club | St. Josephs power past Kilkerley to win the Paddy Sheelan Cup
St. Josephs 2-15 Kilkerley Emmets 0-11
St. Josephs produced a dominant display to secure the Louth GAA club Powerscreen New England Paddy Sheelan Cup with a ten-point victory over Kilkerley Emmets at Fr. McEvoy Park on Saturday night.
The Joes looked sharper from the first whistle and were more clinical in front of goal as they fully deserved their win.
The game started with St. Josephs on the front foot Alan McKenna settled any nerves with the opening point of the game in the sixth minute.
Moments later, they found the net after a well-worked move involving Oisin McGuinness to give the Joes an early cushion.
Ben Collier and David Kieran kept the scoreboard ticking over, while Jack Mulligan's stunning two-pointer in the 14th minute put the Dromiskin/Darver men firmly in control.
Kilkerley struggled to get going and only registered their first score through Brian Brady after 13 minutes. By halftime, the Joes had racked up an impressive lead, with Oisin McGuinness and Alan Quigley both adding two-pointers before the break.
Half time: St. Josephs 1-12 Kilkerley Emmets 0-2
Any hopes of a Kilkerley comeback were quickly dashed as Jack Mulligan netted his side's second goal within a minute of the restart, following another strong run by McGuinness.
Conal Smyth added to their lead, and though Kilkerley battled bravely, they struggled to break down a well-organised Joes defence.
Kilkerley found some rhythm late on, with Tadhg McEneaney and Micheal Begley converting frees, while Fintan Brady and Fionn Cummiskey added late scores.
However, the gap was too wide to close, and Craig Doherty’s late free ensured St. Josephs finished with a flourish.
St. Joseph’s were full value for their win as they controlled the game from start to finish and showed real class in attack. Kilkerley Emmets battled hard but were simply outplayed on the night.
St. Josephs: Adam Cassidy; Ciarán Johnston, Michael Staunton, Rian Delvin; Michael O’Brien, David Kieran (0-1), Rory McLaughlin; Killian Staunton, Oisin McGuinness (0-2, 1 tp); Jack Mulligan (1-2), Ben Collier (0-1), Craig Doherty (0-1, 1f); Alan Quigley (0-2, 1 tp, 1f), Alan McKenna (1-1), Conal Smyth (0-2).
Kilkerley Emmets: Ultan McEnaney; Luke Shevlin, Andrew Thornton, Ewan McEnteggart; Seán McElroy, Cathal Bellew, Callum Mulholland; Fintan Brady (0-2, 1tp), Conal Brady (0-1); Tadhg Fitzgerald, Cormac Mallon, Padraig Murtagh; Conal McEneaney, Tadhg McEneaney (0-1, 1f), Brian Brady (0-2).