Louth GAA: Mattock leave it late to secure intermediate status
CTI Buisness Solutions Intermediate Relegation Playoffs
MATTOCK RANGERS: 0-14
O'CONNELL'S: 1-10
Mattock Rangers left it late to secure their intermediate status for 2024 by coming from behind on Saturday night in Darver to defeat the perennially dogged O’Connell’s.
Liam Flynn defied his birth cert to steer the Collon men over the line with four unanswered late scores. The most memorable one on the left hand side with his left foot gave his side the vital lead on full time showed his class, nerve and just how late Rangers left it.
O’Connell’s deserve huge credit, well used to these pressure situations and avoiding the drop the escape artists looked to pull off one more Houdini act at the first time of asking but will face Dundalk Young Irelands now in the relegation final.
Everything was pointing towards an upset. David Neasy had his charges well tuned in and Stuart Reynolds came back into the side in goals with the absence of regular this season John Brennan.
Out of the wilderness ‘Snitchie’ showed all his experience to deny Flynn an early goal chance and with that miss, Rangers grew nervously into the contest.
At the other end, Jackie Agnew and Bernard Osbourne were shooting and scoring on sight.
Mattock defended deep and conceded the kick out to the Castlebellingham men on every occasion and as a result, the tactic allowed the O’Connell’s luxury of building into the dogfight with that extra ease while chipping away at the Collon men’s confidence.
Despite this, Rangers showed why they were favourites by landing three points in row off scrapes and veteran Adrian Reid’s initiative. Reid was directing his teammates and Shane Hickey and Cathal Fleming responded with a quick brace before Aaron O’Brien nailed a sweetly struck ’45.
Indicating the closeness of the game, Evan Kearney went the other end and levelled at the break 0-6 a piece with a ’45 of his own to tee up the second half nicely.
The youngster was impressive on the night and revelled in the spacious surroundings.
Cailum Woods also showed spark this season for the winless Bellingham men this season. He pointed and from the wayward kick out Dean Stanfield had O’Connell’s on the verge.
Stanfield nonchalantly floated the ball over the stranded Smith with an instinctual ease that the only Grove men seem to possess. A four point lead and Rangers looked rudderless.Reid again took it upon himself to respond and settle his team's inner panic.
Oisin McKenna and O’Brien followed once more before Christy Grimes’ side looked to have pressed the self-destruct button once more.Mattock wingback Caolan Nulty received a straight red and the upset looked to be happening.
Agnew and Osbourne hit the target but that was either side of Flynn’s late heroics. A spirited finish but puzzling performance from Mattock overall in a season that will not be spoken about in Collon any time soon.
MATTOCK RANGERS: Stephen Smith; Shane Maguire, Cillian Hickey, Alan Caraher; Caolan Nulty, Ryan Lenaghan, Ronán Kilbane; Ben McKenna 0-1, Brendan Leacy; Shane Hickey 0-1, Aaron O’Brien 0-3 (1f, 1 45), Oisín McKenna 0-1; Adrian Reid 0-1, Cathal Fleming 0-1, Liam Flynn 0-6 (4f).
SUBS: Eoin McCloskey for Kilbane (28), Brian Corcoran for O McKenna (56).
O’CONNELL’S: Stuart Reynolds; Emmet Byrne, Sam Shearman, Jack McGeough; Conor Culligan 0-1, Stuart Osbourne, David Hoey; Ciarán O’Brien 0-1, Seán Cairns; Evan Kearney 0-1 (1’45), Jackie Agnew 0-3 (2f), Cailum Woods 0-1; Conor Byrne; Bernard Osbourne 0-3, Dean Stanfield 1-0.
SUBS: Nathan Carragher for Hoey (HT), Tadhg Kearney for E Kearney (60).
REF: Cathal O’Brien (Geraldines)