Louth GAA: Wolfe Tones edge out dogged Naomh Malachi in thriller
NAOMH MALACHI 3-8
WOLFE TONES 1-17
A thriller right to the end. Wolfe Tones reached their second successive Junior championship semi-final after edging out a dogged Naomh Malachi side by three points in Darver on Saturday night.
Styles make fights and this contrast between two sides at either end of the county made for entertainment.
Tones were the better side overall and deserved their win but that did not stop the Malachi’s doing what they have done so well this season and rage against adversity.
Such was Kevin Caraher’s side's will on proceedings, they were never out of the game. Any let up from the Drogheda men was stung with a goal at the other end.
It took a couple of late points from Tones substitutes Eoghan Brennan and Joe Comiskey to drag the Tones over the line but, even at that, the fear of a direct ball into the square was going to cause havoc.
Ronan McElroy on two occasions put his side right in contention when it looked to be slipping away from the Mals. Tones were slick and moving the ball well through the hands but McElroy slipped their first after Jack Kirwan got in behind.
That major still had the Malachi’s trailing by a point 0-6 to 1-2 but after all Jordan Duffy and Garrett Cooney’s early promise it was wiped out in an instance.
Padraig Moley also missed a gilt edged goal chance too, ironically after Chris McCaughey made a save from Duffy at the other end.
With Mark Meegan away, McCaughey deputised and that kick out dominance seen in the group stages wasn’t there on the night. Credit to Mark Healy and Patrick Fanning for disrupting the two Padraig’s in the middle.
Despite having to work harder than usual for possession, Mals led for the first time in the half before the interval. This time McElroy turned provider with his craft to set up Darren Clarke to bury.
Darren Moore had to bring in Cathal Bergin and he steadied the ship somewhat as Rory Taaffe levelled the game on the stroke of halftime to make it 0-10 to 2-4.
Garrett Cooney’s marvellous third quarter was interrupted by Collie Rooney’s fist. Against the run of play, Rooney connected with Tiernan Gonnelly’s long diagonal to put the Mals back in the game.
Back to Cooney, the Tones forty yards hit a goal and point in response. A clever lay off from Taaffe slipped in Cooney to fire home. With Drogheda men sensing the victory Darren Weldon hit a brace.
Mals once again looked to Rooney and he duly provided two scores but it wasn’t to be enough.
A few nervy moments aside, Tones were full value, defenders Taidgh Rock, Sean McQuail and Dwayne Leavy stuck to their style and played their side out of trouble.
They could cause trouble for their next opponents in the final four.
NAOMH MALACHI: Chris McCaughey; Seán McArdle, Kevin McShane, Stephen Burns; Seán Watters, Tiernan Gonnelly, Jamie Kelly; Paudie McLoughlin 0-1, Paudie Moley; Darren Clarke 1-0, Jason Clarke 0-2, Matty Campbell; Collie Rooney 1-4 (2f), Jack Kirwan 0-1, Ronan McElroy 1-0. SUBS: Andrew Begley for Campbell (39), Michael McLoughlin for McElroy (50)
WOLFE TONES: Johnny Lynch; Taidgh Rock, Alan Fanning, Adam Gartland; Liam Gaffney 0-1, Seán McQuail, Dwayne Leavy; Patrick Fanning 0-1, Mark Healy; Seán Flanagan, Garrett Cooney 1-4 (0-1f), Dean Haggins 0-1; Darren Weldon 0-2, Rory Taaffe 0-3 (2f), Jordan Duffy 0-3. SUBS: Cathal Bergin for Gartland (29), Joe Comiskey 0-1 for Duffy (39), Chris Cudden for Haggans (47), Eoghan Brennan 0-1 for Weldon (52)
REF: Paul Burke (Glen Emmets).