O’Raghallaigh's easily brush aside O’Mahony's to reach decider

O'RAGHALLAIGH'S 2-8

SEAN O'MAHONY'S 0-7

O’Raghallaigh’s seized the many vital moments to reach their first intermediate championship semi final in 12 years against Sean O’Mahony’s on a glorious Sunday afternoon at the Ramparts.

Having overcome St. Kevin’s the week previous in the held up quarter final, that extra time drama took its toil under the sunshine as the Dundalk side failed to bring the required energy.

With that dip in intensity, Smiley Phillips' side prospered. Comfortable in possession at all times they were able to slink around the O’Mahony’s and force their will on proceedings to devastating effect.

With the wind and without, O’Raghallaigh’s were better equipped to work the ball and link the play while O’Mahony’s had to rely on Keith and Ben McLaughlin to make inroads.

With both trying manfully to do so they both could get to a certain juncture before lacking the support. Keith would have to go off with injury in a telling blow for the Point road men in the second half.

With the Dundalk side having to work that bit harder, O’Raghallaigh’s made it look easy at times. Ben Rogan has played himself back into form and Kyle McElroy put a difficult week behind him by leading by example up front.

Having buried his grandfather a couple of days previously McElroy was ice cool with his free’s and his goal would be the difference to the games dynamics.

Having made the angle difficult for himself, the Louth under 20 squeezed it up and past Eddie Maguire to leave the O’Mahony’s trailing 1-4 to 0-2 at the turn.

Despite John O’Brien back in the side, Stephen Kilcoyne could only muster a point in the opening half from a McLaughlin run. Eseosa Omoregbe’s marking job on the O’Mahony’s man was artful in the manner in which he defended.

Terry Kelly missed free’s before finally finding his range but Manager Liam Dullaghan was left to ponder a way back into the game for the second half. Conor Martin missed a couple of goal chances and the big midfielder would end up there in the finish.

Kelly’s accuracy continued upon the resumption as the O’Mahony’s mini revival was taking shape with three points in a row.

However McElroy and replacement Alan Doyle quickly equalled O’Mahony’s entire first half tally.

That was a blow to the Dundalk sides morale and they could not bridge that gap while the O’Raghallaigh’s were growing stronger as the game tightened. Ruairí Moore was alway on hand to give and take possession and Chris Smith the same.

The excellent Ewan Sweeney put the semi final to bed when he palmed home, a punched effort from substitute Danny Reilly. O’Raghallaigh’s will take on Roche in their first final since they last won the Seamus Flood Cup in 2011.

O'RAGHALLAIGH'S: Joe Flanagan; Eseosa Omoregbe, James Moonan, Stephen Murphy; Emmet King, Chris Smith, Eoin Moore; Ben Sweeney, Ruairi Moore; Ewan Sweeney 1-0, Scott Byrne, Cillian Curran; Danny Morgan 0-1, Kyle McElroy 1-4 (0-4f), Ben Rogan 0-1. SUBS: Alan Doyle 0-1 for B Sweeney (HT), Daniel Reilly 0-1 for Byrne (40), James Morgan for Moonan (54), James Smith for E Moore (60).

SEAN O'MAHONY'S: Eddie Maguire; Rob Galligan, Cris O’Neill, Barry O’Brien; Keith McLaughlin, Thomas Rice, Kyle Carroll 0-1; Conor Martin, Tiernan Cassidy; Conor Finnegan, Kian McEvoy, Ben McLaughlin; John O’Brien; Terry Kelly 0-5 (4f, 1sl), Stephen Kilcoyne 0-1. SUBS: Robert Clarke for K McLaughlin (36), Stephen Kettle for B O’Brien (50), Brian Gartland for J O’Brien (54).

REF: Damien Connor (St. Patrick's)