Deserved victory for Glen Emmets over Dundalk Young Irelands

CTI Buisness Solutions Intermediate Relegation Playoffs

Glen Emmets 3-5

Dundalk Young Irelands 1-7

Glen Emmets will dine at the Intermediate table for a third season running, following this deserved victory over the Dundalk Young Irelands, with two goals just before half time setting the Tullyallen men on their way.

When it came down to it, the Glen Emmets boasted so many players who came to the fore when it mattered most, not least county man Conor Grimes, who appeared willing to take on the Young Irelands by himself, in a barnstorming first half performance.

Each of Grimes’ four points all arrived in the first half, with his first two notches putting his side ahead in the early exchanges.

His second point saw his high, hanging effort with the left boot sail over the bar, as the Emmets settled.

In a game which saw them convert 8 scores from 23 shots over the hour, Young Irelands stuttered in attack, with the likes of Keith Boylan, and Andrew Mooney ripping the ball off several forwards from the Dundalk side.

Alongside Grimes and Darragh Russell, Andrew Mooney, Evan English and Cian Talbot also provided plenty of options for kickouts, with keeper Damien Grimes finding team mates with 17 out of 21 of his restarts.

While a 7th minute Jordan O’Donoghue free did get DYI off the mark, Conor Grimes continued to be a one-man scoring crusade, lashing over his third point after catching a Young Irelands’ kickout, having put the foot down on the accelerator, leaving a trail of DYI players in his wake.

The one player who did not quite falter in front of the posts from an Islanders’ perspective was Peter McStravick.

His close range free closed the gap, before Derek Maguire who was well marshalled by Boylan, collected a Ruari Kelly kick pass, to set up his brother Dean who levelled things up from the right flank, for 0-3 each after 19 minutes.

That little period also saw the Dundalk side fail to make the most of two possible goal opportunities.

Having fired wide from close range inside the first minute, Derek Maguire saw his handpass across the square flicked away by Glen Emmets’ defender Conor Kelly, in what was a crucial intervention.

Kelly’s defensive tackle was in keeping with his side’s defending, with blocks from the likes of Keith Boylan greeted similarly to the subsequent goals that the Tullyallen supporters would soon witness.

Moments after Dean Maguire had equalised from play for DYI, a Conor Grimes footpass was beautifully flicked on by Alex Carolan, into the path of the onrushing Cian Talbot who fed Eoghan Maguire.

Maguire’s shot nestled to the bottom corner to turn the tide in Ray Lambe’s side’s favour.

With Dundalk Young Ireland’s reeling, Glen Emmets made the most of it, when Kealan O’Neill set up the impressive Cian Talbot for goal number two barely a minute on from Maguire’s major, making it 2-3 to 0-3 inside 22 minutes.

Grimes and McStravick traded efforts to ensure the Glen Emmets maintained their 6 point lead at the break.

Second Half:

Desperate to establish a foothold in the game, Dundalk Young Irelands shaded the early stages of the second period on the possession stakes.

However, as that wind behind the goals opposite the clubhouse end of Darver grew stronger, the Islanders continued to add to their wide count.

They did grab the first two points after the restart, thanks to another well struck free from Peter McStravick, while Jordan O’Donoghue who touched the ball 22 times for his side, did close the gap to four points after 41 minutes.

O’Donoghue’s point came following a patient passing move, as the Glen Emmets seemed to content to drop men back and protect their lead. O’Donoghue was set up by Liam McStravick who continued to fight for his side’s cause, foraging for possession, and finishing with 21 possessions himself.

However, despite soaking up so much pressure, the Glen Emmets all but sealed their IFC status, as the Islanders failed to deal with a long range effort from Conor Grimes, which was picked up by the lively Eoghan Maguire, who snuck around the back to drive low to the net for his second green flag, giving his side a 7 point cushion heading into the final quarter.

Despite some more impressive shooting from Peter McStravick, Young Irelands looked a beaten team, while Eoghan Maguire’s movement inside continued to cause havoc.

He combined with the tireless Darragh Russell to set up Cian Talbot to wisely fist over the bar, which concluded his side’s scoring for the evening.

DYI sprung James Prendergast from the bench, and the burly forward made his presence felt, connecting to a strike from Cian O’Donoghue which landed in the large square, to give his side some hope, leaving it at 3-5 to 1-7.

However, the Glen Emmets saw the game out, despite that late scare, to ensure another year at Intermediate, having won the Junior Championship in 2021.

Dundalk Young Irelands will have to negotiate a relegation play off final against either Mattock Rangers or the O’Connells, to avoid playing for the Christy Bellew Cup for the first time since 2018.

Glen Emmets: Damien Grimes; Emmet Delaney, Keith Boylan, Andrew Mooney; Sam Kenny, Cathal Maguire, Conor Kelly; Conor Grimes (0-4), Darragh Russell; Cian Talbot (1-1), Kealan O’Neill, Evan English; Keefer Carolan, Alex Carolan, Eoghan Maguire (2-0).

Subs: James Breen for Keefer Carolan (HT), Tom Grimes for Alex Carolan (47).

Dundalk Young Irelands: Fergal Sheekey; Lee O’Donoghue, Ciarán Murray, Mark Gahan; Liam McStravick, Mickey Mone, Jamie Browne; Peter McStravick (0-4) (3f) (one ’45), Sean Murphy; Dermot Mone, Ruairi Kelly, Cian O’Donoghue; Dean Maguire (0-1), Derek Maguire, Jordan O’Donoghue (0-2) (1f).

Subs: Conn O’Donoghue for Gahan (HT), James Predergast (1-0) for Murphy (51), Jack McArdle for Derek Maguire (57), Cian O’Nairaigh for Liam McStravick (62).

Referee: Damien Connor (St Patricks).