Naomh Mairtin snatch victory over Dreanots from the jaws of defeat

ANCHOR TOURS SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

DREADNOTS 3-09

NAOMH MAIRTIN 1-16

Naomh Mairtin dug deep once again this season to make a fifth Senior final appearance in six seasons after Dreadnots added another gut wrenching chapter to their heartbreaking plight.

Six points ahead with six minutes on the clock, the Clogher men’s Senior final dream was wasted away right in front of them. Two points ahead in a lengthy injury some hesitant play led them down a wrong path.

Mairtin's pounced turned their opponents over and bore down on goals to snatch an unlikely victory from the jaws of defeat.

In a game that was high drama from start to finish there was controversy. The one point winning gap will add further scrutiny on Darragh Dorian’s effort that was overturned by linesman Ultan McIlroy.

The Mairtin’s substitute late effort looked to have not come round enough and was initially waved wide but it was given and that waver thin margin cruelly decided the outcome.

This loss in particular could well sting the most for Dreadnots. A steely performance, well taken goals, the underdogs looked set for a famous victory until they didn’t. They might not get that opportunity again.

Sam Mulroy was reduced to a single shot from play all evening but still managed to force his will on the game when his side needed him the most. Dermot Campbell duelled masterfully with his county colleague all evening.

With Campbell edging the battle all evening, Mulroy’s unnerving place kicking once again shone. His top scoring tally all came from placed balls but his coolly taken penalty was the game’s final score and it secured their showpiece place after a one year hiatus. 

Wayne McKeever will wonder to the football gods what he did to deserve another devastating semi final loss. None was more memorable than Andy McDonnell’s smash and grab but this could top it because the final was seconds away after a consistent performance over the hour.

The game was close and edgy but Peter Kirwan ignited a four unanswered scoring burst that put their opponents on the back foot. The Monasterboice men had suffered with fluidity up front and that looked to continue when Clogher put that run together.

Scoring came that bit easier to the sea-siders despite Val Leddy’s first half brace. There were plenty of yellow cards dished out and a half time scuffle but Jay Hughes' goal really had Dreadnots in the driving seat.

Hughes cut in and seized the opening past Craig Lynch at the near post to make it 1-08 to 0-07 at the turn. The upset looked on the cards.

Declan McCoy’s side's passage to the final has been a turbulent one, striking four points to one upon the resumption showed McCoy’s impact on his charges but Dreadnots were not in the mood to be cast aside.

A stunning move down the right flank resulted in Darragh Shevlin flicking it past Lynch to add even more confidence to Clogher’s charge.

Ciarán Finnegan and Conor Faulkner’s pace and directness was a highlight and bound to be noted by new Louth manager Ger Brennan who was in attendance with all his newly formed backroom team.

Mulroy landed a pressure free in between Shevlin’s goal and Pepe Smith’s penalty. That relentless nerve was a sign of things to come as Dreadnots would soon buckle.

Mulroy's ability to go through on goals is remarkable, that wins the penalty and he calmly did the rest. 

NAOMH MÁIRTÍN: Craig Lynch; Thom Sullivan, Wayne Campbell,Conor Healy; Jack Murphy, Seán Healy, Shane Morgan; Evan Whelan, Dara McDonnell 0-1; Cian Sands, Sam Mulroy 1-8 (1-0pen 7f, 1m), Stephen Campbell; Conor Whelan, Val Leddy 1-1, Tom Gray 0-1. SUBS: Darragh Dorian 0-1 for S Campbell (42), Ben Callanan for Sands (48), Jack Lynch for Morgan (54).

DREADNOTS: Dylan Cassidy; Aaron Scullion, Pop Rath, Barry Faulkner; Darragh Shevlin 1-1, Dermot Campbell, Conor Clarke; Conor Faulkner; Anthony Williams;  Pepe Smith 1-2 (1-0pen, 1f), Ciaran Finnegan 0-1; Jay Hughes 1-1 (1f), James Califf 0-1 (1f) Peter Kirwan 0-3 (1m). SUBS: Owen Murphy for Clarke (54), Ciaran Cunningham for Shevlin (57).  

REF: Paul Kneel (Kilkerley Emmets)