St Mochtas Edge Titanic Battle With Dundalk Gaels To Reach Semi-Final

Anchor Tours SFC Quarter-Final

At Cullen Autoparts Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver

Dundalk Gaels 0-23 St Mochtas 1-22

This is quickly turning into a remarkable Joe Ward campaign for St Mochtas who, for the second game running, have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a memorable Monday night contest at Culen Autoparts Darver.

Trailing by six points with just 12 minutes remaining after a stunning Tony McDonnell two-pointer for Dundalk Gaels, Mochtas suddenly burst into life to seal an 8-point turnaround in scoring terms by full-time.

In all, St Mochtas outscored Dundalk Gaels by 1-8 to 0-3 in that closing period with Shane Lennon scoring the 53rd minute goal, the crucial turning point in the game.

Dundalk Gaels made the brighter start when Jack Mullen opened with a superb two-pointer within the first minute. Declan Byrne immediately replied with a two-point free for St Mochtas, but the Gaels quickly settled into their rhythm.

Luke Murray and Michael Quinlivan added points before Thomas O’Connell struck a two-pointer from a free, to put Dundalk Gaels 0-6 to 0-3 ahead after nine minutes.

St Mochtas responded through Ciaran Byrne, Declan Byrne and Dylan Farrell, but O’Connell restored the Gaels’ advantage before Declan Byrne and Gerry Garland brought St Mochtas level at 0-9 apiece.

Michael Quinlivan on the attack for Dundalk Gaels

Ciaran Byrne then enjoyed a hugely productive spell, scoring a point before landing a monster two-pointer, as St Mochtas moved into a 0-12 to 0-9 lead. Michael Quinlivan responded with a stunning outside the boot two-pointer just before the break to leave only a point between the sides.

Half Time – Dundalk Gaels 0-11 St Mochtas 0-12

Dundalk Gaels regained the initiative immediately after the restart, with Thomas O’Connell converting a two-point free before Quinlivan added two further points. One of which was an indivudal score displaying his class.

Dylan McKeown then extended the lead, followed by Chris Sweeney and another McKeown score, leaving Sean McCann’s side 0-18 to 0-13 ahead with just over 15 minutes remaining.

St Mochtas, however, refused to go away.

Gerry Garland reduced the deficit before Tony McDonnell restored some breathing room with a two-pointer for the Gaels, a contender for score of the game.

That proved to be their last score for a prolonged period as Kevin McClorey’s men mounted a remarkable comeback with 12 minutes left on the clock. Gerry Garland struck a two-pointer before Shane Lennon and Ben Goss Kieran added further points.

Chris Sweeney (Dundalk Gaels) goes by Sean Flynn (St Mochtas)

Sean Flynn brought the gap down to just one before Lennon delivered the game’s decisive moment in the 54th minute, finding the net to put St Mochtas ahead for the first time since the opening exchanges.

Danny Kindlon added another point before Dundalk Gaels finally responded through substitute Liam O’Connor with just over a minute of normal time remaining.

Ciaran Byrne restored St Mochtas two-point advantage, but McKeown then produced a superb two-pointer in injury time bring the Gaels back to within one, 0-23 to 1-21.

However, St Mochtas swarmed the kickout and got hands on breaking ball. Danny Kindlon was sent off on his travels and he intelligently hand-passed the ball over the bar to seal a St Mochtas win.

Full Time – Dundalk Gaels 0-23 St Mochtas 1-22

Man of the Match – Shane Lennon (St Mochtas)

A second man of the match display in a row for Shane Lennon who hit 1-3 and proved to be the decisive player for St Mochtas.

Dundalk Gaels team: Aaron Culligan; Padraic Tinnelly, James McConnell, Kyle Rafferty; Luke Murray (0-1), Sean Murray, Alan Jumbo; Michael Quinlivan (0-5, 1tp), James Stewart; Jordan Keating, Tony McDonnell (0-2, 1tp), Jack Mullen (0-2, 1tp); Chris Sweeney (0-1), Thomas O’Connell (0-6, 2tpf), Dylan McKeown (0-5, 1tp).

Subs: Cain Bromley for Jordan Keating half-time, Conor McDonnell for Alan Jumbo 46 mins, Gerard McSorley for Jack Mullen 51 mins, Liam O’Connor (0-1) for Chris Sweeney 54 mins, Gary Shevlin for Kyle Rafferty 59 mins.

St Mochtas team: Daire O’Shea; Andrew Lennon, Connell Kierans, Conor Garland; Ben Goss Kieran (0-1), Oisin Callan, Gerry Garland (0-4, 1tp); Sean Flynn (0-1), Darren McMahon; Jamie Farrell, Declan Byrne (0-4, 1tpf, 2f), Dylan Farrell (0-1); Danny Kindlon (0-2), Ciaran Byrne (0-6, 2tp), Shane Lennon (1-3, 1’45’).

Subs: Sean Marron for Jamie Farrell 43 mins, Philip Englishby for Dylan Farrell 52 mins.

Referee – Damien Connor (St Patricks)

Photos – Ciaran Culligan

Tony McDonnell (Dundalk Gaels) evades the challenge of Jamie Farrell (St Mochtas)