Clinical Glyde Rangers Make Winning Start in Group 4

DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football Championship – Group 4, Round 1

Glyde Rangers 1-15 Naomh Malachi 1-10
Referee: Cathal Sweeney (Stabannon Parnells)

Glyde Rangers laid down an early marker in Group 4 of the DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football Championship as they overcame a spirited Naomh Malachi side by five points in a lively and competitive encounter. While the final scoreline reflects a fairly comfortable victory for the Tallanstown men, the contest was finely balanced until the crucial moment early in the second half when Cormac Lundon struck the game’s only outfield goal.

First Half – Nip and tuck

The match opened at a quick tempo, and Naomh Malachi immediately showed their intent when Padraig Moley raised the first white flag inside the opening minute. However, Glyde soon settled into their rhythm, with Cormac Lundon responding in the fifth minute. Andrew Begley nudged the Mals ahead again soon after, but it was at this point that Glyde’s more clinical edge began to show.

Brian Duffy, always a dangerous presence, kicked a fine point before producing one of the highlights of the half with a well-struck two-pointer from play in the 14th minute. That score swung the momentum, and although Darrin Kearney replied for Naomh Malachi with a well-taken point, Glyde kept the pressure on.

Killian Scott and Lundon added to their tally before Stephen Kelly briefly lifted the Mals with a point on the stroke of half-time. Yet Glyde’s accuracy gave them a slender cushion, and another score from Duffy in injury time left them leading 0-7 to 0-5 at the interval.

Second Half – The breakthrough

If the first half was tight, the opening exchanges of the second half proved decisive. Barely two minutes after the restart, Cormac Lundon found himself in space and buried a low shot past the Malachi goalkeeper. It was the game’s turning point. Within a minute, Sean Devaney added a point to stretch the lead to six, and suddenly the Rangers looked firmly in control.

Naomh Malachi attempted to rally. Stephen Kelly converted a free in the 40th minute, but Glyde’s dominance in possession was beginning to show. Their midfield pairing gave them a platform, and in attack, Tadhg Kellet came to the fore. The free taker struck four points in a row between the 46th and 52nd minutes, each effort more composed than the last, ensuring Glyde kept the scoreboard ticking and the Mals at arm’s length.

Mals battle to the finish

The Reaghstown side showed their trademark resilience. Captain Darrin Kearney kept his side in touch with two superbly struck two-pointer frees in the 50th and 56th minutes, cutting into Glyde’s lead and giving them a glimmer of hope.

Their persistence was rewarded late on when Darren Clarke stepped up to convert a penalty in the 63rd minute. That goal left just four points between the sides, but Glyde responded immediately. Fittingly, it was Lundon who had the final say, kicking a late point to cap off a personal tally of 1-3 and secure a deserved five-point win for the Tallanstown men.

Analysis

Glyde Rangers will take huge encouragement from this performance. They showed a nice balance of scorers across their forward line, with Lundon’s goal, Duffy’s creativity and Kellet’s accuracy from frees giving them multiple avenues of attack. Defensively, the McKeever brothers and Adam Sweeney worked tirelessly, while Devaney played a captain’s role at centre-back.

For Naomh Malachi, there will be disappointment at the missed opportunities in both halves but also pride in their refusal to yield. Kearney’s leadership and scoring, along with Clarke’s impact off the bench, kept them fighting until the end. They will feel that with more composure in front of goal, this result could have been tighter still.

Man of the Match

Cormac Lundon (Glyde Rangers): A lively presence throughout, Lundon’s 1-3 return included the decisive goal at a crucial stage. His constant movement and willingness to take responsibility made him the standout performer.

Scorers

Glyde Rangers: Cormac Lundon 1-3, Brian Duffy 0-5 (1 two-pointer), Tadhg Kellet 0-5f, Sean Devaney 0-1, Killian Scott 0-1.
Naomh Malachi: Darren Clarke 1-0 pen, Darrin Kearney 0-5 (2 two-pointers, 2f), Stephen Kelly 0-3 (1f), Padraig Moley 0-1, Andrew Begley 0-1.

Teams

Glyde Rangers: David Brennan; Darren McKeever, Mark McKeever, Shane Byrne; Jack McKeever, Sean Devaney, Adam Sweeney; Ciaran Sheridan, Killian Scott; Aaron Devlin, Leigh Byrne, Tadhg Kellet; Cormac Lundon, Brian Duffy, Liam Gallagher.
Subs: Aaron Myles for Leigh Byrne (41), Conor McCauley for Aaron Devlin (47), Gerard Bourtan for Shane Byrne (54), Oisin Reenan for Killian Scott (59).

Naomh Malachi: Darrin Kearney; Conor Begley, Daniel Mulligan, Stephen Burns; Sean McArdle, Andrew Begley, Donal Begley; Malachy Mackin, Matthew Campbell; Stephen Kelly, Darren Clarke, Conor Nicholson; Pierce Caherty, Padraig Moley, Padraig McLoughlin.
Subs: Sean McArdle for Malachy Mackin (41), Jason Clarke for Stephen Kelly (50), Michael McLoughlin for Matthew Campbell (56).

What’s Next?

Glyde Rangers move into their second group game with real momentum, knowing another win would put them in a commanding position for qualification to the knockout stages. Their blend of sharp forwards and a solid defensive spine makes them one of the teams to watch in this group.

For Naomh Malachi, the focus will be on regrouping quickly. Despite the defeat, there were positives in their performance, particularly the scoring form of Kearney and the energy introduced from the bench. If they can tighten up at the back and convert more of their chances, they will still fancy their chances of progression in what looks like a very open group.