“Gers’ Condemned to Intermediate As Joes’ Do Enough”

Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship

Relegation Playoff Final

From PPFS Darver

Geraldines 2-9

St Josephs 1-16

St Josephs maintained their Senior status after a four point win over Geraldines which relegated their neighbours to Intermediate for 2026.

In a cagey affair, it was St Josephs who held the upper-hand for the majority of the game as they always held the Gers’ at arms length.

Conal Smyth and Pearse Grimes Murphy were sharp up top as they scored 0-7 between themselves, with the latter playing an inside role. Alan Quigley hit their goal while Conor Neary and Killian Staunton impressed around the middle-third.

Geraldines to their credit never gave up but will feel the damage was done earlier in their campaign. This was certainly due to the fact of the calibre of opposition they faced in St Josephs, a side who finished 2nd in Division 1. This level did show throughout the game as the Haggardstown men were fighting valiantly to stay in touch.

Wayne McKeever and his charges will be relieved to get the relegation battle out of the way as their youthful cohort can now look forward to making a larger stamp on the senior championship in 2026.

Geraldines return to the grade which they last won in 2013. It has been a tough year for them as they narrowly avoided relegation in Division 1. They will need to bounce back strongly as Intermediate contains some serious teams.

Player of the Match:

Pearse Grimes Murphy (St Josephs): Grimes Murphy hit 0-3 and played very direct as we seen with the Louth U20’s this year. Caused danger all evening long and drew numerous fouls which resulted in the Gers’ been reduced to 14.

St Josephs Team:

Shane Barron; Rian Devlin, David Kieran, Ciaran Johnson; Ben McKeown, Cormac McKeown, Conor Neary (0-2); Conall McCaul, Killian Staunton (0-1); Oisin McGuinness (0-1), Ben Collier (0-2, 2f), Craig Doherty (0-1); Alan Quigley (1-1, 1f), Pearse Grimes Murphy (0-3), Conal Smyth (0-4).

Subs: Michael O’Brien for Rian Devlin (43 Mins), Jack Mulligan (0-1) for Ciaran Johnson (54 Mins).

Geraldines Team:

Cian O’Donoghue; John McCrohan, Jack Traynor, Jamie Callan; Ryan Trainor, Dan Corcoran (0-1), Gareth Neacy (0-2); Michael Rogers (1-1, 1’45’), Thomas McNamara; David O’Connell, Matt Corcoran, Ben Gartlan (0-2); Danny Nordone (1-1), Beanón Corrigan, Shane O’Hanlon (0-2, 1f).

Subs: Cian Farrell for Jack Traynor (44 Mins), Jack McGailey for Ryan Trainor (48 Mins), James Craven for David O’Connell (54 Mins), Niall Brennan for Ben Gartlan (62 Mins).

Referee: Paul Kneel (Kilkerley Emmets)

Photo credit: St Josephs GAA