“Kilkerley Secure Intermediate Safety with Strong Second-Half Display”

CTI Business Solutions Louth Intermediate Football Championship – Relegation Play-Off Semi-Final

Kilkerley Emmets 3-12 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-8

Venue: Protection and Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver

Kilkerley Emmets retained their Intermediate Championship status with a decisive 3-12 to 1-8 victory over Dundalk Young Irelands in Darver on Friday night. While the final margin was comfortable, the game itself was finely poised for long stretches, and it was only in the third quarter that Kilkerley’s superior power and finishing touch pulled them clear.

The Young Irelands started brightly, with Ruairi Kelly opening the scoring after just three minutes, followed quickly by a tidy effort from Jordan O’Donoghue. It took Kilkerley until the ninth minute to settle, when their talisman Tadhg McEneaney opened his account. Cian O’Donoghue added a third score for the Dundalk men to push them 0-3 to 0-1 ahead.

Gradually, Kilkerley began to find their range. Michael Begley struck from play before McEneaney punished a defensive infringement from a free. Ciarán Bellew then produced one of the scores of the night with a curling effort outside of his right boot, followed by Fionn Cumiskey clipping over on the left.

Despite Kilkerley’s pressure, the Young Irelands kept themselves right in the contest. A brilliant move after 24 minutes saw Michael O’Shea thread a superb pass into Jordan O’Donoghue, who buried the ball low into the net for the game’s opening goal. McEneaney responded with a free before Cormac Mallon nailed a 45 to edge Kilkerley ahead at the break, 0-8 to 1-3.

The second half, however, belonged to Kilkerley. Straight from the throw-in, Ewan McEnteggart capped a solo run with an excellent point before Darragh Conlon pounced on a loose ball and coolly finished Kilkerley’s first goal.

The Young Irelands briefly rallied through two frees from Cian O’Donoghue, but Kilkerley had now clicked into top gear. McEneaney added a fine point before Cumiskey restored the four-point cushion. Then came the defining spell: in the 45th minute, McEneaney surged through to finish Kilkerley’s second goal, and within 60 seconds Begley raised a third green flag to put the game firmly beyond reach.

Although Young Irelands battled gamely to the end with late points from Cian O’Nairaigh, Jack McArdle, and James Prendergast, the Emmets finished with authority. Cathal Bellew capped the night with a fine point in injury time, underlining their dominance.

At full-time, Kilkerley were safe, their second-half ruthlessness proving the difference. For the Young Irelands, it means a relegation final showdown where survival in Intermediate ranks is still at stake.

Player of the Match:
Without question, the award went to Tadhg McEneaney, whose tally of 1-5 and tireless work rate drove Kilkerley forward at key moments. Always showing for the ball, he linked play superbly and led from the front.

Teams and scorers

Kilkerley Emmets:
Callum Mulholland; Fintan Brady, Ciaran Bellew 0-1, Kieran Murtagh; Ronan Deery, Patrick Murtagh, Cathal Bellew 0-1; Ewan McEnteggart 0-1, Tadhg McEneaney 1-5, (1f, 1x2pf); Cormac Mallon 0-1 (45), Michael Begley 1-1, Brian Brady; Fionn Cumiskey 0-2, Darragh Conlon 1-0, Aaron Crawford.

Subs: Darren Geoghegan for Fionn Cumiskey (56), Ultan McEneaney for Brian Brady (56).

Dundalk Young Irelands:
Fearghal Sheekey; Conn O’Donoghue, Ciarán Murray, Lee O’Donoghue; Caolán McCabe, Sean Murphy, Joe Mee; Ruairi Kelly 0-1, Michael O’Shea; Liam McStravick, James Prendergast 0-1, Jack Watters; Jordan O’Donoghue 1-1 (1f), Cian O’Donoghue 0-3 (3f), Dermot Mone.

Subs: Dean Maguire for Jordan O’Donoghue (37), Cian O’Nairaigh 0-1 for Caolán McCabe (37), Evan McArdle for Liam McStravick (41), Mark Lee for Cian O’Donoghue (45), Jack McArdle 0-1 for Michael O’Shea (51).

Referee: Stephen Johnson (Glen Emmets).

What’s Next

Kilkerley can now turn their attention to planning for another year in the Intermediate Championship after safely negotiating the relegation play-offs. For Eamon Morgan’s Young Irelands, however, the pressure intensifies — they must regroup quickly as they head into a relegation final, where their Intermediate future will be decided.