“McKeever Masterclass Inspires Clan na Gael to Stunning Comeback”

CTI Business Solutions Louth GAA Intermediate Football Championship – Group 3, Round 1

Clan Na Gael 2-14 Kilkerley Emmets 0-17

Venue: Protection and Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver

Clan na Gael staged one of the great Championship comebacks to overcome Kilkerley Emmets in a pulsating Group 3 opener. Nine points adrift at half time, the Dundalk side turned the game on its head with a blistering second-half display to seal a dramatic three-point victory. At the heart of it all was county star Conall McKeever, who delivered a sensational Man of the Match performance that inspired his team to glory.

First Half: Kilkerley in Complete Control

The opening half belonged entirely to Kilkerley Emmets. They struck early and often, with Fionn Cumiskey and Michael Begley landing superb two-pointers, while Tadhg McEneaney showed his class both from frees and play. Cormac Mallon was also lively, chipping in with two points as Kilkerley’s slick attacking play overwhelmed the Clans.

By contrast, Clan na Gael struggled to make any headway. Apart from a couple of early points from McKeever and efforts from Shay Coleman and Shane Carroll, they rarely threatened. At the interval, the scoreboard read Kilkerley Emmets 0-13 Clan na Gael 0-4, and the game looked over.

Second Half: McKeever Leads the Fightback

But the second half saw a complete transformation — sparked by Conall McKeever. Straight from the throw-in, he curled over a brilliant two-pointer to ignite belief. Moments later, Billy Smith finished a sweeping move to the net, and suddenly the Clans were alive.

From then on, McKeever took command. He covered every blade of grass, demanding possession, driving forward, and lifting the intensity around him. The defining moment came in the 44th minute: picking the ball up near halfway, McKeever powered through the Kilkerley Emmets defence, leaving men in his wake, before blasting an unstoppable shot into the top corner. It was a goal of the very highest quality — one that will be remembered for years by Clan na Gael supporters.

With McKeever orchestrating, others stepped up too. Liam O’Hanlon struck two superb scores which included an excellent two-pointer, Shay Coleman kept the scoreboard ticking, while captain Conor Noonan nailed a stunning two-pointer to push Clans in front. The bench also played its part, with Robbie Curran and Mark Newell making valuable contributions.

Kilkerley Emmets battled to the end, with McEneaney, Brady, and substitute Kieran Murtagh adding points, but they could not halt the wave of Clans momentum. By the final whistle, the turnaround was complete: from nine points down to three points up, Clan na Gael were worthy winners.

McKeever the Difference

While the Clans had heroes across the field, the night truly belonged to Conall McKeever. His tally of 1-4 only tells part of the story — his leadership, relentless running, and sheer willpower dragged his side back into a game that seemed lost. Time and again he drove through the Kilkerley Emmets defence, setting the tone for a second-half performance full of passion and belief. Without him, this remarkable comeback would not have been possible.

This victory puts Clan na Gael in an excellent position in Group 3, while Kilkerley Emmets will be left ruing their inability to kill the game when they were on top.

Scorers:

Clan na Gael: Conall McKeever 1-4 (1×2-pointer), Billy Smith 1-0, Liam O’Hanlon 0-3 (1×2-pointer), Shay Coleman 0-3, Conor Noonan 0-2 (1×2-pointer), Shane Carroll 0-1, Mark Newell 0-1.

Kilkerley Emmets: Tadhg McEneaney 0-5 (1f), Fionn Cumiskey 0-2 (1×2-pointer), Michael Begley 0-2 (1×2-pointer, 1f), Cormac Mallon 0-3, Ciaran Bellew 0-2 (1×2-pointer), Ewan McEnteggart 0-1, Fintan Brady 0-1, Kieran Murtagh 0-1.

Teams

Clan na Gael: Sean Smyth; Conor Smith, Craig Callan, Brian McDonnell; Gavin Gaffey, Craig Long, Conall McKeever; Gerard Curran, Conor Noonan (C); Michael McDonnell, Liam O’Hanlon, Jack Callan; Billy Smith, Shay Coleman, Shane Carroll.
Subs: Robbie Curran for M. McDonnell (38), Aodhan Kirk for C. Long (44), Mark Newell for B. Smith (54), Mark McGeown for G. Gaffey (54), Ellis O’Carroll for C. Noonan (62).

Kilkerley Emmets: Callum Mulholland; Fintan Brady, Cillian Mulligan, Cormac Bellew; Ciaran Bellew, Ronan Deery, Paddy Murtagh; Brian Brady, Cathal Bellew; Ewan McEnteggart, Darragh Conlon, Fionn Cumiskey; Tadhg McEneaney, Cormac Mallon, Michael Begley.
Subs: Darren Geoghegan for C. Bellew (44), Michael McGeown for P. Murtagh (44), Kieran Murtagh for B. Brady (52), Rian Hand for C. Bellew (52).

Referee: Colm McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s)

Man of the Match: ⭐ Conall McKeever (Clan na Gael) – A powerhouse performance that turned the game, capped with a wonder goal and leadership all over the field.