“Naomh Mairtin March Into 7th Final in 8 Years After Dominant Win Over Dundalk Gaels”
Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Semi Final
From PPFS Darver
Naomh Mairtin 0-16
Dundalk Gaels 0-7
Naomh Mairtin did what Naomh Mairtin do, professionally control games and into yet another County final.
It’s their seventh Final date in eight years, where they were successful in 2020 and 2021. They are unquestionably the most consistent Louth Senior club of the past decade, and the gulf in class between themselves and Dundalk Gaels in this semi-final was quite telling.
The Gaels had no real strong spells in the game, the direct ball in to the edge of the square strategy they adopted causing the Jocks’ very little trouble as Dylan McKeown, Tony McDonnell and Tom O’Connell’ influence was largely nullified to possession further out than the danger zone.
There was six in it at the break but in the third quarter the Monasterboice really went to work, outscoring the 2024 Intermediate champions 0-4 to 0-0 and creating numerous more chances. Though, it was their complete control of this period that completely killed any Gaels’ hope of a strong second half showing.
From here it was a procession and Dundalk Gaels, in their first season back at senior, clearly felt the power of the opposition – the calibre of which they have not met in 2025.
As with most other teams, their opponents hadn’t the ammunition necessary to counteract the Naomh Mairtin know-how and as the minutes ticked by, the level of their game-intelligence shown through, particularly highlighted by Eoghan Callaghan – their captain and controlled-in-chief. Sam Mulroy handled serious amounts of possession and was at his usual accurate best. Thomas Sullivan expertly handled the Tom O’Connell threat while, Dara McDonnell and Adam Booth dominated the midfield battle. Though, Mattie Rice will hope that one of his trusted lieutenants Wayne Campbell went off injured.
In what was a largely tepid affair, the sides traded scores early on with Val Leddy and Tom O’Connell opening the scores respectively. Sam Mulroy produced a piece of magic on the 4th minute as he elequently jinked onto his right and swong over a majectic two-pointer. Leddy has a glorious goal chance snuffed out as the sides were 0-3 to 0-1 after 10 minutes.
The Gaels’ failed to score in the 10-20th minute as Mattie Rice’s side hit 0-4 with points from play by Mulroy, Leddy, Tom Gray and Sean Healy to leave them 0-7 to 0-1 clear on 20 minutes.
Dylan McKeown and Mulroy traded placed kick points, before McKeown added another. In this time Val Leddy and Dara McDonnell missed further goal chances as Tom O’Connell managed to nudge one over for the Gaels. Though, Sam Mulroy struck a classy two-point effort right before the half time whistle. Half Time – Naomh Mairtin 0-10 Dundalk Gaels 0-4.
Mulroy opened the second half with a free before Cian Sands got on the end of a typical Naomh Mairtin flowing team move. Mulroy added another free as his general level of play was top notch during this time. With 20 minutes remaining, the favourite led 0-13 to 0-4.
Mulroy knocked over a 45’, McKeown answered back with a free before Tony McDonnell had a close range effort deflected over as Darren Morgan narrowed the angle superby. 0-14 to 0-6 with ten minutes remaining.
As the game fizzled out, Naomh Mairtin just focused on managing the game out. Captain Eoghan Callaghan and Dara McDonnell added late scores before Tom O’Connell hit over the games last score. Full Time – Naomh Mairtin 0-16 Dundalk Gaels 0-7.
Player of the Match:
Eoghan Callaghan (Naomh Mairtin)
Very similar to Dublin’s Ciaran Kilkenny as he seems to control the entire game however he wants. He surveys the whole situation with so much composure, for the amount of possession he has and his brilliant accuracy when shooting, he actually doesn’t take a lot of shots but for the majority of his sides scores, it is him supplying the ball. His link-up with Mulroy is outstanding.
Notables:
Sam Mulroy (Naomh Mairtin)
Hit 0-9 at the dead of his ease. So good in so many aspects of his play. As usual.
Evan Whelan (Naomh Mairtin)
Whelan had an outstanding game at right half back. A physical presence that doesn’t shy away from a tackle and is also a strong runner for his side.
Naomh Mairtin Team:
Darren Morgan; Cian Sands (0-1), Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; Evan Whelan, Eoghan Callaghan (0-1), Jack Murphy; Adam Booth, Dara McDonnell (0-1); Sean Healy (0-1), Sam Mulroy (0-9, 4f & 2 ‘45’), Wayne Campbell; Darragh Dorian, Tom Gray (0-1), Val Leddy (0-2).
Subs: Craig Callanan for Wayne Campbell (26 Mins), Ben Callanan for Tom Gray (52 Mins), Shane Morgan for Darragh Dorian (59 Mins).
Dundalk Gaels Team:
Aaron Culligan; James Lynch, James O’Connell, Padraic Tinnelly; Luke Murray, Sean Murray, Alan Jumbo; James Stewart, Jordan Keating; David McComish, Dylan McKeown (0-3, 3f), Cain Bromley; Chris Sweeney, Tom O’Connell (0-3), Tony McDonnell (0-1).
Subs: Shaun Duffy for James Lynch (15 Mins), Jack Mullen for David McComish (36 Mins), Kyle Rafferty for Cain Bromley (42 Mins), Tomas Kavanagh for Jordan Keating (42 Mins), Sean Lambert for Chris Sweeney (55 Mins).
Referee: Colm McCullough (Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes)
Photo credit: Ciaran Culligan
