St Brides Book Return to Intermediate Decider
CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship Semi-Final
At Cullen Autoparts Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver
St Brides 0-12 Geraldines 0-9
St Brides booked their place in the CTI Business Solutions Intermediate Football Championship Final for the first time since winning the title in 2020 after a hard-fought 0-12 to 0-9 victory over neighbours Geraldines at the Cullen Autoparts Louth GAA Training Centre in Darver on Monday evening.
In a tense and competitive semi-final between the Knockbridge and Haggardstown sides, it was St Brides who produced the stronger second-half performance to secure their place in the decider, with goalkeeper Aaron Devin delivering a crucial save late on before captain Sean Marry sealed the win in injury time.
Geraldines, who lost talisman Jim McEneaney to injury early on, made the brighter start and built an early advantage through Josh Arrowsmith, Brian Cafferty and Daniel Nordon. Arrowsmith registered the opening two scores before St Brides finally opened their account through Donal McArdle in the 11th minute.
Brian Cafferty of Geraldines in action against Neil Thornton of St Brides © Ciaran Culligan
Cafferty and Nordon continued to find the target as Geraldines moved five points clear, leading 0-5 to 0-1 after 23 minutes. However, Eamonn O’Neill’s side, responded well under pressure, with Andrew Smyth getting them moving before Donal and Kieran McArdle (two-point free) helped reduce the deficit.
The Knockbridge men came agonisingly close to finding the net when Sean Marry attempted to lob Geraldines goalkeeper Sean McEneaney, only for his effort to hit the post. Donal McArdle then saw another goal opportunity blocked from close range, while Geraldines also threatened at the other end, with Cian Spaight’s goalbound effort blocked at the last moment.
St Brides continued to build momentum as the half drew to a close and Marry brought the sides level with a fine point in the 34th minute. After a lively opening period, the teams went in at the break level at 0-5 apiece.
Half Time – St Brides 0-5 Geraldines 0-5
Geraldines regained the lead through Darragh Burke early in the second half, but Marry quickly restored parity before converting a free to give St Brides their first lead of the evening at 0-7 to 0-6.
Cafferty responded for the Haggardstown side, but St Brides were beginning to gain control. A free from Kieran McArdle restored their advantage before a superb two-point free extended the gap to three, leaving St Brides 0-10 to 0-7 ahead with the game entering its closing stages.
Cafferty kept Geraldines in touch with a point in the 45th minute, but McArdle added another free five minutes later to maintain the three-point cushion. Cian Spaight then produced a good score for Geraldines to leave just two between the sides, setting up a tense finish.
The decisive moment arrived in the 55th minute when Geraldines looked certain to find another score, only for St Brides goalkeeper Aaron Devin to produce a superb point-blank save to deny Gareth Neacy. It was a huge intervention at a critical stage of the contest, preserving the Knockbridge side’s advantage.
Cian Spaight of Geraldines in action against Donal McArdle of St Brides © Ciaran Culligan
With four minutes of additional time to be played, Geraldines pushed forward in search of a late breakthrough, but St Brides held firm. Marry then delivered the final score of the evening, landing a neat score in the 60th minute to confirm a deserved three-point victory.
Full Time – St Brides 0-12 Geraldines 0-9
St Brides will now face Stabannon Parnells in the Intermediate decider in two weeks time.
Man of the Match: Sean Marry (St Brides)
Sean Marry was instrumental in St Brides’ victory, finishing with an impressive 0-4 after moving from his usual full-forward role into midfield in the absence of Paddy Reilly. He adapted superbly to the change, delivering crucial scores at key moments while helping St Brides gain control of the middle third.
Man of the Match Sean Marry celebrates at full-time © Ciaran Culligan
St Brides team: Aaron Devin; Steven Hoey, Cillian Kirk, Robert McCaughey; Ruairí Carpenter, Bernard Laverty, Ross Murnaghan; Sean Marry (0-4, 1f), James Costelloe; Morgan Tobin, Kieran McArdle (0-6, 2tpf & 2f), Senan Hoey; Neil Thornton, Donal McArdle (0-1), Andrew Smyth (0-1).
Subs: Kevin Hearty for Ruairí Carpenter half-time, Michael Keane for Neil Thornton 40 mins, Kevin Plunkett for Ross Murnaghan 58 mins, Matthew Kerr for Bernard Laverty 64 mins.
Geraldines team: Cian O’Donoghue; Tiarnan Hand, Darragh O’Gradaigh, Jack Traynor; Gareth Neacy, Jamie Callan, James Craven; Beanon Corrigan, Brian Cafferty (0-4, 2f); Thomas McNamara, Cian Spaight (0-1), Darragh Burke (0-1); Josh Arrowsmith (0-2), Jim McEneaney, Daniel Nordon (0-1).
Subs: Niall Brennan for Jim McEneaney 5 mins, Sean McEneaney for Cian O’Donoghue 19 mins, Michael Rogers for Niall Brennan 46 mins, David O’Connell for Jamie Callan 57 mins, Finn Madine for James Craven 59 mins.
Referee: Stephen Devlin (St Josephs)
Photos: Ciaran Culligan
Sean Marry of St Brides in action against Beanon Corrigan of Geraldines © Ciaran Culligan
