St Mochtas Cruise Past St Josephs To Book Final Date With Newtown Blues

Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Semi-Final

At Páirc Naomh Bríd, Dowdalshill

St Mochtas 1-21 St Josephs 0-8

St Mochtas booked their place in the Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Final with a commanding 16-point victory over St Josephs in Dowdalshill on Sunday evening, producing a dominant display to set up a final showdown with Newtown Blues, in two weeks time.

Kevin McClorey’s Louth Village men were superior across the pitch, with Declan Byrne, Gerry Garland, Ben Goss Kieran and Danny Kindlon all outstanding as they swept aside a St Josephs team that appeared to feel the effects of three consecutive weeks of championship action.

Wayne McKeever’s Dromiskin outfit had been forced to navigate two bruising encounters with Cooley Kickhams before requiring extra-time in last weekend’s quarter-final replay. That demanding run appeared to catch up with them as Mochtas gradually took control and never looked back.

St Josephs made a positive start, with Oisin McGuinness opening the scoring before Kindlon replied for Mochtas. McGuinness edged Joes back in front, but the Louth Village men soon began to find their rhythm, with Kindlon, Shane Lennon and Darren McMahon all registering.

Oisin Reidy briefly responded for Joes, but the game’s first major score arrived in the 14th minute when Garland produced a magnificent two-pointer from outside the left, sending the ball sailing towards the car park end at Dowdalshill.

Ciaran Byrne of St Mochtas gets a shot away © Ciaran Culligan

Kindlon and Ciaran Byrne added further points as Mochtas began to pull clear, before Jamie Farrell extended their advantage. The decisive blow of the first half arrived in the 24th minute. Shane Lennon’s powerful effort was rebuffed by Aaron Gray, but Ben Goss Kieran reacted quickest to tap the rebound into the net.

Alan Quigley converted a free for St Josephs, but Sean Flynn replied at the other end as Mochtas carried a commanding ten-point lead into the dressing room.

Half-time – St Mochtas 1-11 St Josephs 0-4.

Any hopes of a Joes revival were quickly extinguished after the restart. McGuinness converted a free, but Garland answered with another superb two-pointer, once again showcasing his quality with an outstanding strike from outside the left boot.

Jamie Farrell added another point before Ciaran Byrne and Lennon continued the Mochtas scoring surge. Goss Kieran and Declan Byrne also got in on the act as the Louth Village side stretched their advantage to 1-18 to 0-5 midway through the second half.

St Josephs managed points through David Kieran and Rory McLoughlin, but they were unable to make any meaningful inroads into the deficit.

Ben McKeown of St Josephs in action against Shane Lennon of St Mochtas © Ciaran Culligan

Declan Byrne then produced one of the scores of the evening in the 54th minute, landing a magnificent two-pointer from the sideline to push the Mochtas 14 clear.

Craig Doherty added a late point for Joes, but it did little to alter the outcome as Mochtas comfortably saw out the closing stages.

Full-time: St Mochtas 1-21 St Josephs 0-8.

It was a thoroughly convincing performance from Mochtas, who will now turn their attention to the biggest day of the season. They face Newtown Blues in the Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Final after the Drogheda side defeated Ardee St Marys on Saturday evening.

For St Josephs, their championship campaign ends after a demanding few weeks, with Mochtas proving far too strong on the day.

Man of the Match – Declan Byrne (St Mochtas)

Continues to play like he has a point to prove. Has exceptional reading of the game born of years of experience, but his movement, his power, his pace is all that of a man ten years of his junior. Scored a couple of very good points and dominated the aerial duels. Continues to be the Louth Village men’s greatest asset.

Declan Byrne continues to lead the St Mochtas charge © Ciaran Culligan

St Mochtas team: Daire O’Shea; Andrew Lennon, Connell Kearins, Conor Garland; Ben Goss Kieran (1-1), Oisin Callan, Gerry Garland (0-4, 2tp); Darren McMahon (0-1), Sean Flynn (0-1); Dylan Farrell, Declan Byrne (0-4, 1tps, 1f), Jamie Farrell (0-2); Danny Kindlon (0-4), Ciaran Byrne (0-2), Shane Lennon (0-2).

Subs: Rory O’Kane for Daire O’Shea blood 38 mins – 43 mins,  Cormac Smyth for Ciaran Byrne 50 mins, Sean Marron for Ben Goss Kieran 51 mins, Daniel Craven for Oisin Callan 54 mins, Philip Englishby for Shane Lennon 55 mins, Liam Lawlor for Conor Garland 55 mins.

St Josephs team: Aaron Gray; Cian Sheridan, Aidan Kieran, Rian Devlin; Cormac McKeown, Gabriel Bell, Ben McKeown; Conall McCaul, David Kieran (0-1); Oisin Reidy (0-1), Ben Collier, Pearse Grimes Murphy; Alan Quigley (0-1, 1f), Oisin McGuinness (0-3, 2f), Conal Smyth.

Subs: Conor Neary for Rian Devlin half-time, Michael O’Brien for Aidan Kieran half-time, Rory McLoughlin (0-1) for Alan Quigley 44 mins, Craig Doherty (0-1) for Conal Smyth 48 mins, Killian Staunton for Conall McCaul 52 mins.

Referee – Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets)

Photos – Ciaran Culligan

Aerial Dual | Daire O’Shea and Darren McMahon of St Mochtas in action against David Kieran of St Josephs © Ciaran Culligan