DUNDALK GAELS 1-11
ST MARYS 0-9

Dundalk Gaels survived a second half fight back from St Marys as they set up a meeting with Dreadnots in the Senior Championship semi-final.

Despite falling three points behind in the early stages, the Gaels soon got into their rhythm and for the remainder of the encounter at Dunleer were the better team.

Once the Gaels got ahead, the Marys found it difficult to penetrate their well-organised defence and the Ardee men will be disappointing to have made their exit without finding their best form.

The dejection at the final whistle was in stark contrast to the early minutes of the game when the Marys made a flying start with Darren Clarke landing two points from frees before he found his range from play to make it 0-5 to no score with just five minutes played.

However, the Ardee men failed to build on that impressive start and it was the Gaels who took control of the game. A point from David Moley settled the Dundalk men and were level by the end of the first quarter after two pointed frees from Derek Crilly.

Sean Fee then sent over to put the Gaels ahead for the first time and it was to prove to be a lead they retained until the final whistle.

Derek Crilly and David McComish stretched the lead to 0-6 to 0-3 before the Marys ended their barren spell when Clarke pulled one back.

However, the Gaels finished the half on top and a point from David Maloney sent them in at the break with a 0-7 to 0-4 lead.

The Ardee men needed a good start to the second half in order to get back into the game, but it was the Gaels who stretched their advantage with a Crilly point before Gerard McSorley grabbed the all-important goal on 40 minutes to give his side a 1-8 to 0-5 advantage.

Sean McCann fired over soon after to put his side in a commanding position with a cushion of seven points.

The Marys then finally raised their game and gave themselves hope with a Clarke point and Alan Kirk. When Clarke and Fergal Diamond found their range there range the gap was back to just 1-9 to 0-9 with five minutes remaining.

The game was still very much alive but the Marys were unable to press home their advantage and the Gaels resisted the pressure before late scores from McCann and Kevin McArdle settle the issue.

DUNDALK GAELS: Stephen McLaughlin; Darragh O'Callaghan, Jamie Faulkner, Eamonn Kenny; David McComish 0-1, James Stewart, Derek Crilly 0-4; David Maloney 0-1, Sean McCann 0-2; Andrew Coleman, Sean Fee 0-1, David Moley 0-1; Gerard McSorley 1-0, Errol Boyle, Kevin McArdle 0-1. Subs: Anthony McSorley for E Boyle, Peter McGinnity for D O'Callaghan.

ST MARYS: Duane Crosbie; David Carroll, John Bingham, Barry Faulkner; David Rooney, RJ Callaghan, Karl Faulkner; Donal Matthews, Robbie Leavy; Cian Moran, Ronan Carroll, Niall Eccles; Paudy Clarke, Darren Clarke 0-7, Niall Carroll. Subs: Alan Kirk 0-1 for D Matthews, Dean Matthews for C Moran, Fergal Diamond 0-1 for N Carroll.

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