FL1/2 promotion playoff: Geraldines promoted as Gaels drop down
November 09, 2015
Geraldine's Jim McEneaney
GERALDINES 1-8
DUNDALK GAELS 1-7
A late Josh Arrowsmith goal secured a return to Division 1 for next year for Geraldines as they secured a one point in over Dundalk Gaels on Saturday afternoon in the promotion/relegation play-off final.
As the game at Clan na Gael Park entered the closing stages it looked as if the Dundalk men would hold on to their top flight status as the led by 1-6 to 0-8 in a tense encounter.
However, Arrowsmith's goal on 55 minutes put his side in front and they held out in a frantic finale to send the Gaels back down to Division 2.
The game was evenly balanced in the opening ten minutes with Gaels scoring through Derek Crilly and Gary Shevlin and the Gers replying with points from Shane O'Hanlon and Dara Hamill.
However, the Dundalk side took control and a goal from David Maloney saw them take a 1-5 to 0-2 lead.
The Gers rallied in the closing stages and scored through Hamill, Jim McEneaney and Michael Rogers to give themselves hope at the break as they cut the gap to 1-5 to 0-5.
McEneaney and Shaun Callan pointed in the third quarter to reduce the gap to one, but the Gaels looked as if they were going to hold off the challenge when a Maloney point had his side 1-6 to 0-8 ahead entering the closing minutes.
The game then turned in the Gers favour when Arrowsmith hit the back of the net and although the Gaels responded with a point from Crilly but the strong Geraldines defence held out until the final whistle to secure victory.
Geraldines: Darren Kearney; Tiarnan Hand, Nicky Mackin, Gareth Neacy; Stephen Reidy, Gerard Hoey, Paul Clarke; Michael Rogers 0-1, Paddy Hoey; Shane O'Hanlon 0-1, Jim McEneaney 0-2, Shaun Callan 0-1; Dara Hamill 0-3, Conall Hoey, Josh Arrowsmith 1-0. Subs: Matt Corcoran for S O'Hanlon, Sean Thornton for S Callan. Robbie Lynch for P Hoey.
Dundalk Gaels: Stephen McLoughlin, Daire O'Callaghan, Jamie Faulkner, Oisin Murray; David McComish 0-1, Errol Boyle, Conor Morgan; David Maloney 1-1, James Stewart; Kevin McArdle, Sean McCann, Niall Hearty, Sean Fee, Derek Crilly 0-4, Gary Shevlin 0-1. Sub: C Sweeney for McArdle, S Coleman for Hearty, S Murray for O Murray.
