ST JOSEPHS 2-8

MATTOCK RANGERS 0-12

St Josephs secured the Louth Intermediate Championship title thanks to a two-point victory over Mattock Rangers at St Brigid's Park on Sunday.

In many ways it was a remarkable achievement for the Joes as their return to the Senior ranks for next season came very much against the odds.

Not only did the Cluskey Park side have to overcome the challenge of favourites, Mattock Rangers, but they did so in a season where they have had to field without a number of key players.

However, this Joes team has never lacked determination and once again they overcame adversity to ensure claim a memorable win that their efforts over the course of the season have richly deserved.

A feature of their journey to the Seamus Flood Cup has been the scoring power of full forward, Conal O'Hanlon, and once again the big man popped up with a crucial goal just before the break to put his side in charge of the game.

As second half goal from Jack Mulligan extended that cushion to five points, and although Mattock rallied in the closing stages they were unable to breach a disciplined defence that prevented them from getting the goal they desperately needed.

Overall it as a game that never really burst into life and the first half was a particularly cagey affair.

Alan Quigley, who was to have a major influence on proceedings, got his side off the mark only for David Reid to respond soon after. That was the pattern for the remainder of the half and when Quigley pointed on 28 minutes to make it five points apiece, they teams were level for the fifth time.

However, just when it appeared that the sides wouldn't be separated at the break, O'Hanlon struck a major blow for his when he flicked to the net from a Quigley effort to give the Joes a 1-5 to 0-5 lead.

It proved to be a very important lead as Mattock found it difficult to cut the gap with the first six points of the second half being shared to leave the score at 1-8 to 0-8.

When Ryan Leneghan fired over on 50 minutes to cut the gap to two points, the game was still very much in the melting pot. However, as they have done so many times during the campaign, the Joes seized their opportunity as Jack Mulligan pounced for his side's second goal to extend the lead to five.

Mattock battled gamely in the closing stages and David Reid fired over three unanswered points. However, as they went in search of a goal in the closing stages they were met with a brick wall of excellent defending. Even the loss of Adam O'Connor to a red card in the dying moments didn't affect the Joes as they held out for a famous win.

ST JOSEPHS: Mark Neary; Cian McGuinness, Ben Mulligan, Stefan Potts; David Mernagh, Adam O'Connor, Alan Lynch; Tomas Smyth, Killian Staunton; Jack Mulligan 1-0, Conall Smyth, Craig Doherty; Alan Quigley 0-5, Conal O'Hanlon 1-1, Derek Mulligan. Sub: Philip Kinahan for D Mulligan.

MATTOCK RANGERS: Mike Englishby; Sean Gilsenan, Cathal Clarke, James Caraher, David Brennan, Daire Englishby, Terry Donegan; Ciaran Calvey, Aaron O'Brien; Ryan Leneghan 0-1, Adrian Reid 0-1, Christy Grimes 0-2; Shane Grimes, Robbie Brennan, David Reid 0-8. Subs: Daniel Bannon for D Brennan, Ivor Sherlock for C Calvey

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