DUNDALK GAELS 0-15

NH MAIRTIN 1-11

Dundalk Gaels qualified for their first Senior Championship Final in 25 years when they held on to defeat Nh Mairtin in what proved to be a very emotional occasion for all concerned at The Grove on Sunday afternoon.

The Monasterboice side lined out for the first time since the passing of Benny Reilly and no doubt they determined to honour his memory by reaching the decider. However, it was never going to be easy for them and despite a brave effort in the closing stages they fell just short.

The day began with a minute's silence for the former Louth defender and ended with the Gaels players giving their opponents a guard of honour, a brilliant gesture that summed up just how Benny's loss has affected the whole GAA community.

Despite the difficulties for all involved, there was still a match to be played and when it came down to the relatively mundane matters of a football match, it was the Gaels who prevailed in a dramatic finish.

The Dundalk men looked to be well in control when a Barry Watters point had them 0-15 to 0-9 ahead with four minutes to play.

The Mairtins had struggled to bridge the gap for much of the second half but they were given renewed hope in injury time when Wayne Campbell struck the only goal of the game to cut the gap to three.

As the Monasterboice side piled on the pressure, Fra McCullough and Conor Whelan pointed to leave just a point between the teams. However, time was not on their side and the final whistle sounded before they could conjure up the equaliser.

It was a nervous end for a Gaels side that had looked to be in control for much of the hour. With the wind in their backs they got off to a good start as points from Eanna McArdle (2), David McComish and Gerard McSorley had them 0-4 to 0-2 ahead at the end of the first quarter with Brian Berrill and Sam Mulroy responding for the Mairtins.

The Ramparts side then pressed home their advantage as David Maloney (2), Sean McCann, McArdle and McSorley found their range to increase the gap to 0-9 to 0-2.

The Monasterboice outfit did steady the ship in the closing minutes of the half as the final four points were shared to see the Gaels lead by 0-11 to 0-4 at the break.

A Derek Crilly point at the start of the second half illustrated that the Gaels were not going to sit back on their lead and although Whelan landed two points in reply, Crilly and McArdle hit back to keep the gap at eight points.

The Mairtins were struggling to build up a head of steam although they did cut the gap to five points. The Gaels looked to be in a comfortable position after Watters pointed to send them six clear entering the closing stages but they had to survive a late rally before booking their place in the final against Newtown Blues.

DUNDALK GAELS: Stephen Faulkner; David McComish 0-1, Jamie Faulkner, Peter McGinnity; Oisin Murray, James Stewart, David Maloney 0-2; Derek Crilly 0-3, Sean McCann 0-1; Eamon Kenny, Sean Murray, Barry Watters 0-1; Eanna McArdle 0-4, Gerard McSorley 0-2, Chris Sweeney 0-1. Subs: Jason Clarke for C Sweeney, Niall Hearty for J Faulkner BC, Errol Boyle for G McSorley, Sean Fee for E McArdle.

NH MAIRTIN: Craig Lynch; Paul Berrill, Michael Fanning, Thomas Sullivan; Padraig McDonagh, Eoghan Callaghan, Conor Healy 0-1; Wayne Campbell 1-0, Gavin Mooney; Stephen Campbell, Sam Mulroy 0-4, Brian Berrill 0-1; Conor Whelan 0-4, Bryan McQuillan, Mark McCullough. Subs: Fra McCullough 0-1 for P Berrill, JP Rooney for M McCullough, Jamie Mulholland for B McQullian.

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