Losing a semi-final is always a bitter pill to swallow. But there are no adjectives to describe the devastating range of emotions that go hand in hand with losing an IFC semi-final after a second replay. Such cruel fate befell luckless Kilkerley Emmets as they sought an instant return to senior fare in 2002. Gerry Robinson reports. Even though, ultimately, they didn't even reach the final, Kilkerley Emmets could hardly have gone much closer to winning the 2002 Louth Intermediate Football Championship. In fact, one could argue with quite a degree of credibility that the Emmets did practically everything bar win the competition! The north county men started the year as most people's favourites for the secondary championship and quickly set about justifying this rating with some superb displays. They marched through their group with maximum points, defeating St Mochtas, Sean O'Mahonys and Dreadnots along the way, before effortlessly seeing off St Fechins in the quarter-final. At this stage, the 1999 senior county finalists were quite clearly the team to beat. In the semi-final, they were paired with nearby Naomh Malachi, who had already won the Grogan Cup but had struggled to make it through to the last four. (The Malachis required a play-off before emerging from their group in second place and had to fight back from seven points adrift to beat Dreadnots in their quarter-final.) Many predicted a close semi-final . . . but nobody could've dreamt how close it would actually be. After three pulsating matches played on successive Saturdays in late August/early September, only a point separated the sides. Nobody deserved to lose, but somebody had to. And it was Kilkerley who were the unfortunates, on Saturday September 14th, losing the second replay in Dundalk (on Clan Na Gael's home pitch) by a point, 0-8 to 1-4, after an inexplicable and costly post-interval fade-out that saw them fail to register a score in the second half. Ronan Lennon's goal two minutes before the break had put Kilkerley in the driving seat, leading by 1-4 to 0-3, at half time. But that was as good as it got and Kilkerley seemed to run out of steam. Which was hardly surprising considering the huge effort they had invested up to that point in their brave bid for an instant return to senior fare. The three-game saga was eventful - to say the least! A week earlier, the original replay at Louth village had been marred by serious injuries to two players, one from each side. Due to the subsequent delays, the first half lasted an amazing 72 minutes! And when Naomh Malachi corner forward Gerry Hamill fired over his third point of the evening to draw the sides level a minute from time, both sets of players braced themselves for a third instalment. Extra time couldn't be played as scheduled due to the horrific collision that saw Kilkerley goalkeeper Frank Noonan removed to Louth County Hospital with a broken leg, while Malachis' Sean Gogarty was also hospitalised due to a knock sustained in a separate incident. The Emmets got off to a thoroughly disastrous start when Padraig Leneghan's second-minute '45' dipped under the crossbar to the back of the net. But Kilkerley battled their way back into contention and neither side was able to adequately seize sufficient initiative thereafter and the draw was a fair result. Kilkerley cantered through the group stages of a new-look intermediate championship modelling its new format before the Wee County's appreciative public for the first time. Mochtas They started their Group C campaign in irresistible fashion, on June 1st, with a ruthless 3-16 to 1-6 mauling of St Mochtas, who had shown some early-season promise by reaching the Grogan Cup final but were completely outclassed at Courtbane. In fairness, the Louth village men were severely depleted for the match but that should take nothing away from the quality of Kilkerley's performance. David McGeough found the net twice inside the opening quarter and the rampant winners led by 2-9 to 1-3 at the break. Half forward Shane Lennon added the third goal and also contributed five points as Emmets went on a scoring spree. O'Mahonys Eight days later, Kilkerley were equally as unforgiving as they compiled a twelve-point win (2-11 to 0-5) over hapless Sean O'Mahonys at Tallanstown. In reality, Kilkerley couldn't have learned much from this victory but it did propel them into the knock-out stages. It was patently obvious that the blue and yellows were accustomed to playing at a higher level than their Dundalk opponents as they again struck two first-half goals (courtesy of Shane Lennon and Colm McGuinness), this time rushing into a commanding 2-6 to 0-1 interval lead. Even though they shifted down through the gears in the second half and simply went through the motions, Kilkerley still managed to outscore the demoralised Seans by five further points to four. Dreadnots Almost five weeks passed before Kilkerley faced Dreadnots in their final group outing. And a hard-earned 2-8 to 1-8 victory at Castlebellingham on Thursday July 11th ensured them top spot in Group C with a 100% record. Both teams went into this game with maximum points and were already assured of their involvement in the Last Eight. Kilkerley led all the way but were never given a chance to rest on their laurels by a Dreadnots side for whom Colin Kelly starred at midfield. Donal McElroy's goal gave the winners an early 1-2 to 0-0 lead and they took a 1-4 to 0-3 cushion into the break. Dreadnots proved that they weren't content just to make up the numbers when firing a goal four minutes after the resumption but David McGeough's goal for Kilkerley at the midway point in the second half proved the difference between the sides at the final whistle. St Fechins The quarter-final took place at The Grove on August 10th and Kilkerley duly recorded the most comfortable of victories, 2-7 to 0-5. The semi-final draw was made immediately afterwards and paired Kilkerley with neighbours Naomh Malachi, while Geraldines would meet Oliver Plunketts. Emmets dominated the first half but there was concern over the fact that it took them 21 minutes to add to their tally after the break. Over the hour they also hit 13 wides - another worry. After falling behind to an early point, Kilkerley were rescued by goalkeeper Frank Noonan when he made an excellent save after coming off his line, before David McGeough opened their account in style with an unstoppable 12th-minute goal. Two points from Colm McGuinness either side of a Declan Litchfield effort saw the north Louth men open a 1-3 to 0-1 lead. The inspirational Shane Lennon added a point and McGuinness finished a flowing move to the net as the winners compiled a 2-4 to 0-3 half-time advantage. The Hoops hit two quick points on the resumption but Kilkerley quickly put a stranglehold on proceedings to emerge deserving and comfortable winners. Naomh Malachi, Pts I-III And so to the semi-final and three epic clashes with next-door Naomh Malachi within the space of 15 hectic days. (I) The first instalment took place at Knockbridge on Saturday August 31st and Kilkerley staged a remarkable fightback to force a draw. Trailing by five points with seven minutes remaining, Emmets refused to give in. When Shane Lennon (who already had two points to his credit) converted a 53rd-minute penalty following a foul on Brian Gernon, their hope was rekindled. Two late frees from David McGeough set the scene for the replay seven days later. Final score: Kilkerley Emmets 1-8, Naomh Malachi 0-11. (II) The replay was held at Louth village on September 7th. Malachis led for most of the match following their fortunate opening score - a goal direct from a '45' in the second minute - and took a 1-4 to 0-5 cushion into the break. The game was marred by the aforementioned injuries and consequent stoppages and there was never any flow in the play. But when Shane Lennon hit an equaliser for Kilkerley late on before Ronan Lennon gave them the lead for the first time three minutes from the end, a place in the final was so close that one could almost touch it. But the Malachis levelled and Kilkerley were denied. Final score: Kilkerley Emmets 0-8, Naomh Malachi 1-5. (III) Kilkerley had survived two semi-finals without playing anything even remotely resembling their best football. But their second half performance of the second replay in Dundalk was their worst of all and there was no way back. Five scores is never going to be enough to win a game at this level. It really was the worst possible time to run out of steam and ideas. Amazingly, Kilkerley left the building without a county final appearance to show for their sterling 2002 efforts. Final, final score: Naomh Malachi 0-8, Kilkerley Emmets 1-4 Tweet

Most Read Stories