Heartbreak for Geraldines as brave comeback falls just short

The Geraldines’ dream of All-Ireland glory came to an end in Crossmaglen yesterday after they went down to Monaghan side Truagh Gaels on a 2-10 to 1-9 scoreline.

Despite a late rally, the Blackrock and Haggardstown fell to a late goal and a point rom Truagh and, in truth, can have little complaint with the outcome of the game.

Truagh were the better team over the course of the hour and with seven minutes to go looked to be coasting to victory as they led by 1-9 to 0-5.

Most of the damage was done against a gale-force wind in the first-half when they led by 0-7 to 0-4 at the break. A Mark Counihan goal four minutes after the restart then gave Eamon McEneaney’s side an uphill task that ultimately proved too miuch for them.

Despite that, they can take heart from finishing strongly with a late flurry seeing them score 1-4 without reply, with Nicky Mackin grabbing a goal on 53 minutes.

Jim McEneaney then equalised with a minute to go and at that point it looked like the Gers were the more likely winners.

However, after being denied a free in their next attack, Truagh broke with Chrissy McKenna picking out the unmarked Daniel Finnegan to fist to the net. A free from Daniel McKenna then sealed the game for the Ulster champions but the Gers can be proud of their efforts.

“We are shellshocked at the minute to lose it in the way we did, but we didn’t play well enough for a large part of the game,” said Geraldines manager Eamonn McEneaney afterwards.

Scorers – Truagh Gaels: M Counihan, D Finnegan 1-2 each, D McKenna 0-4 (2fs), C McKenna 0-2 (2fs). Geraldines: J McEneaney 0-5 (3fs, 1 ’45’), N Mackin 1-0, J Arrowsmith 0-2, G Hoey, S O’Hanlon 0-1 each.

Truagh Gaels – I Treanor; J McCarron, N Feely, N McQuilland; E Kelly, R Treanor, P McKenna; P Treanor, N McRory; A Treanor, B Cuddy, M Counihan; D Finnegan, C McKenna, D McKenna. Subs: C McAnenly for McCarron (BC, 41), N Rooney for McRory (BC, 52)

Geraldines – N Cooney; J Arrowsmith, N Mackin, T Hand; J Craven, G Hoey, K Pepper; M Rogers, S Reidy; S Thornton, J McEneaney, S Callan; G Trainor, S O’Hanlon, B Hamilton. Subs: J Breen for Thornton (BC, 2), P Hoey for Breen (50), D Hamill for Arrowsmith (50), J Craven (BC, 60, not replaced).

Geraldines celebrate Leinster success

The Geraldines are celebrating this morning after landing the AIB Leinster Club IFC title with a 0-13 to 0-9 win over Naomh Olaf in a replay at Parnell Park yesterday.

After rescuing a replay courtesy of two late Jim McEneaney points a week earlier, the Blackrock and Haggardstown men took full advantage of their second bite of the cherry to become only the second Louth club to win the Leinster club title after the Dundalk Gaels a decade ago.

The foundations for the win were laid in the opening 10 minutes when the Gers raced into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead courtesy of points from McEneaney, Glen Traynor, Shane O’Hanlon, Johnny Breen and Stephen Reidy. Naomh Olaf did manage to up their game approaching half-time but still trailed by 0-8 to 0-4 at the break.

The Dublin outfit upped their game on the restart and had the deficit back two two points at 0-10 to 0-8 with 12 minutes to go.

There was just a point between the sides by the 56^th minute but late scores from Dara Hamill, McEneaney and Josh Arrowsmith ensured the Geraldines ran out convincing winners in the end and they can now look forward to an All-Ireland semi-final against Monaghan’s Truagh in the New Year.

Geraldines: Nathaniel Cooney; Sean Thornton, Nicky Mackin, Tiernan Hand; James Craven, Gerard Hoey, Kevin Pepper; Stephen Reidy 0-1, Michael Rogers 0-1; Sean Callan, Jim McEneaney 0-4 (2 45s, 2 fr), Shane O’Hanlon 0-2; Glen Traynor 0-2, Barry Hamilton. Johnny Breen 0-1. Subs: Josh Arrowsmith 0-1 for J Breen, Dara Hamill 0-1 for G Traynor.

Jim McEneaney lifts the cup at full-time

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Geraldines running buses to Leinster final replay

The Geraldines will be running buses to this Sunday’s AIB Club Leinster IFC final replay against St Olaf’s in Parnell Park.

The bus will be leaving the Gers clubrooms at 11am on Sunday morning, with a return ticket priced at €10.

Seats have to be booked in advance by calling club secretary Paula Hand on 087-9106558.

Two late points from Jim McEneaney earned the Blackrock and Haggardstown men a second bite of the cherry in the initial fixture last weekend.

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• McEneaney earns Geraldines a second bite at the cherry (talkofthetown.ie)

McEneaney earns Geraldines a second bite at the cherry

Jim McEneaney hit two late points in extra-time to earn the Geraldines a second bite at the cherry against Naomh Olaf in yesterday’s Leinster Club IFC final at Drogheda.

The Louth player, who was only fit enough to come on as a substitute, was his side’s saviour on two occasions – firstly taking the game to extra-time before earning his side a replay at Parnell Park next Sunday after the game finished 2-9 to 1-12.

A David Byrne goal on two minutes had got the visitiors off to a flying start but Byrne then turned villain five minutes later when his error was seized upon by Glen Traynor who found the net to put the Gers 1-1 to 0-1 ahead.

Olaf’s responded well from this setback to take a 1-4 to 1-3 lead at the break, which was added to on the restart by Fergal McCann.

Traynor hit his second goal of the game on 32 minutes, however, to put the home side in front, with a 45 from McEneaney strengthening their advantage.

St Olaf’s responded with four points without reply to restore their two point lead but the sending off of Conor Haskins late on proved costly as late points from Traynor and McEneaney allowed the Gers to take the game to extra-time.

Eoin Kinsella and Shane O’Hanlon swapped scores in the first period of extra-time but the Sandyford men looked like they had the game in the bag when Kinsella and Simon Hickey fired over two early points on the restart.

However, McEneaney – whose dad Eamon is manager of the team – ensured these sides would have to do it all over again with a late 45 followed by a close range free.

Geraldines: N Cooney; S Watters, T Costello, T Hand; J Craven, G Hoey, K Pepper; M Rogers, S Reidy; S Thornton, J Breen (0-1), P Hoey; B Hamilton, S O’Hanlon (0-3, 45, f), G Traynor (2-1). Subs: S Callan for P Hoey, J McEneaney (0-4, 2 45, 2f) for S Watters, J Arrowsmith for S Thornton, D Hamill for B Hamilton.

There was no such joy for Hunterstown Rovers in their Leinster Club JFC final, however, as they went down to Kildare’s Two Mile House in Newbridge.

Geraldines are new Louth Intermediate Champions

Geraldines captain Jim McEneaney holds aloft the Seamus Flood Cup after his side’s win over St Brides

The Geraldines will be playing senior football next season after overcoming St Brides by 2-15 to 2-5 in yesterday’s Intermediate Championship final in Dowdallshill.

The win, their first Seamus Flood success since 2005, completes a great year for the Blackrock and Haggardstown outfit after they also captured the Minor Championship at the end of last month.

In truth, this game was over by half-time. Despite there being just two points between the sides at 0-5 to 0-3 on 18 minutes, the Geraldines – under the management of former Louth boss Eamonn McEneaney – stepped things up with five scores without reply, including a goal from Shane Callan.

Any hopes that the Brides had of a turnaround were then hugely dented on the restart when the first score of the half was a goal from Glen Traynor that left it 2-9 to 0-3.

David Dunne did pull two goals back for the Knockbridge men but it was the Geraldines who ran out convincing 10 point winners in the end as captain Jim McEneaney lifted the trophy at the end following a personal haul of nine points.

GERALDINES: Nathaniel Cooney; Sean Watters, Nicky Mackin, Tiarnan Hand; James Craven, Gerard Hoey 0-1, Kevin Pepper; Michael Rogers, Stephen Reidy; Sean Thornton, Jim McEneaney 0-9 (4 fr, 1 45), Shaun Callan 1-0; Barry Hamilton 0-1, Shane O’Hanlon 0-2, Glen Traynor 1-1. Subs: Josh Arrowsmith 0-1 for B Hamilton, Patrick Hoey for S Thornton, Benny Connolly for S Callan, Johnny Breen for G Traynor, Aaron Murray for S Reidy.

ST BRIDES: Darren Breen; Andrew Smyth, David Dunne 1-0, Conor Deane; Greg Kehoe, Cillian Kirk, Niall Mackin; Paddy Reilly, Shane Kerrigan 0-1; Ross Kehoe, Ray Kelly, Joseph Hanna; Kevin Hearty 0-1, Aaron Hoey 0-2, Conall Devin. Subs: Aidan McNally for N Mackin, Richard Halpenny for K Hearty, Kevin Kirk 0-1 for C Devin, Padraig Marry for J Hanna, Paul Prendergast for C Kirk.