2008 Intermediate Championship Relegation Play-off REPLAY

Date: Sunday 5th October, 2008
Venue Knockbridge
Time: 11.00am

Dundalk Young Irelands 4-04 Sean McDermotts 3-04

A first half hat-trick from Mark Savage guaranteed Young Irelands survival in the IFC grade for 2009 at the expense of Sean McDermotts at Knockbridge on Sunday morning.

Savage grabbed his first goal early on after Derek Maguire had opened the scoring for Irelands with a point from play. Maguire then added another point to give the Dundalk team a 1-02 to 0-00 early lead. Colin Curran brought McDermotts into the game with a well taken goal at the end of the first quarter. Maguire and McDermotts Tony Kelly then swapped further points before Ciaran Conlon set Mark Savage up for his second major. It was then the turn of James Woods to get McDermotts second goal in this strange game which produced nearly as many goals as points.

Savage completed his hat-trick before the break when he showed all his soccer prowess to finish off an Irelands attack to the McDermotts net giving keeper Mark McEneaney no chance.

Half-time Young Irelands 3-03 Sean McDermotts 2-01

The 2nd half opened brightly with Colin Curran scoring a McDermotts goal in the 2nd minute. Not to be outdone John Bolnad replied in kind for Irelands however with a lot at stake the 2nd half deteriorated into a tense low scoring affair with both teams guilty of a few bad wides.There followed long periods without scores as McDermotts tried valiantly to haul themselves back into contention. In this period the Mountrush team got points from Kevin Carroll, Brendan McGahon and a David Matthews free to reduce the deficit to two points. McDermotts pushed hard for a winning goal and indeed Irelands can be very grateful to keeper Craig McKenna who pulled off a point blank save. Irelands Peter Nixon and McDermotts David O'Neill received second yellows in the close finish before a pointed free from the reliable Derek Maguire seen Irelands home to great relief.

Now that Young Irelands have retained their IFC status, they will be hoping to add Intermediate League status. They are currently sitting in pole position in Division 3 with three games remaining. Best for the winners were Aaron Rogers, Gerard Nixon and Mark Savage. For McDermotts Colin Curran and James Woods were best.

Dundalk Young Irelands
Craig McKenna, Shane O'Connell, Simon Flynn, Peter Flymn, Robbie Farrell, Aaron Rogers, Peter Nixon, Andrew Nixon, Gerard Nixon, Ryan Moran, Derek Maguire(0-4)2f, Michael Shields, Ciaran Conlon, John Boland (1-0), Mark Savage(3-0).
Subs used: Graham Carr for Shane O'Connell, Sean Laverty for Ryan Moran, Conor Nixon for John Boland

Sean McDermotts
Mark McEneaney, Mark Duffy, John Curran, Ciaran McMahon, David O'Neill, Sean McMahon, David Matthews(0-1)f, Peter Osbourne, Declan Carroll, Kevin Carroll(0-1), Tony Kelly (0-1) , Kevin McMahon, Colin Curran (2-0), Brendan McGahon (0-1), James Woods (1-0). Sub: Kenneth Taaffe for K McMahon

Referee: Damien Murtagh (Castlebellingham)