Sean O'Mahony's (Louth) 1-8

Sarsfields (Kildare) 0-8

There were jubilant scenes in Drogheda after first-time Louth champions Sean O'Mahony's saw off 14-man Sarsfields to qualify for a Leinster club SFC semi-final against Rhode in a fortnight's time.

The Dundalk outfit needed two late points after the Kildare kingpins had reduced the deficit to the minimum after trailing by seven points and having Gary White sent off in the 43rd minute. White was fortunate not to receive his marching orders earlier for an elbow on Conor Crawley, which ended the O'Mahony's full forward's afternoon in the 18th minute.

After Conor Finnegan and Ray Cahill had twice exchanged early points, Finnegan's third free and another effort from sub David Dowling gave the locals a 0-4 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Finnegan and Stephen Kilcoyne extended the 2014 Leinster intermediate winners' advantage on the restart before Con Kavanagh, Finnegan and Dowling combined to set up Stephen Fisher for the game's only goal in the 37th minute.

Sarsfields looked a beaten docket when the experienced White was issued with a straight red card for an incident involving Conor Martin, but John Crofton's men refused to give up the ghost as they stormed back with scores from half-time sub Alan Smith, Cahill, Ben McCormack and Conor Hartley to leave the minimum in it with two minutes remaining.

However, O'Mahony's weren't to be denied another famous win as late points from Ben McLaughlin and Kilcoyne earned them a home semi-final against Rhode.

Sean O'Mahony's - B Traynor; J Connolly, R Byrne, M Clarke; K Murphy, J O'Brien, L Dullaghan; C Martin, S Brennan; C Finnegan (0-4f), K McLaughlin, S Fisher (1-0); B McLaughlin (0-1), C Crawley, S Kilcoyne (0-2). Subs: D Dowling (0-1) for C Crawley, N McLaughlin for K McLaughlin, P O'Brien for N McLaughlin (BC), B Mackin for J Connolly.

Sarsfields - A O'Brien; C Duffy, S Ryan, D McDonnell; C Tiernan, G White, C McInerney Aspell; C McDonnell, C Kavanagh; R Fitzgibbon, R Cahill (0-4f), C Hartley (0-1); D Nea, B McCormack (0-1), R Connor. Subs: A Smith (0-2) for R Connor, J Healy for C Duffy, C Costigan for D Nea.

Referee - D Gough. 

Tweet

Most Read Stories