St Kevins 2-13 St Malachi's 2-11

St Kevin's mounted a hugely impressive second half comeback to edge out St Malachi's and lift the 2018 Kevin Mullen Shield. The Phillipstown outfit looked down and out at the break with their opponents holding a 1-9 to 0-3 lead but second half goals from Cian Callan and Dylan Maher helped turn the tide and ultimately win the final.

Conditions in Dowdallshill couldn't have been better for either team as the game got underway. The Malachi's took off from the first whistle and dominated the majority of the first half. Despite the Kevin's backs performing well under pressure, the Malachi's were able to score a goal at the end of the first half through a well worked move which was finished off by Dylan Rooney on the stroke of half-time. 

For all the Kevin's hard work in getting into scoring positions they were finding it hard to convert their chances and after the opening 35 minutes they had just three points from Patrick Clarke, Paul Duff and a free from Darren McMullen to show for their efforts. The Mals meanwhile would have been happy with their efforts in the first half as they went in at the break with a 1-9 to 0-3 lead.

The second half took off at a lively pace with a point scored by Séanie Crosbie in the first 30 seconds. Matthew Downes was unlucky with a solid point prospect but Christopher McCaughey in the Mal's goal did well to punch it out. The Kevin's men came out after halftime a more determined and focused group and quickly got to work and played every ball given to them, but the Malachi's fought hard to hold onto the wide gap forged in the first half.

A major turning point occurred ten minutes into the second half as the Kevin's finally turned their impressive approach play into a goal. The move which began in the backline was finished off by the alert Cian Callan which sparked the first hope of a shield final victory for the Phillipstown side.

The Malachi's however refused to crumble and were quick to respond with a goal of their own as Jack Kirwan slotted the ball past Danny Crosbie in the Kevin's goal. The game was on a knife edge heading into the final ten minutes with a scoreline of 1-09 (Kevin's) to 2-09 (Malachi's) after a quick brace of points from Kevin's goalscorer Cian Callan.

Subs Aidan Craven and Séan Callan came onto the forward line for the Kevin's and this proved crucial as scores suddenly began to come easier for the Mid-Louth side.

The score that clinched the game was a goal punched to the back of the net by Liam Boylan following a high ball in by Dylan Maher, which sent the crowd wild making it a two-point lead for the Kevins. However, the Malachi's were not done yet and came back with a point of their own through Colin Rooney. With a one-point lead going into injury time it took Aidan Craven's late point to confirm victory for the Kevin's as the celebrations began in earnest following the full-time whistle.

St Kevins: Danny Crosbie (0-1), Barry Byrne, Michael Grogan, Matthew Downes, Dylan Maher, Enda McKenna, Patrick Duff, Seanie Crosbie (0-1), Lee Crosbie (0-1), Darren McMullen (0-1), Liam Boylan (1-0), James Clarke, Patrick Clarke, Cian Callan (1-5), Paul Duff (0-2)

Subs: Aidan Craven (0-2) for Paul Duff, Séan Callan for Darren McMullen and Aaron Roche for James Clarke.

Naomh Malachi: Christopher McCaughey; David Begley, David Rogers, Stephen Burns; Conor Gonnelly, Stephen Smith, Ronan Greene; Padraig Moley (0-1), Christopher Smith; Dylan Rooney (1-1), Jack Kirwan (1-2), Donal Begley; Mark Meegan, Colin Hoey, Colin Rooney (0-5 1fk).

Subs: Jamie Kelly for Stephen Burns (inj); Ronan McElroy (0-2) for Colin Hoey (blood sub); Eamonn Agnew for Donal Begley.

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