Clear signs of progress
November 27, 2011The re-fixed 2011 Cardinal O'Donnell Cup final took place in Haggardstown on Friday, October 28th. At the end of a really exciting encounter, it was 2009 and 2010 senior champions Mattock Rangers who came out on the right end of a 3-13 to 2-12 scoreline after extra time to lift the Division One league title for the first time. Dreadnots hadn't contested an O'Donnell Cup final in 23 years and they gave as good as they got; in the end, they could consider themselves extremely unfortunate to leave Pairc Seamus Mhic Eochaidh empty-handed.
At least their reputation had been further enhanced by a fantastic performance…
A late David Reid penalty ultimately broke the Clogherhead resistance, but they certainly made their esteemed opponents fight all the way. After Rangers had floated over the first two points, Chris Mulroy picked out Liam Shevlin for Dreadnots' opener after four minutes.
James Califf - who had a tremendous match - banged over a '45' to level the scores and Dreadnots were awarded a penalty when Anthony Lynch was felled inside the box. Califf took the kick and it clipped the top of the bar before fizzing over for the lead point: 0-3 to 0-2. The inspirational No.9 doubled the advantage on 13 minutes when he knocked over a long-range free.
Back came Collon with four scores on the bounce but Dreadnots were soon back on terms thanks to a brace of excellent Shevlin points. Dreadnots would have been full value for a 0-6 apiece scoreline at the interval but they trailed by double scores at the short whistle as - quite astonishingly - Mattock hit the net twice in the dying embers of the first half: 2-6 to 0-6.
It was tough on Dreadnots, who had bossed much of the first half, but they didn't sit around feeling sorry for themselves. Instead, they hit the ground running upon the resumption, with a goal from Conor Campbell following an ingenious piece of improvisation by Fergal McGuigan. Peter Kirwan fisted a point and Dreadnots now looked a real threat with Shevlin and Califf on top in the engine-room.
Anthony Lynch bagged the second Dreadnots major and two Kirwan points inside 60 seconds had the underdogs in front by 2-11 to 2-7 with four minutes left. But Mattock finished strongly with four points to level the game at the end of normal time.
With so much at stake, extra time was extremely tense and there were no scores at either end in the opening period. Dreadnots could never quite re-seize the initiative and Reid's late penalty consigned them to the most unfortunate of defeats. It was a gallant effort and Dreadnots' performance suggests they are close to capturing senior silverware.
Dreadnots - 2011 Cardinal O'Donnell Cup finalists: Niall Levins; Anthony Williams, Derek Shevlin, Dermot Campbell; Cian McEvoy, Padraig Rath, David O'Brien; Liam Shevlin (0-3), James Califf (0-6); Conor Campbell (1-0), Chris Mulroy, Fergal McGuigan, Peter Kirwan (0-3), Pat Lynch, Anthony Lynch (1-0).
Paddy Clarke's team had booked its place in the decider with a fabulous 1-10 to 0-7 victory over Newtown Blues in the semi-final at Newfoundwell on Saturday, September 17th. The Blues had already advanced to the SFC final but they named a full team for the league semi-final so there were no mitigating factors at play as Dreadnots upset the bookies in style. The seasiders made a blistering start to the game and led by 1-7 to 0-3 at half time. A goal from Anthony Lynch and three James Califf overs had put them in the driving seat from the off, leading by 1-3 to 0-1. The Blues battled back with the first three scores after the resumption but a trio of Califf frees had the winners ahead by 1-10 to 0-6 with ten minutes to go. Solid defensive work from Niall Levins and Derek Shevlin saw the Dreadnots hold out and book their first Cardinal O'Donnell Cup final appearance in over two decades.
The Cardinal O'Donnell Cup semi-final team was: Niall Levins; Cian McEvoy, Derek Shevlin, Anthony Williams; Dermot Campbell, Padraig Rath, David O'Brien; Liam Shevlin, James Califf (0-9); Conor Campbell (0-1), Chris Mulroy, Fergal McGuigan; Peter Kirwan, Pat Lynch, Anthony Lynch (1-0). Sub: Cathal Lynch for Chris Mulroy.
In the league phase of the competition, Dreadnots finished fourth in Division One, on twelve points - the same tally as Cooley, O'Connells and Kilkerley, all of whom they pipped on points difference (+11). Dreadnots had recorded five wins and two draws in their eleven league outings, beating Naomh Mairtin by 2-17 to 2-8, Kilkerley by 6-11 to 0-4, St Brides by 0-9 to 0-7, Glyde Rangers by 1-11 to 2-5 and Oliver Plunketts by 1-13 to 0-7. The all-important draws were achieved against O'Connells and Cooley.
On October 14th, Dreadnots beat Kilkerley Emmets by 1-13 to 0-9 in the Paddy Sheelan Shield final at Termonfeckin. They had beaten St Marys on a 1-17 to 2-5 scoreline in the semi-final at Clogherhead a week earlier. Their form in the Paddy Sheelan Cup proper had been unspectacular as they finished second from bottom of Group C with one win and two draws from seven games, beating O'Connells at The Grove by 2-11 to 1-10 and drawing with Kilkerley and Oliver Plunketts.
In Group Three of the 2011 Louth SFC, Dreadnots got their campaign off to a winning start with a 1-11 to 1-8 victory over St Marys at the county grounds on July 24th. Points from Peter Kirwan, Liam Shevlin and Fergal McGuigan got them off to a flying start and Pat Lynch's superb individual goal - added to by points from James Califf, Cian McEvoy and Conor Campbell - saw them sail into a 1-6 to 0-2 advantage after 20 minutes. The Ardee men closed within two points by the 40th minute but Kirwan, Shevlin and Chris Mulroy were all on target as the seasiders held out.
The second group outing against Naomh Mairtin was even closer: Dreadnots had a poor first half and trailed by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break but a strong second-half fightback ensued before the Monasterboice men edged a thrilling match by one point, 1-8 to 0-10 in Drogheda on August 14th. Midfielders James Califf and Liam Shevlin scored seven points between them for the losers.
Dreadnots still finished second in the group and this meant a quarter-final clash with St Patricks at The Grove on August 28th. After a magnificent effort from the spirited underdogs, the Pats prevailed by 2-9 to 0-10 and they would go on to reclaim the Joe Ward Cup with replay wins over Mattock and the Blues. For their part, Dreadnots had given the Lordship men quite a fright. Dreadnots conceded a second-minute goal and another major on 22 minutes, which meant they trailed by six points at the break, 2-3 to 0-3. But they closed within two as the game went into its decisive phase - James Califf's point making it 2-4 to 0-8 after 47 minutes. However, the Pats regrouped and points from Califf and Pat Lynch were not to be enough for Dreadnots on the day.
All in all, Dreadnots showed in 2011 that are capable of playing good football and that they have developed into a very competitive team. Undoubted progress was made. With some of the best young footballers in Louth at their disposal, this team can kick on big time if they keep their heads. Tweet
