Lahardane MacHale's brave run comes to an abrupt end

by Caoimhín Rowland

KERRY junior football champions Listowel Emmets asserted their dominance over Lahardane MacHales in a compelling All-Ireland junior football semi-final clash in O’Connor Park Tullamore.

An exhibition showcasing the prowess of Kerry junior football, leaving Lahardane MacHales on the wrong end of a 1-11 to 0-03 defeat.

From the first blow of the whistle, Listowel Emmets displayed a relentless attacking force. Cormac Mulvihill's precision from just inside the 45 set the tone, while Lahardane's Chris Rowland thwarted an early goal opportunity for Emmets, an early sign of the defensive resilience required to keep the Munster champions at bay.

Listowel's Eddie Healy slipped behind Lahardane's defence on the 8th minute, notching the Kerrymen's second point with a fisted effort over the bar.

David Keane, with an accurate free, and a subsequent opportunistic lob from Bryan Sweeney widened the chasm after he intercepted Joe Queenan’s goal kick.

The first and only green flag of the game bestowed the Kerry champions a commanding seven-point lead at the 20-minute mark.

Lahardane's struggles persisted as they grappled with poor kickouts, failing to connect with their men and unable to breach their own 45.

Adrian Leonard finally broke the silence, notching Lahardane's solitary point of the first half in the 28th minute, leaving the halftime scoreboard in Tullamore showing a 1-08 to 0-01 scoreline.

As the second half commenced, Listowel Emmets continued their relentless assault. Bryan Sweeney extended their lead with a poachers point, followed by David Keane's dissection of the posts for his only score from play.

The men from the shore of Lough Conn struggled to find opportunities, with Adrian Leonard managing only their third shot in anger by the 40th minute.

A rare moment of suspense ensued in a drab second half as a long-range effort from Listowel's Micheal Kennedy rattled the crossbar, leading to a foul on young substitute Keelan Dyra after he claimed possession.

Despite a 21-minute scoreless stretch from both sides, Listowel Emmets sealed the deal with Darragh Lynch's free, extending their lead to 1-11 to 0-01, a gap that proved insurmountable for the Connaught champions.

Darragh Walsh managed to salvage some pride for Lahardane, doubling their score with a superb free. James Maughan added another point from a free late on, but it was too little, too late for a Lahardane side that found itself outclassed in Tullamore.

With the final whistle sounding, Listowel Emmets celebrated their well-deserved victory, securing a spot in the All-Ireland final against Cavan's Arva. Lahardane, while defeated, can reflect on a season that saw them achieve their primary objective—returning to intermediate football. Eddie Conroy's management team, injection of youth and spirit of an older cadre promise a resilient future for the black and amber.

As the Lahardane faithful bid farewell to their All Ireland odyssey in Offaly, the focus shifts to regrouping and strategising for the challenges of intermediate club football in the upcoming season. The season may have ended on a bitter note, but silverware remains in Addergoole, the Pete McDonnell and Connaught Cups have pride of place, just like in 2017. Intermediate football in 2024 will be more familiar territory for a club on the up and keen to prove their worth.

Lahardane MacHales: J. Queenan, B. Leonard, C. Finnerty, K. Lynn, A. Murphy, J. Maughan, C. Rowland, K. Jordan, S. Finnerty, S. Loftus, J. Maughan (0-1f), M. Noone, M. Maughan, D. Walsh (0-1f), A. Leonard (0-1).

Subs used: B. Joyce, C. Dyra, M. Murphy, D. Langan, E. Fergus.

Listowel Emmets: C. Keane, C. Pierse, N. Collins, E. Healy (0-1) S. Keane, E. Browne, M. Kennedy, J. Grimes, D. Leahy, G. McCarthy, J. McVeigh, J. McElligot, B. Sweeney (1-1), C. Mulvihill (0-3), D. Keane 0-5, 4f).

Subs used: D. Lynch 0-1f), S. Tarrant, A. O’Rourke, J. Moriarty, C. Holly.

Referee: K. Faloon (Armagh)