Louth GAA

Main Menu

  • Stadium
  • Fixtures & Results
    • Next 7 Days
      • Next 14 Days
      • Next 21 Days
    • Last 7 Days
      • Last 14 Days
      • Last 21 Days
    • Championship
      • Senior Football
      • Intermediate Football
      • Junior Football
      • Senior Hurling
    • League
      • Division 1
      • Division 2
      • Division 3
      • Division 3B
      • Kevin McGahon Cup
      • Division 4
      • Division 5
      • Division 6 North
      • Division 6 South
      • Senior Hurling
      • Special Hurling
      • Maurice Murphy Cup
      • Colm Geary Cup
    • Paddy Sheelan Cup
      • Paddy Sheelan Cup KO
      • Paddy Sheelan Shield
    • Kevin Mullen Shield
      • Kevin Mullen Shield KO
      • Kevin Mullen Plate
    • U21 League Competition
    • Minor Board
      • 2025 Regulations
      • Lennon Cup
      • U18
      • U16
      • U15
      • U14
      • U13
      • U12
  • Tickets
    • Club C’ship Tickets
    • NFL Tickets
    • NHL Tickets
    • Leinster
  • Lú TV
    • Video on Demand
  • Club Lú
    • Sponsorship Tiers
    • Draws
    • Join Up
  • Downloads
  • Committees 2025
    • Management Committee 2025
    • Other Officers
    • Competitions Control Committee
    • Coiste na nóg
    • Intercounty Panels
    • Coaching & Games Steering
    • Infrastructure
    • Communications Team
    • Planning and Training Committee
    • Irish Language and Culture
    • Children’s Committee
    • Coiste Iomána
    • Youth
    • Coaching and Games Staff

logo

  • Stadium
  • Fixtures & Results
    • Next 7 Days
      • Next 14 Days
      • Next 21 Days
    • Last 7 Days
      • Last 14 Days
      • Last 21 Days
    • Championship
      • Senior Football
        • SFC Knockout
      • Intermediate Football
        • IFC Knockout
      • Junior Football
        • JFC Knockout
      • Senior Hurling
    • League
      • Division 1
      • Division 2
      • Division 3
      • Division 3B
      • Kevin McGahon Cup
      • Division 4
      • Division 5
      • Division 6 North
      • Division 6 South
      • Senior Hurling
      • Special Hurling
      • Maurice Murphy Cup
      • Colm Geary Cup
    • Paddy Sheelan Cup
      • Paddy Sheelan Cup KO
      • Paddy Sheelan Shield
    • Kevin Mullen Shield
      • Kevin Mullen Shield KO
      • Kevin Mullen Plate
    • U21 League Competition
    • Minor Board
      • 2025 Regulations
      • Lennon Cup
      • U18
        • Championship
          • U18 A Championship
          • U18 B Championship
        • League
          • Regional League
      • U16
        • U16 A Championship
        • U16 B Championship
        • League
          • Regional
      • U15
        • Championship
          • U15 A Championship
          • U15 B Championship
        • League
      • U14
        • U14 ‘A’ Championship
        • U14 ‘B’ Championship
        • U14 Division 1
        • U14 Division 2
        • U14 Division 3
        • U14 Division 4
      • U13
        • League
        • U13 A Championship
        • U13 B Championship
      • U12
        • League
          • U12 Division 1
          • U12 Division 2
          • U12 Division 3
          • U12 Division 4
  • Tickets
    • Club C’ship Tickets
    • NFL Tickets
    • NHL Tickets
    • Leinster
  • Lú TV
    • Video on Demand
  • Club Lú
    • Sponsorship Tiers
    • Draws
    • Join Up
  • Downloads
  • Committees 2025
    • Management Committee 2025
    • Other Officers
    • Competitions Control Committee
    • Coiste na nóg
    • Intercounty Panels
    • Coaching & Games Steering
    • Infrastructure
    • Communications Team
    • Planning and Training Committee
    • Irish Language and Culture
    • Children’s Committee
    • Coiste Iomána
    • Youth
    • Coaching and Games Staff
Club
Home›Club›Tom O’Connell Heroics Sends Dundalk Gaels into Senior Semi Final

Tom O’Connell Heroics Sends Dundalk Gaels into Senior Semi Final

By Bob Doheny
7th October 2025
789
0
Share:

Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship QF REPLAY

From PPFS Darver


St Fechins 2-13

Dundalk Gaels 1-17


St Fechins and Dundalk Gaels played out a gripping contest that had everything you’d expect at this stage of the championship: goals, frees, big individual displays and, ultimately, a game that hung in the balance right up until the final whistle.

Tom O’Connell hit 1-7 from play, including a late 1-2 in normal time to save Dundalk Gaels championship hopes.

Both sides settled quickly, with Fechins getting crucial scores from Aaron McGlew (who was flawless from placed balls) and an early goal from John O’Connell, which gave them momentum. Ryan Walsh was lively in the inside line, clipping points and keeping the Gaels’ full-back line busy.

The Gaels, though, were never far away. Their talisman Tom O’Connell showed his quality with a superbly taken goal and a string of well-taken points. Alongside him, Dylan McKeown was as sharp as ever from frees, ensuring the Dundalk men stayed in touch.

By the break, the game was finely poised — Fechins looked the slicker in open play, but the Gaels’ efficiency in front of goal meant there was nothing between them.

As expected, the pace rose a notch. Paul Mathewsand Shane Reilly worked tirelessly around the middle third for Fechins, while the Termonfeckin men kept the scoreboard ticking. When Ryan Walsh hit the net, it felt like a turning point, but the Gaels responded in style through points from Tony McDonnell and Padraic Tinnelly, who was immense both in defence and when breaking forward.

The introduction of subs also shaped the game — Harry Haughney and Lee Grifferty added scoring punch for Fechins, while the Gaels’ bench gave them fresh legs, most notably Jack Mullen, who added a new dimension to their side. Just as St Fechins looked like they were about to advance. Tom O’Connell ended a terrific counter-attack with a low finish to the net before unleashing a remarkable two-pointer to equal the sides after patient play.

Extra Time

With the sides still inseparable at full-time, extra-time followed the same pattern: ebb and flow, big turnovers, and clinical finishing. Aaron McGlew continued to lead for Fechins, but once again, Tom O’Connell was the Gaels’ go-to man, adding to his tally and leading from the front.

Ultimately, the game came down to fine margins — frees converted, half-chances taken, and defensive resilience.

Substitute Jack Mullen came up with the all important moment as he held his composure to convert and send the Ramparts men through to the Anchor Tours SFC Semi Final where they will now play Naomh Mairtin.

Player of the Match

Tom O’Connell (Dundalk Gaels) – A talismanic display, hitting 1-7 and constantly carrying the fight for his team. His mixture of composure in front of the posts and ability to inspire those around him set him apart.

Notables

  • Ryan Walsh (St Fechins): His 1-3 was crucial, always lively and probing.
  • Padraic Tinnelly (Dundalk Gaels): Mixed defensive steel with two brilliant points.

St Fechins Team:

Niall McDonnell; Mark Holohan, Rob McCarthy, Niall McCabe; Colm O’Neill, Shane Reilly, Danny Burnell (0-1); Colm Hackett, Paul Mathews (0-1); Ciaran McGinty, Aaron McGlew (0-5, 3f), Paddy Keane; John O’Connell (1-0), Ryan Walsh (1-3, 2f), Ronan Holcroft (0-1).

Subs: Joe Corrigan for Paddy Keane (Half Time), Harry Haughney (0-1) for Ciaran McGinty (47 Mins), Lee Grifferty (0-1) for Ronan Holcroft (60 Mins), Ronan Holcroft for Aaron McGlew (ET, 11 Mins), Ciaran McGinty for Shane Reilly (ET, 15 Mins).

Dundalk Gaels Team:

Aaron Culligan; James Lynch, James O’Connell, Padraic Tinnelly (0-2); Luke Murray, Sean Murray, Shaun Duffy; Jordan Keating, James Stewart; Cain Bromley, Dylan McKeown (0-4, 3f), David McComish; Chris Sweeney, Tom O’Connell (1-7), Tony McDonnell (0-2).

Subs: Jack Mullen (0-1) for Jordan Keating (39 Mins), Tomas Kavanagh for David McComish (57 Mins), Alan Jumbo (0-1) for Shaun Duffy (59 Mins), Sean McCann for Cain Bromley (60 Mins), Shaun Duffy for Chris Sweeney (ET, 5 Mins).

Referee: Stephen Devlin (St Josephs)

Previous Article

Stabannon Parnells Book Their Place In IFC ...

Next Article

St Kevins/Lann Léire advance to the final ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +

Related articles More from author

  • Club

    Intermediate Football Team of the Week & ‘The Brew Crew Cafe’ Intermediate Player of the Week Nominees

    10th September 2025
    By Bob Doheny
  • Club

    Club Championship Programmes for this weekend’s action

    5th September 2025
    By Bob Doheny
  • Club

    “Kilkerley Secure Intermediate Safety with Strong Second-Half Display”

    19th September 2025
    By Bob Doheny
  • Club

    “Stabannon Come Of Age With Huge Win”

    23rd September 2025
    By Bob Doheny
  • Coaching & GamesClubHealth and Wellbeing

    Louth GAA ALLSTARS Camp-GAA for ALL

    10th July 2021
    By Bob Doheny
  • Club

    Louth Senior Hurling Championship Round 2: Knockbridge HC & St Fechins play out a draw.

    19th July 2025
    By Bob Doheny

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You may be interested in

  • ClubFixtures & Results

    Updated Championship Fixtures and LúTV Schedule

  • ClubCounty

    Read the latest Club Newsletter – January 2021

  • Club

    Mattock Rangers respected and relevant again

Donate to Louth GAA

Donation towards the new Louth GAA stadium

Walking Track

Louth GAA Tweets

Twitter feed is not available at the moment.

Louth GAA

logo

Louth GAA is one of the 32 County Boards of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in Ireland and is responsible for the promotion of Gaelic Games and Irish Cultúr in County Louth including Gaelic Football and Hurling.

Lú Abú

  • Recent

  • Popular

  • “Naomh Mairtin Are Louth Kings Once Again After Dominant Display”

    By Bob Doheny
    26th October 2025
  • Anchor Tours SFC Final Preview

    By Bob Doheny
    21st October 2025
  • “Hunterstown Claim Sweet Intermediate Victory After Long Road”

    By Bob Doheny
    20th October 2025
  • “Oliver Plunketts are 2025 DKIT Sport JFC Champions”

    By Bob Doheny
    19th October 2025
  • “Naomh Mairtin Are Louth Kings Once Again After Dominant Display”

    By Bob Doheny
    26th October 2025
  • Louth overcome Meath in O’Byrne Cup opener

    By darcys
    8th December 2019
  • Offaly go into Christmas break unbeaten

    By darcys
    14th December 2019
  • Digital Teamsheets & Referee Reports

    By darcys
    21st December 2019

About Us

  • Louth GAA Centre of Excellence, Newtowndarver, Readypenny, Co. Louth, A91 CF62
  • operationsmanager.louth@gaa.ie

Follow us

© Copyright Louth GAA. All rights reserved.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.