Barrs’ Do Enough To Book Semi Final Spot
DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship Quarter Final
Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes 1-14 – 0-11 St Nicholas
Venue: Stabannon Parnells
Naomh Fionnbarra-St Annes booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football Championship with a hard-fought six-point victory over St Nicholas in Stabannon on Sunday evening.
From the throw-in, both sides were determined to make their mark. St Nicholas’ Hayden Quinn opened the scoring in the first minute with a superb 2-pointer free, but Jack Murtagh responded swiftly for the Barrs’ from a free in the third minute followed by a Padraic Downey free. The opening exchanges saw the lead change hands repeatedly, with Ciarán Markey and Chris McGlynn leveling for Fionnbarra after 7 minutes, only for Alex Finnegan and Padraic Downey to respond for St Nicholas.
Murtagh produced a stunning 2-pointer from play in the 13th minute, and Jack Butterly followed with another long-range score in the 19th. Ciarán Markey added a point in the 23rd minute to give Fionnbarra a slender lead, and the sides went in at half-time with Naomh Fionnbarra-St Annes ahead 0-8 to 0-6.
The second half began with St Nicholas again threatening, as Quinn and Con Sheehan swapped points to level the game. But Naomh Fionnbarra gradually seized control. Ciarán Murphy’s free after a foul on Conor Osborne and Osborne’s own point kept the hosts in front. Lee Kavanagh’s fine 2-pointer momentarily brought St Nicholas back on terms.
The defining moment came in the 49th minute when Murphy expertly finished a goal following slick build-up play from Conor Osborne. Padraic Downey kept St Nicholas in touch with a free, but Ciarán Markey’s fine point after a smart interchange with Osborne and Butterly, followed by his score in the 63rd minute, sealed the win. Fionn McQuillan also made a vital point-blank save from Kavanagh to preserve the lead and maintain momentum for the Togher side.
Scorers:
Naomh Fionnbarra-St Annes: Ciarán Murphy 1-2 (2f), Ciarán Markey 0-4, Jack Murtagh 0-3 (1x2p), Jack Butterly 0-3 (1x2p), Conor Osborne 0-1, Chris McGlynn 0-1
St Nicholas: Hayden Quinn 0-3 (1x 2p, 1 play), Padraic Downey 0-3 (2 frees), Lee Kavanagh 0-2 (1x2p), Alex Finnegan 0-1, Shane Downey 0-1, Con Sheehan 0-1
Player of the Match: Jack Murtagh (Naomh Fionnbarra-St Annes) – Extremely lively player, got scores at crucial junctures and was a brilliant influence overall. Well-deserved
Naomh Fionnbarra-St Annes Team: Fionn McQuillan (Daithí Woods 60’), Martin Murphy, Ronan Callaghan, Stephen Doyle (Sean Boyle 51’), Chris McGlynn, Colin McGrane, Josh Crosbie, Jack Butterly, Ciarán Markey, Cormac McArdle, Stephen O’Reilly, Conor Osborne (Oisín Madden), Ciarán Murphy, Brendan Simms, Jack Murtagh.
St Nicholas Team: Shane Finnegan, Stephen Finnegan, Ruairí Hanlon, Cebhan Houshidari (Cian Flynn), Con Sheehan (Aaron Flanagan), Alex Finnegan, Dylan Brogan, Philip Kirwan, Alan Dyas (Brian Carter), Shane Downey, Roy Kierans, Hayden Quinn, Fionn Meagher, Pádraic Downey, Lee Kavanagh (Sam Reilly).
Referee: Colm Keenan (Cooley Kickhams)
