“Byrne Inspires Oliver Plunketts to Crucial Round 2 Victory”
DKIT Sport Louth GAA Junior Football Championship – Group 2, Round 2
Oliver Plunketts 0-19 O’Connells 0-16
Venue: Protection and Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver.
Oliver Plunketts and O’Connells produced one of the games of the championship so far in Protection and Prosperity Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver on Friday night, with the Plunketts coming out on top by three points after a thrilling end-to-end contest. While the victory keeps the Plunketts alive in Group 2 and sets up a crucial showdown with Annaghminnon Rovers next Thursday night, O’Connells will not be too disheartened as they still progress to the quarter-finals despite this narrow defeat.
This was a high-quality encounter full of well-taken scores, patches of dominance from both sides, and plenty of drama — including a late red card — before Plunketts finally saw the game out to claim a priceless victory.
First Half – High Tempo and Big Scores
The opening minutes set the tone for what was to come. Plunketts started sharply with Jamie Byrne splitting the posts in the second minute and Barry Reynolds following up soon after. O’Connells’ reliable free-taker Niall Conlon responded immediately, and moments later Robbie Quigley lit up the evening with a superb two-pointer from a placed ball to push the Bellingham men ahead.
Cian Brady kept Plunketts ticking with two points in quick succession – one from play and one from a free – before the crowd were treated to another moment of brilliance, this time from O’Connells’ Evan Kearney who fired over a stunning two-pointer from open play on 16 minutes.
The exchanges were relentless as Conlon and Quigley kept the O’Connells scoreline moving, but it was Plunketts who finished the half the stronger. Luke Haggins converted a free, Brady added another, and Jamie Byrne clipped over his second score of the evening. Quigley had the final say of the half for O’Connells, leaving it delicately balanced at 0-10 to 0-8 in favour of Plunketts at the interval.
Second Half – Point-for-Point Battle
The second half resumed at the same frenetic pace, with Quigley and Byrne exchanging points immediately. Quigley, in superb form, added another shortly after, before both managers turned to their benches with Justin Cooney and Ben Boyce entering the fray.
Conlon narrowed the gap again with a free, but Boyce made a swift impact for Plunketts, hitting two fine scores from play in consecutive attacks. Adam Lambe then splits the posts to stretch the Plunketts’ lead, only for Quigley to strike once more to keep O’Connells within touching distance.
The decisive period came midway through the half when Kristian Nolan showed nerves of steel, landing back-to-back frees before adding another from play, while Adam Smith also got his name on the scoresheet. That burst opened daylight between the sides.
Drama in the Closing Stages
The game took a dramatic twist on the hour mark when Barry Reynolds, who had started brightly for Plunketts, received a straight red card following an off-the-ball scuffle. With O’Connells pushing hard, it looked as though the momentum could shift.
Nathan Carragher responded quickly with a point, and then Evan Kearney produced his second magnificent two-pointer of the evening to set up a grandstand finish. However, Plunketts remained composed. Kristian Nolan, the standout forward on the night, converted another free under pressure to steady the ship, and with substitute Niall Murtagh adding energy in midfield, they closed the game out for a memorable three-point win.
Full-Time Reflections
At the final whistle it was Oliver Plunketts 0-19 O’Connells 0-16. The Plunketts can be proud of a gritty, resilient display that saw them recover from the loss of a key man late on to see off one of the fancied sides in the competition. They now turn their attention to a winner-takes-all clash with Annaghminnon Rovers.
For O’Connells, the loss will sting given how close the contest was, but they can take comfort from already booking their spot in the quarter-finals. With the likes of Quigley, Conlon, and Kearney in form, they remain a dangerous outfit in the knockout stages.
Scorers
Oliver Plunketts: Kristian Nolan (0-5, 4f), Cian Brady (0-4, 2f), Jamie Byrne (0-3), Ben Boyce (0-2), Adam Lambe (0-1), Adam Smith (0-1), Barry Reynolds (0-1), Luke Haggins (0-1f).
O’Connells: Robbie Quigley (0-7, 1x two-pointer free & 1f), Evan Kearney (0-4, 2x two-pointers), Niall Conlon (0-4, 3f), Nathan Carragher (0-1).
Teams
Oliver Plunketts: Luke Haggins, Ricky Bateson, David McTeggart, Barry Reynolds, Adam Lambe, Jamie Byrne, David Lambe, Robert Brodigan, Shaun Smith, Adam Smith, Kristian Nolan, Jack Taaffe, Cian Brady, Dean Carolan, Cillian Smith.
Subs: Ben Boyce for David Lambe (38), Adam Brodigan for Jack Taaffe (50), Niall Murtagh for Cian Brady (63).
O’Connells: Jonathan Brennan, Jack McGeough, Tadhg Kearney, James Walsh, Stuart Osborne, Conor Culligan, Sean Cairns, Harry Kierans, Robert Quigley, Emmet Byrne, Tj Conlon, Niall Conlon, Cian Geeney, Bernard Osborne, Evan Kearney.
Subs: Justin Cooney for James Walsh (36), Conall Clerkin for Harry Kierans (42), Nathan Carragher for Tj Conlon (46), Alan McGovern for Cian Geeney (54).
Referee: Declan Dunne (John Mitchels).
⭐ Player of the Match – Jamie Byrne (Oliver Plunketts)
From the very first whistle, Byrne set the tone for Plunketts. He kicked three excellent points from play, but it was his work rate, clever movement, and leadership that truly stood out. Always available for a pass, he linked defence and attack seamlessly and drove his side forward during key moments. A complete performance that made the difference.
🌟 Best for O’Connells – Stuart Osborne
While O’Connells had fine performances from their forward line, it was Osborne’s defensive display that caught the eye. Calm under pressure, strong in the tackle, and composed in his distribution, he marshalled the O’Connells defence brilliantly and continually launched counter-attacks that kept his side in the game. His consistency at the back was vital in containing the Plunketts forwards.
