Fechins Power to Back-to-Back Colm Geary Cup Titles in Termonfeckin
St Fechins secured back-to-back Colm Geary Cup titles with a convincing seven-point victory over Knockbridge in Termonfeckin this evening, finishing 1-16 to 1-9 after a strong all-round display.
It was St Fechins who settled quickest, with Paddy Lynch opening the scoring in the 5th minute with a neat point from play. Knockbridge responded immediately through Aidan Fitzpatrick, who split the posts from a tight sideline angle a minute later.
From there, however, St Fechins began to take control. Points from Stephen Curtis and Darragh Stone in quick succession pushed them ahead, before George Allen added another in the 10th minute. Although Ricky McKeown replied for Knockbridge, the Termonfeckin side continued to dominate possession and scoring chances.
Ian Connor impressed throughout and added his name to the scoresheet, while further efforts from Stone and Lynch — including two frees — stretched the lead. Knockbridge stayed in touch through David Kettle, Jake McNamara and Brian Coughlan, with Fitzpatrick also converting from placed balls, but St Fechins carried a 0-10 to 0-6 advantage into the break.
The second half saw St Fechins tighten their grip. Luke Black was particularly influential, scoring two excellent points early on, while Lynch and Micheál Byrne also contributed to extend the lead.
St Fechins were reduced to 14 men in the 50th minute when David Stephenson was sent to the line, but they showed resilience to maintain control of the contest.
Knockbridge were given a lifeline when Aidan Fitzpatrick struck a long-range free that found the net, reducing the deficit and briefly swinging momentum. However, St Fechins responded in style, with Ian Connor raising a brilliant green flag to reassert their authority.
Further scores from Ben Goss Kieran and Fitzpatrick kept Knockbridge battling, but points from Ciarán Brennan and another from the impressive Luke Black ensured St Fechins maintained a comfortable cushion to the final whistle.
In the end, St Fechins’ consistency, work rate, and scoring power proved decisive as they deservedly retained the Colm Geary Cup.
St Fechins: Ruairi Morrissey, Colin Griffin, Cormac McAuley, Conor Higgins, Brendan Christophides, Donal Ryan. Cathal Ryan, Cathal Moynagh, Ian Connor 1-1, Stephen Curtis 0-1, George Allen 0-1, Paddy Lynch 0-5 (2f & 1×65), Luke Black 0-3, Micheál Byrne 0,1, Darragh Stone 0-3. Subs: Barry Devlin, Ciarán Brennan 0-1, Cormac Browne, Shane Curtis, Zac Lennon, Conor Mathews, Brian O’Connell, Darragh O’Gorman, Paddy Reddy, David Stephenson, Seamus McKenna, Colm McNeill
Knockbridge HC: Gavin Kerrigan, Cormac Lundon, Brian Coughlan 0-1, James Searson, Robert Wallace, Ben Goss Kieran 0-1, Jake McNamara 0-2, James Costello, Ricky McKeown 0-1, Seamus Peter Birch, David Kettle 0-1, Gareth Hall, Ryan Holland, Ronan Byrne, Aidan Fitzpatrick 1-3 (2f). Subs: Tony Brennan, Rory O’Connell
Referee: Kevin Brady
