It’s As You Were as the Finbarrs and Young Irelands Must Do It All Again

DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship Final

At Páirc Uí Taibh, Tallanstown

Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes 0-13 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-10

Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes and Dundalk Young Irelands will have to do it all again after playing out a tense draw in the DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship Final at Páirc Uí Taibh, Tallanstown, on Sunday afternoon.

The sides could not be separated after an absorbing contest that swung back and forth throughout, with Dundalk Young Irelands leading for long periods before being forced to cling on after finishing the game with just 13 players. Second-half red cards for midfielders Michael O’Shea and James Prendergast proved hugely significant as the Finbarrs’ mounted a late comeback to earn another crack at the title.

Young Irelands made the stronger start, with Jordan O’Donoghue opening their account with a two-point free in the seventh minute. After numerous, Naomh Fionnbarra eventually hit the target in the 19th minute for their first score, Pádraig Butterly getting them moving, but points from Dean Maguire and Cian O’Donoghue helped the Dundalk side establish a four-point lead.

Niall McCreesh of Naomh Fionnbarra in action against a swarm of Dundalk Young Irelands players © Ciaran Culligan

Ciarán Markey converted a free for the Togher men before O’Shea replied for Young Irelands. Markey added another placed ball to leave Fionnbarra trailing by two at the break, with scores at a premium during a tight opening half.

Half-time: Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes 0-3 Dundalk Young Irelands 0-5.

The Togher men came out with renewed purpose after the restart, and Markey’s two-point free brought the sides level. Tadhg Hoey edged the Dundalk men back in front before Conor Osborne responded for Fionnbarra, who had earlier seen Andrew O’Reilly denied by an excellent block from last ditch block by corner back Conn O’Donoghue.

Conor Osborne of Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes in action against Michael O’Shea of Dundalk Young Irelands © Ciaran Culligan

The game’s first and only goal arrived in the 35th minute when Dean Maguire finished emphatically to the net, giving Young Irelands a three-point advantage. Liam McStravick added another point as the Dundalk side looked to take control, but the Barrs’ refused to let them pull away, with Niall McCreesh responding.

O’Shea and Ruairi Kelly extended the Young Irelands lead to five points at 1-9 to 0-7, their biggest advantage of the afternoon. However, they failed to capitlise on this position as Naomh Fionnbarra soon produced a stirring response.

Andrew O’Reilly landed a two-pointer before Michael O’Shea received a red card in the 51st minute, reducing Young Irelands to 14 men. Fionnbarra seized the opportunity, with Matthew O’Reilly producing a superb two-pointer from outside the boot to bring his side right back into contention.

The game became increasingly tense as the Barrs’ pressed for an equaliser. Goalkeeper Fergal Sheekey produced a crucial point-blank save to deny Cillian McQuillan a goal, keeping Young Irelands in front as the clock ticked down.

Matthew O’Reilly then delivered another outstanding two-pointer from outside the boot in the 59th minute, putting the Togher side ahead for the first time in the game.

Young Irelands suffered another major setback when their other midfielder James Prendergast was sent off in the 61st minute, leaving them with 13 players for the closing stages. Despite their numerical disadvantage, they showed tremendous resilience, and captain Jordan O’Donoghue kept his composure to convert a tricky late free and level the contest.

Both sides had little time to find a winner, and the final whistle confirmed that the teams would have to meet again.

Full-time: Naomh Fionnbarra 0-13 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-10.

After such a closely fought encounter, a replay was perhaps the fairest outcome. Naomh Fionnbarra will take confidence from their late surge, while Dundalk Young Irelands will reflect on a contest in which they looked well placed to win before the two dismissals changed the complexion of the game.

The sides will now return in six days’ time for a replay, with the Junior Championship title still up for grabs. The game will once again take place in Tallanstown at 3.30pm on Saturday.

Jordan O’Donoghue of Dundalk YI and Padraig Butterly of Naomh Fionnbarra share a joke after the game © Ciaran Culligan

Man of the Match: Matthew O’Reilly (Naomh Fionnbarra)

With Naomh Fionnbarra staring at a five-point deficit and time running out, Matthew O’Reilly was instrumental in dragging his side back into contention and forcing a replay. He produced two outstanding moments of quality, landing a pair of superb two-pointers off the outside of his boot when his team needed them most.

Naomh Fionnbarra team: Fionn McQuillan; Adam Hanratty, Ronan Callaghan, Adam Kirwan; Seán Boyle, Josh Crosbie, Chris McGlynn; Jack Butterly, Stephen O’Reilly; Conor Osborne (0-1), Matthew O’Reilly (0-4, 2tp), Pádraig Butterly (0-1); Niall McCreesh (0-1), Ciarán Markey (0-4, 1ptf & 2f), Andrew O’Reilly (0-2, 1tp).

Subs: Cillian McQuillan for Seán Boyle 41 mins, Thomas McCreesh for Pádraig Butterly 57 mins.

Dundalk Young Irelands team: Fergal Sheekey; Peter McCourt, Ciaran Murray, Conn O’Donoghue; Cian O’Donoghue (0-1), Brendan Prendergast, Tadhg Hoey (0-1); James Prendergast, Michael O’Shea (0-2); Liam McStravick (0-1), Jordan O’Donoghue (0-3, 1tpf & 1f), Sean Murphy; Dean Maguire (1-1), Ruairi Kelly (0-1), Derek Maguire.

Subs: Lee O’Donoghue for Peter McCourt 44 mins, Peter Nixon for Dean Maguire 49 mins, Evan McArdle for Sean Murphy 62 mins, Dermot Mone for Liam McStravick 62 mins.

Referee – Bryan Smith (O’Raghallaighs)

Photos – Ciaran Culligan

Andrew O’Reilly of Naomh Fionnbarra in action against Peter Nixon of Dundalk Young Irelands © Ciaran Culligan