Louth Senior Hurling Championship Round 2: Knockbridge HC & St Fechins play out a draw.
Knockbridge HC 2-10
St Fechins 0-16
No winner in Páirc Naomh Bríd in Dowdalshill, on Thursday evening in Round 2 of our 2025 Louth Senior Hurling Championship. It would be easy to make the argument, though, that St Fechins are the happiest of the teams – considering they have secured a final spot, despite a mounting injury list. That list was referenced by Manager Ray Delaney in his post-match interview with Lú TV with names such as Paddy Lynch, Ryan Walsh, Paul Matthews and Peter Fortune – among others, all among the unavailable list for the Termonfeckin side.
Leon Fox nudged St Fechins into a three-point lead on 48 minutes but in the final minutes, referee Knockbridge HC were awarded a free which gave them the chance to draw level. Sean Flynn kept his nerve for an fourth point in front of a fiery crowd in Dowdalshill.
In a late change, former Louth Hurling captain Liam Molloy was included at the centre of Knockbridge’s defence. While, St Fechins had to make numerous changes from their named team due to a number of injuries to key players, as mentioned previously.
Knockbridge started the game like a house on fire, roaring into a 2-3 to 0-1 lead in a period that they absolutely dominated the game. In this period, the experienced duo of Ronan Byrne and David Kettle got superb goals for their side, along with causing complete chaos up top. Liam Molloy was absolutely outstanding in the opening quarter as he cleaned virtually everything the reigning champions threw at the Knockbridge defence.
After the 15th minute mark, St Fechins regained their composure that we have come to accustomed to. They hit 9-points in a 15th minute period that ensured they were level going in at the break. Sean Kerrisk, Leon Fox, Michéal Byrne & David Stephenson had all a brace of points at the interval.
Knockbridge started the second half rapidly as points from Robert Wallace and Ronan Byrne put them into an early 2-point lead. But, from that point onwards – it was almost complete domination from St Fechins as Leon Fox roared into it with his best spell of the game. Indeed it was Fox’ dominance along with a marked improvement in their intensity that led the South Louth outfit to gain a tight grip on the game. Seaghan Conneely (2), Michéal Byrne and three’ Fox points put the Fechins’ into a 0-16 to 2-7 lead on 49 minutes.
In the last ten minutes, Knockbridge showed plenty of appetite for work to turnover possession. Referee Kevin Brady drew an outstanding balance between allowing physicality and knowing when it became too much. It was this decision making from the man in the middle that created an extremely exciting finale in the game. Substitute Gareth Hall scored an outstanding point on 51 minutes with his introduction on the edge of the square aiding Knockbridge to go with a more route 1 approach for this period.
Although, St Fechins got their noses ahead throughout the game, it was Knockbridge who had the final say. A huge first and last quarter from Noel Callan’s men earned them a valuable draw against the 5-in-a-row chasers. Sean Flynn held his nerve for two late points which earned them the point. He was excellent throughout, earning himself ‘Rocksalt Hurling Player of the Week’ for Round 2.
(St Fechins); Dan O’Neill; Cormac McAuley, Paddy McCarthy, Conor Higgins; Sean Hodgins, Donal Ryan, Cathal Moynagh; David Stephenson (0-2, 1f), Danny Morgan (0-1); Sean Kerrisk (0-2), Leon Fox (0-5, 4f), Ross Berkery (0-1); Michéal Byrne (0-3), Seaghan Conneely (0-2), Daniel Cleary
Subs: Thomas McCreesh for Berkery (38’), Oisín Byrne for Higgins (47) & Shane Curtins for Cleary (56’).
(Knockbridge HC); Marc Wallace; Ronan Mulholland, Stephen Kettle, Daire McKiernan, James Costello, Liam Molloy, Adam Plunkett, Sean Flynn (0-4, 3f), Ben Goss Kieran; Robert Wallace (0-1), Brian Coughlan, Stephen Hoey (0-1); Ricky McKeown (0-1), David Kettle (1-0), Ronan Byrne (1-2)
Subs: Gareth Hall (0-1) for D Kettle (43’), Dara Toner for McKeown (51’) & Conor Kerrigan for McKiernan (54’).
