Naomh Fionnbarra Lay Down Marker With Big Win Over John Mitchels
DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship Group 4 Round 1
From Páirc Baile Fiach, Hunterstown
Naomh Fionnbarra 3-12 John Mitchels 0-10
Naomh Fionnbarra made an early statement in the DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship with a convincing 3-12 to 0-10 victory over John Mitchels.
Mitchels opened the scoring through Andrew Bingham, but St Finbarrs quickly took control. Cillian McQuillan opened their account with a two-point free before Niall McCreesh added a super goal from play as he rounded David Anderson to calmly finish. McQuillan then struck with a brace of points, one from play and one from a free, while McCreesh, Conor Osborne and Ciaran Markey found the target. Mitchels did manage to somewhat settle before the interval, with Eoghan McEneaney kicking a two-point free, but the Togher side remained firmly in command. Half Time – Naomh Fionnbarra 1-7 to 0-3 John Mitchels.
St Finbarrs continued their dominance after the restart. Andrew O’Reilly added two points before Jack Butterly found the net to put further daylight between the sides, after an intelligent pass from McCreesh. McQuillan and O’Reilly continued to add scores, before McCreesh struck his second goal to put the result beyond doubt.
Mitchels showed some fight in the closing stages, with John Bingham, Gareth Kane and Trevor Matthews all contributing scores, but the damage had already been done.
Naomh Fionnbarra will take plenty of confidence from a performance that firmly backs up their status as one of the Championship favourites.
Man of the Match – Niall McCreesh (Naomh Fionnbarra)
An excellent display from last year’s Louth minor footballer. Scored 2-1 and laid on the other goal with a brilliant pass. As far as Championship debuts go, this was a good one.
Niall McCreesh on his way to scoring his sides first goal
Naomh Fionnbarra team: Fionn McQuillan; Máirtín Murphy, Ronan Callaghan, Adam Kirwan; Seán Boyle, Josh Crosbie, Andrew O’Reilly (0-3, 1f); Matthew O’Reilly, Jack Butterly (1-0); Conor Osborne (0-1), Stephen O’Reilly, Pádraig Butterly; Niall McCreesh (2-1), Ciarán Markey (0-1), Cillian McQuillan (0-6, 1tpf, 1 45’, 1f).
Subs: Jack Murtagh for Padraig Butterly (49 Mins), James Markey for Ciaran Markey (49 Mins), Adam Hanratty for Máirtín Murphy (51 Mins), Chris McGlynn for Adam Kirwan (56 Mins), Thomas McCreesh for Conor Osborne (56 Mins).
John Mitchels team: David Anderson; Mikey Nulty, Shane Crosson, Aaron Kane; Jake Gillespie, Eoghan McEneaney (0-2, 1tpf), John Bingham (0-2, 2f); Trevor Matthews (0-2, 2f), Andrew Bingham (0-2); Arthur Sands, Gareth Kane (0-2), Tristan Knowles; Jamie Durnin, John Gallagher, Stefan Halpenny.
Subs: Aaron Keely for Mikey Nulty (36 Mins), Adam Keenan for John Gallagher (45 Mins), Stephen Campbell for Stefan Halpenny (45 Mins), Cole Leavy for Tristan Knowles (49 Mins), James Sands for Gareth Kane (49 Mins).
Referee: Stephen Murphy (Naomh Mairtin)
Photos thanks to Ciaran Culligan
