“Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s Storm into Quarter Finals with Big Win Over Cuchulainn Gaels”

Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s Storm into Quarter Finals with Big Win Over Cuchulainn Gaels

DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football Championship – Group 3, Round 3
Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s 4-11 Cuchulainn Gaels 0-7
Venue: Páirc Mochta
Referee: Craig Kirwan (Wolfe Tones)

Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s completed their group stage campaign in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, cruising to a sixteen-point victory over Cuchulainn Gaels at Páirc Mochta. The result sees the Togher men finish as Group 3 winners with a perfect 100% record, sending out a strong statement of intent ahead of the Christy Bellew Cup quarter-finals.

First Half – Tight and Tactical

The game began at a frantic pace with Jack Murtagh settling the Togher side quickly, firing over two points in the opening three minutes. However, Cuchulainn Gaels responded impressively, with James Sharkey converting from a free before his cousin Adam Sharkey landed a superb point from a sideline ball to level matters.

Murtagh kept the scoreboard ticking for Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s with another free, and when Conor Osborne and Colin McGrane added points from play, the group leaders had opened up a narrow cushion. Yet, the Gaels refused to let them pull away, and Sharkey was again central to their challenge – first landing a well-struck two-point free on 24 minutes before tapping over another placed ball just before the break.

At half-time, the contest was still finely balanced, with Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s leading 0-6 to 0-5, and the outcome very much up in the air.

Second Half – Goals the Difference

If the first half was a cagey, low-scoring affair, the second period saw the Togher men explode into life. Jack Butterly set the tone immediately with a superb point straight after the restart, followed by two frees from Ciarán Murphy to push the margin out to four.

Then came the decisive spell of the game. On 38 minutes, Brendan Simms burst through the Gaels defence and coolly slotted home the opening goal. Barely two minutes later, the impressive Conor Osborne rattled the net with a composed finish, before repeating the trick within 60 seconds to bag his second goal in quick succession.

Those hammer blows effectively ended the contest, as Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s turned a slender one-point half-time lead into a commanding 12-point advantage in the space of just five minutes.

Although James Sharkey kept battling for the Gaels with scores from a free and from play, the onslaught continued. On 44 minutes, Jack Butterly capped off a brilliant performance with a stunning goal to stretch the gap even further. Late points from Osborne and Ciarán Markey put the seal on a polished second-half display, with the final whistle confirming a resounding 4-11 to 0-7 victory.

Standout Performers

For Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s, Conor Osborne was electric, contributing 2-2 from play and leading the line brilliantly. Jack Murtagh provided a lively start with three early points, while Jack Butterly not only hit 1-1 but also covered acres of ground in midfield. Defensively, Ronan Callaghan and Sean Boyle kept Cuchulainn Gaels Gaels’ attacking threat under control.

For Cuchulainn Gaels, it was once again James Sharkey who carried the fight, finishing with 0-5 (including a 2-point free), while Adam Sharkey’s sideline point was one of the highlights of the opening half.

What’s Next

With this win, Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s march into the quarter-finals full of confidence, having topped Group 3 with three wins from three. They have shown both the resilience to grind out tight games and the firepower to put teams away in style.

Cuchulainn Gaels, meanwhile, bow out of the championship after a spirited campaign. Despite the scoreline, they showed real promise in the first half and will look to build on that foundation in the seasons ahead.

Man of the Match

The award goes to Conor Osborne (Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s). His explosive second-half display – hitting 2-2 and leading the line with pace and accuracy – proved decisive in turning a tight contest into a comfortable victory. Osborne’s sharp finishing and clever movement made him a constant threat, and his brace of goals inside a minute effectively sealed the result.

Scorers

Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s:
Conor Osborne 2-2, Jack Butterly 1-1, Brendan Simms 1-0, Jack Murtagh 0-3 (2f), Ciarán Murphy 0-2 (2f), Colin McGrane 0-1, Ciarán Markey 0-1.

Cuchulainn Gaels:
James Sharkey 0-5 (0-1f, 0-1 “2-pointer”), Adam Sharkey 0-1, James Sharkey 0-1 (play).

Teams

Naomh Fionnbarra–St Anne’s:
Fionn McQuillan, Sean Boyle, Ronan Callaghan, Stephen Doyle, Colin McGrane, Adam Hanratty, Jack Regan, Jack Butterly, Brendan Simms, Stephen O’Reilly, Conor Osborne, Ciarán Murphy, Jack Murtagh, Padraig Butterly, Ciarán Markey.

Subs: Chris McGlynn for Padraig Butterly (38), Daithí Woods for Fionn McQuillan (44).

Cuchulainn Gaels:
Seamus Quigley, Stephen Óg McGovern, Martin Hynes, Sean Brennan, Jamie Molloy, Aodhan O’Hanlon, Rammie Phillips, Dylan Lynch, Michael McCabe, John Morgan, Larry Brennan, Cian McDonald, Adam Sharkey, James Sharkey.

Subs: Luke McGovern for John Morgan (45), Eamon Donnelly for Stephen Óg McGovern (HT).

Referee: Craig Kirwan (Wolfe Tones)