“Oliver Plunketts are 2025 DKIT Sport JFC Champions”
DKIT Sport JFC Final Replay
From The Grove, Castlebellingham
Oliver Plunketts 1-13
Glyde Rangers 1-11
Oliver Plunketts were crowned DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football champions after an extra-time win over Glyde Rangers on Saturday afternoon in The Grove, Castlebellingham.
In a slow-starting game — understandable given the energy exerted last weekend — Niall Sharkey surged through to convert the opening score inside ten seconds. Ciaran Sheridan backed this up in the first minute with a well-taken two-point free to show just how well Glyde had settled. Sheridan and Cian Brady traded scores to leave the sides at 0-4 to 0-1 by the 10th minute.
However, the next phase of the game was more about battle than beauty, with scores hard to come by. Tadhg Kellett got the game’s next point in the 22nd minute before Kristian Nolan landed an outrageous two-point free in first-half additional time after the Mell side had struggled for any convincing conversion.
Half-time: Oliver Plunketts 0-3 Glyde Rangers 0-5.
Stephen Keely opened the second-half scoring in the 38th minute to leave his side within a point with just over 20 minutes remaining.
Ciaran Sheridan again showed his accuracy from range, swinging over a two-point free. Then Kellett got on the end of a towering run from Niall Sharkey in what felt like a huge moment in the game. Kristian Nolan nudged over a free before Kellett quickly cancelled this out with one of his own, leaving Glyde four clear with ten minutes remaining.
Robert Brodigan got it back to three with five minutes left, but when Brian Duffy knocked over a tidy score on the 30th minute, one could have been forgiven for thinking the celebrations were heading to Tallanstown. However, Emmett Kelleher’s side had a different plan. Nolan added another free to bring them within striking distance before Adam Lambe intelligently manoeuvred an opportunity for the dangerous Stephen Keely to unleash a rasper into the top corner and level proceedings.
Full-time: Oliver Plunketts 1-7 Glyde Rangers 0-10.
Cian Matthews and Kellett swapped scores early in extra time before the Plunketts well and truly stamped their authority in Castlebellingham. Keely and an impressive two-point free from the deck by goalkeeper Luke Haggins left them three clear at the interval.
Half-time in extra time: Oliver Plunketts 1-11 Glyde Rangers 0-11.
Substitute Matthews added another for the Plunketts, while Ben Boyce chipped in to stretch the game away from Glyde. However, in typical Glyde Rangers fashion, they found a way to give themselves a chance. Niall Sharkey lobbed in a long-range ball that found its way to the net. They won the resulting kick-out, and after a patiently worked move, were unable to create a clear two-point chance — meaning Oliver Plunketts were crowned champions.
Full-time after extra time: Oliver Plunketts 1-13 Glyde Rangers 1-11.
Player of the Match
Adam Lambe (Oliver Plunketts)
Top 3 Performers
Oliver Plunketts: Adam Lambe, Stephen Keely, Dean Carolan.
Glyde Rangers: Niall Sharkey, Adam Sweeney, Darren McKeever.
Oliver Plunketts Team
Luke Haggins (0-2, 2f); Gary Keogh, David McTeggart, Barry Reynolds; Jamie Byrne, Shaun Smith, Cillian Smith; Robert Brodigan (0-1), Dean Carolan; Jack Taaffe, Adam Lambe, Kristian Nolan (0-4, 4f); Cian Brady (0-1, 1f), Stephen Keely (1-2), Adam Smith.
Subs: Ben Boyce (0-1) for Cian Brady (44 mins), Conor Haggins for Jack Taaffe (49 mins), Cian Matthews (0-2) for Barry Reynolds (53 mins), Jack Taaffe for Dean Carolan (72 mins), David Lambe for Kristian Nolan (74 mins), Niall Murtagh for Adam Smith (79 mins).
Glyde Rangers Team
David Brennan; Darren McKeever, Jack McKeever, Conor McCullagh; Gerard Bourton, Niall Sharkey (1-1), Sean Devaney; Adam Sweeney, Brian Duffy (0-1); Tadhg Kellett (0-4, 3f), Aaron Devlin, Killian Scott; Olan Crosbie, Ciaran Sheridan (0-5, 4f), Cormac Lundon.
Subs: Mark McKeever for Conor McCullagh (22 mins), Shane Byrne for Jack McKeever (half-time), Aaron Myles for Sean Devaney (44 mins), Conor McCauley for Aaron Devlin (56 mins), Oisin Lynch for Killian Scott (70 mins), Shane Mullaney for Gerard Bourton (70 mins), Pauric Kearney for Darren McKeever (74 mins).
Referee: Paul Kneel (Kilkerley Emmets).
