St Fechins Defeat Geraldines To Reach Minor ‘A’ Championship Decider

LMFM Minor ‘A’ Football Championship Semi-Final

At Cusack Park, Tullyallen

St Fechins 2-14 Geraldines 0-17

St Fechins reached their first Minor ‘A’ Championship Final since 2021 after overcoming Geraldines by three points in an absorbing semi-final at Cusack Park, Tullyallen on Thursday evening.

The Fechins made the brighter start, with Cillian Duff opening the scoring with a two-pointer inside the first minute before Jack Gallagher added a point. Geraldines responded through Rónán Duggan and Conor Whitmarsh, but Fechins regained the lead through James Cooney.

The game’s first major moment arrived in the 15th minute. A slick one-two involving Duff opened up the Geraldines defence, and the Fechins forward made no mistake as he buried the ball into the back of the net.

Ben Marron added another point for Fechins, but Geraldines refused to let the deficit grow. Joe Lynch converted two frees before points from Eoghan Sweeney, Lynch, Finn Madine, Maciek Dobros and Rónán Norton Quigley saw the Gers move in front for the first time, 0-9 to 1-5.

James Cooney responded with a point just before the break to leave the sides deadlocked.

Half-time – St Fechins 1-6 Geraldines 0-9.

Cooney put the Termonfeckin men back in front shortly after the restart before St Fechins struck a crucial second goal in the 35th minute. This time, it was Tom Meegan who found the net to extend the Fechins’ advantage, although the Haggardstown outfit continued to apply pressure through Dobros, Norton Quigley and Lynch.

Gallagher and Lynch exchanged scores before the Geraldines starman produced one of the scores of the evening, brilliantly striking a two-pointer from outside the boot to leave just one between them at 2-9 to 0-14 with 43 minutes played.

It felt like the game was there for the taking for either team, but St Fechins then produced a decisive spell with Louth U20 star Michael McGlew heavily influential in dictating play from a deep role.

Duff converted a two-point free from the ground before Cooney claimed his fourth point of the evening. Aaron Reilly added another, with the hugely influential Duff then registering another score his side six clear at 2-14 to 0-14 with just six minutes remaining.

Geraldines refused to surrender, with Noah Luaki and Lynch reducing the deficit. Lynch added two late frees to leave just three between them entering injury time, with the Gers now needing a goal to force extra-time.

They almost found it.

Lynch sent Luaki racing through on a mazy run and the Geraldines midfielder struck brilliantly, only for St Fechins full-back Jamie McCabe to produce a brave clearance off the line.

That proved to be the final major opportunity as St Fechins held on for a 2-14 to 0-17 victory.

St Fechins now await the winners of next Tuesday evening’s semi-final between St Michaels and St Josephs at Darver.

Full Time – St Fechins 2-14 Geraldines 0-17

Man of the Match – Cillian Duff (St Fechins)

Cillian Duff delivered a match-winning performance for St Fechins, finishing with 1-6, including a superb first-half goal and a crucial two-point free after the break. A constant threat throughout, Duff was instrumental in the Fechins’ attacking play, helping his side secure their place in the Minor ‘A’ Championship Final.

St Fechins team: Fiachra Dunne; Brian Mulholland, Jamie McCabe, Michael McGinty; Tom O’Reilly, Harry Dowd, Tom Rock; Michael McGlew capt, Jake Flynn; Jack Gallagher (0-2), Cillian Duff (1-6, 1tpf & 1tp), Tom Meegan (1-0); Ben Marron (0-1), Aaron Reilly (0-1), James Cooney (0-4).

Subs: 16. Pearse Mullen, 17. Isaac Smith, 18. Ciaran Reynolds, 19. Cormac Cooper, 20. Morgan Noer, 21. Myles Downey, 22. Connor Crinion, 23. Finn Reilly, 24. Dylan Gallegher, 25. Rhys Doyle, 26. Brian O’Neill.

Geraldines team: Jakub Perkowski; Niall Bradley Coleman, Mal Madine, Connor Ward; Jack Greene, Finn Madine (0-1), Conor Whitmarsh (0-1); Rónán Duggan (0-1, 1 ’45’), Noah Luaki (0-1); Roan Norton Quigley (0-2), Aodhán Gibbons capt, Eoghan Sweeney (0-1); Maciek Dobros (0-2), Joe Lynch (0-8, 5f & 1tp), Sean McKenna.

Subs: 16. Szymon Perkowski, 17. Owen McGahon, 18. Thomas Quinn Stuttard, 19. Niall Connor, 20. Danny De Lasa, 21. Hugo Nolan, 22. Conall Bowden, 23. Sean Costigan, 24. Conor Cunniffe, 25. Alex Yoka, 26. Conor Ball, 27. Ryan Mulholland, 28. Shane Whitmarsh, 29. Cormac Greene, 30. Dylan Halpin, 31. Emmet Kearney, 32. Noah Cooney, 33. Tymofii Varshytskyi, 34. Aaron O’Donoghue, 35. Oliver Kerley, 36. James Scanlon.

Referee – Stephen Johnson (Glen Emmets)