St Michaels edge out St Fechins to win Minor Championship
LMFM Minor ‘A’ Football Championship Final
At Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda
St Michaels 1-12 St Fechins 0-14
St Michaels were crowned the 2026 LMFM Minor ‘A’ Football Championship winners after a hard-fought 1-12 to 0-14 win over St Fechins at Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.
In a game that ebbed and flowed, it was substitute TJ Molloy that proved the match winner after an injury-time point. Overall, the game was contested by two very well-matched teams with Pauric Maguire and Cillian Duff the games most impressive performers.
St Michaels could not have wished for a better start as Eoghan McEneaney found the net within the first minute after ghosting in behind and calmy dispatching to the back of the net.
Charlie McBride of St Michaels in action against Jamie McCabe of St Fechins © Ciaran Culligan
Charlie McBride added a free before Aaron Reilly opened the Fechins account in the 3rd minute. Harry Dowd pointed for St Fechins but Pauric Maguire hammered over a two-pointer for the St Michaels side on the 7th minute. McBride and Reilly traded frees before Cillian Duff found his range with a sweet two-pointer to leave two between the sides after 16 minutes.
Duff then added another two-pointer, showcasing a high level of ability, scoring this one off his opposite side. Patrick Reynolds hit over a point for St Michaels before Duff added his third two-pointer of the afternoon to send the Termonfeckin men 1-5 to 0-9 clear after 21 minutes.
Oisin Murray and Charlie McBride added the only scores for the remainder of the first half which sent the combination side into the lead at the break.
Half Time – St Michaels 1-7 St Fechins 0-9
Cillian Duff begun the second half as he played the first.. with another two-pointer, this time from a free off the ground to put St Fechins back into the ascendancy. For the next period, the game hit an understandable dip in intensity as both sides began to tightening up in possession and risk-taking.
That was until John Mitchels clubman Pauric Maguire took the initiative and pinged a two-pointer with the outside of his left boot. Now, the scoreboard read St Michaels 1-9 St Fechins 0-11 with 38 minutes on the clock.
McBride added a 45’, which was cancelled out by corner-forward James Cooney. The accurate pair of Cillian Duff and Aaron Reilly landed a free each for St Fechins, who now led by a point with just over 6 minutes on the clock.
As St Michaels tried to find an equaliser, they generated a free and McBride levelled with a free, one minute from time.
Three minutes additional time was signalled on the 4th officials board and the stardust that any championship winning team needs came in the form of substiute and Irish international TJ Molloy. Molloy made an intelligent run across the ‘D’ area and landed the winner with a strike under significant pressure.
There was still time for St Fechins to equalise or perhaps win the game, but unfortunately for them – they were unable to muster anything up. Colm Keenan signalled the end of the game and St Michaels were the LMFM Minor A Champions for 2026.
The side made up of O’Connells, Stabannon Parnells and John Mitchels were deserving winners, led by captain Darragh Murray. The winning management team was made up of Gerry Maguire, Donal Murray, Paul Egan, Leslie Walsh and Stephen Bingham.
The successful St Michaels team celebrate with the Fr. Murray Cup © Ciaran Culligan
Full Time – St Michaels 1-12 St Fechins 0-14
Man of the Match: Pauric Maguire (St Michaels)
A well-deserved nod to the Michaels’ midfielder after a proper display from Pauric Maguire. He was a constant threat, with his 2 two-pointers while also being quite dominant in the midfield exchanges. Cillian Duff of St Fechins also deserves a huge mention as he was outstanding in defeat for St Fechins.
Pauric Maguire of St Michaels presented with the Player of the Match award by Killian Murphy of LMFM © Ciaran Culligan
St Michaels team: Dylan Smith; Adam Finegan, Ciaran Titley, Sean Culligan; Shay Woods, Darragh Murray, Josh Horwell; Pauric Maguire (0-4, 2tp), Eoghan McEneaney (1-0); Patrick Reynolds (0-1), Arthur Sands, Tadhg Gorman; Shea Doyle, Charlie McBride (0-5, 4f & 1’45’), Oisin Murray (0-1).
Subs: TJ Molloy (0-1) for Shea Doyle 35 mins, Max Halpenny for Josh Horwell 45 mins.
St Fechins team: Fiachra Dunne; Brian Mulholland, Jamie McCabe, Michael McGinty; Tom O’Reilly, Harry Dowd (0-1), Tom Rock; Michael McGlew, Jake Flynn; Jack Gallagher, Cillian Duff (0-9, 3tp, 1tpf & 1f), Tom Meegan; Ben Marron, Aaron Reilly (0-3, 2f), James Cooney (0-1).
Subs: Cormac Cooper for Ben Marron 36 mins, Brian O’Neill for Jack Gallagher 40 mins, Isaac Smith for Michael McGinty 59 mins.
Referee: Colm Keenan (Cooley Kickhams)
Photos: Ciaran Culligan Photography
Harry Dowd of St Fechins in action against Patrick Reynolds of St Michaels © Ciaran Culligan
