The Finbarrs are 2026 Christy Bellew Cup Champions
DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship Final Replay
At Páirc Uí Taibh, Tallanstown
Naomh Fionnbarra/St Anne’s GFG 0-13 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-8
Matthew O’Reilly produced another moment of late-game magic as Naomh Fionnbarra/St Anne’s GFG were crowned 2026 DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship champions following a dramatic two-point victory over Dundalk Young Irelands in Saturday’s final replay at Páirc Uí Taibh, Tallanstown.
In a gripping contest that swung back and forth throughout, O’Reilly struck two magnificent two-pointers in the closing stages to snatch victory for the Togher side, repeating his late heroics from the previous week. His decisive contribution earned him the Man of the Match award as Brendan Grant’s side celebrated a memorable championship triumph.
Liam McStravick of DYI in action against Matthew O’Reilly of Naomh Fionnbarra © Ciaran Culligan
For much of the afternoon, it appeared that Dundalk Young Irelands would take the honours. Managed by Cormac Malone, the Irelanders made an impressive start, built a commanding first-half lead and looked well placed to see out the contest. However, the Barrs showed tremendous resilience to recover from a six-point deficit and finish the stronger side when the pressure was at its greatest.
Dundalk Young Irelands opened the scoring through Ruairi Kelly inside two minutes, before Cillian McQuillan responded with a free for Naomh Fionnbarra. Cian O’Donoghue restored the Irelanders advantage, but McQuillan’s next effort brought the sides level at 0-2 apiece after eight minutes.
The opening exchanges were played at a lively tempo, with both teams looking to attack and plenty of turnovers, but it was Dundalk Young Irelands who seized control with a devastating spell of scoring.
Jordan O’Donoghue supplied the first major moment of quality when he split the posts with a brilliant two-pointer in the tenth minute. Liam McStravick followed with another point before O’Donoghue delivered a goal of real class to put the Irelanders firmly in the driving seat.
Picking up possession just beyond the midfield mark, O’Donoghue embarked on a mazy run through the Naomh Fionnbarra defence before combining with Ruairi Kelly in a neat one-two. Having continued his run, he received the return and palmed the ball to the net, giving his side a commanding 1-5 to 0-2 advantage after just 13 minutes.
Jordan O’Donoghue of Dundalk Young Irelands celebrates scoring a goal © Ciaran Culligan
The Barrs needed a response, and Niall McCreesh provided it with a point in the following minute. McQuillan then demonstrated his quality by landing a superb two-point free in the 19th minute, reducing the gap to three.
O’Donoghue kept the Dundalk scoreboard moving with a free in the 27th minute, leaving his side four ahead as half-time approached.
Naomh Fionnbarra were handed a significant opportunity to reduce the deficit in the 31st minute when Conor Osborne was barged over inside the penalty area. Referee Ultan McElroy awarded a penalty and issued DYI full-back Ciaran Murray with a black card, leaving the Irelanders temporarily down to 14 players.
McQuillan stepped forward with the chance to bring his side right back into contention, but Fergal Sheekey produced a superb save, getting down brilliantly to deny the spot-kick and preserve his side’s four-point cushion.
Half Time – Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes GFG 0-5 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-6
Naomh Fionnbarra emerged for the second half with renewed purpose, however, and immediately set about chipping away at the deficit.
Stephen O’Reilly registered consecutive points in the 32nd and 35th minutes, cutting the gap to two before Ciaran Markey delivered a huge moment in the contest. His magnificent two-pointer in the 36th minute brought the teams level at 0-9 to 1-6.
The momentum had swung decisively, and the Barrs had wiped out the Irelanders six-point lead. Murray subsequently returned to the field following his black-card suspension, restoring them to their full complement of 15 players.
DYI responded to the levelling score through Ruairi Kelly, who pointed in the 41st minute to edge his side back in front. The game then developed into a tense battle, with both defences working hard to restrict the opposition’s scoring opportunities.
As the clock ticked towards the hour mark, the Irelanders continued to hold a slender advantage. Dean Maguire added a point in the 52nd minute after intelligent think from Jordan O’Donoghue to leave the scores at 0-9 to 1-8 and with five minutes of additional time announced, Naomh Fionnbarra faced a race against the clock to find the scores required to claim the title.
What followed was a dramatic finish worthy of a championship final replay.
Derek Maguire of DYI in action against Ronan Callaghan of Naomh Fionnbarra © Ciaran Culligan
With the game entering injury time, Matthew O’Reilly stepped forward and delivered a heroic two-pointer to bring the sides level at 0-11 to 1-8. Once again, the Barrs had found a way back into the contest when they needed it most, and the late intervention set the stage for an unforgettable conclusion.
Matthew O’Reilly was not finished.
With the championship hanging in the balance, the Naomh Fionnbarra midfielder struck again in the dying embers, landing a second sensational two-pointer with the outside of the boot to push his side two points clear at 0-13 to 1-8. For the second consecutive week, O’Reilly had produced a decisive late contribution.
Dundalk Young Irelands desperately searched for a response in the remaining moments. Derek Maguire came agonisingly close to finding the net, only to see his goal attempt crash off the crossbar.
At the final whistle, it was Naomh Fionnbarra/St Anne’s GFG who stood tallest, securing the Christy Bellew Cup for 2026.
Full Time – Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes GFG 0-13 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-8
Man of the Match – Matthew O’Reilly (Naomh Fionnbarra)
Sean McClean (Louth GAA Chairperson) and Kelly Connor (DKIT Sport) present the Man of the Match award to Matthew O’Reilly (Naomh Fionnbarra)
His x2 two-pointers in two finals in a row, in the dying embers of both games, to rescue his side. These will rightly grab the headlines. But, Matthew O’Reilly has quietly had an exceptional championship. His work ethic and application across the pitch is exceptional – Togher’s most clutch player and a deserving man of the match.
Dundalk Young Irelands team: Fergal Sheekey; Peter McCourt, Ciaran Murray, Conn O’Donoghue; Tadhg Hoey, Brendan Prendergast, Cian O’Donoghue (0-1); James Prendergast, Peter Nixon; Liam McStravick (0-1), Jordan O’Donoghue (1-3, 1tp & 1f), Sean Murphy; Dean Maguire (0-1), Ruairi Kelly (0-2), Derek Maguire.
Subs: Lee O’Donoghue for Peter McCourt 9 mins, Evan McArdle for Peter Nixon 51 mins, Jack Waters for Liam McStravick 55 mins, Dermot Mone for Dean Maguire 58 mins.
Naomh Fionnbarra/St Annes GFG team: Fionn McQuillan; Adam Hanratty, Ronan Callaghan, Adam Kirwan; Chris McGlynn, Josh Crosbie, Andrew O’Reilly; Jack Butterly, Matthew O’Reilly (0-4, 2tp); Conor Osborne, Stephen O’Reilly (0-2), Padraig Butterly; Niall McCreesh (0-1), Ciaran Markey (0-2, 1tpf), Cillian McQuillan (0-4, 1tpf & 1f).
Subs: Thomas McCreesh for Conor Osborne 51 mins, Stephen Doyle for Chris McGlynn 52 mins, Hugh Osborne for Padraig Butterly 56 mins, William Woods for Niall McCreesh 60 mins.
Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets)
Photos: Ciaran Culligan Photography
The 2026 Christy Bellew Cup champions © Ciaran Culligan
Joint-Captains Josh Crosbie and Conor Osborne lift the Christy Bellew Cup for Naomh Fionnbarra © Ciaran Culligan
