6 days ago
Dundalk's Naomh Moninne can stop St Fechins drive for five championship titles in-a-row
The two sides last met in the final in 2023 with St Fechins making it three in-a-row with a 3-20 to 1-14 victory and avenging the 2019 result when Naomh Moninne edged a 1-13 to 0-14 scoreline.
Should St Fechins win on Sunday they'll pick up their seventh Paddy Kelly Cup but they'll still be a long way off Naomh Moninne, the championship kingpins in Louth with 22 titles going back to 1964.
Curiously the two sides only meet in cup competitions with the three senior hurling teams in Louth playing their league hurling in neighbouring counties – St Fechins in Meath, Naomh Moninne in Armagh and Knockbridge in Monaghan.
St Fechins and Naomh Moninne had already met three times this season before the Championship opener on July 10 – twice in the Colm Geary Cup with Naomh Moninne winning the group game 1-12 to 1-10 but St Fechins coming good in the final 1-17 to 1-13. In the Maurice Murphy Cup it was St Fechins who triumphed 1-13 to 0-11.
The championship clash between the two sides may have given an indication as to the potential final we may see on Sunday. Naomh Moninne, took the game to St Fechins, from the start opening up an eight point lead in the first half however, St Fechins clawed their way back into the game and ran out seven point winners thanks to two goals from Séan Kerrick but also, in no small part, goalkeeper Dan O'Neill.
A draw in their next game with Knockbridge was enough for St Fechins to book their final place while Naomh Moninne defeated of the same side to put them into the championship decider.
St Fechins and Naomh Moninne have a raft of county players in their starting 15s and while St Fechins are favourites, this is what should make for a close game.
Naomh Moninne's Aaron McGuinness was Louth's outstanding defender this season, going about his business with quiet efficiency and even earning a place on the GAA Hurling Team of the Week after a 9/10 performance against Lancashire.
Conor Murphy is another Naomh Moninne player who came to the fore during the Allianz League, with his robust style of play making him a difficult player for any defender to get to grips with. Mark Gahan's was ultimately one of Louth's most consistent player-makers with an ability to get scores at crucial times. Murphy and Gahan perhaps have not clicked in the same way in the club championship but Sunday would be the ideal time to reproduce their county form.
One player who has carried on his outstanding Louth performances is Darren Geoghegan. Scoring 0-66 in the Allianz League, Naomh Moninne's ace marksman has scored 0-27 in his two club championship games including 21 from frees and two '65s.
And it is Geoghegan's accuracy from frees, from any angle and from his own '65 metre line out, that should act as a warning to St Fechins – fouls will be punished.
It's also Geoghegan's midfield play and his positioning off the ball that has been most notable, earning him the Player of the Match in the first round clash between these two teams, even though he was on the losing side.
Naomh Moninne have also been boosted by the inclusion of John Casey joining their ranks. The versatile Corkman, who played his hurling with Setanta in Dublin, was part of the Louth defence this season and his inclusion has given Naomh Moninne manager Aidan Carter additional options with Casey about to play in both defence and attack.
For their part, the major talking point for St Fechins is the transfer from Belmont of former Offaly senior hurler Leon Fox. A Christy Ring and Joe McDonagh medal holder, Fox had an outstanding season for Louth this year. Leading from midfield, a majestic, teak-tough hurler who has that split-second more on the ball a top-class player always appears to have, has scored 0-11 (7f) in his first two Louth Senior Hurling Championship games.
Add in the scoring power of Seaghan Conneely, Paul Mathews and Séan Kerrisk up front and the defensive knowhow of Seán Hodgins and Peter Fortune, to the leadership and reliability of goalkeeper Dan O'Neill, and St Fechins possess a formidable side.
However, as both Naomh Moninne and Knockbridge (who drew with them in the championship) have proven, take the game to St Fechins, nullify the threat of Fox and Fortune and shackle Kerrisk and St Fechins are beatable.
Can Naomh Moninne take the game to the reigning champions for the full hour…that's what it will take to bring the Paddy Kelly Cup back to Dundalk.
