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Irish Independent
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Murphy magic conjures up late winning scores as Dundalk side Naomh Moninne crowned county champions
Louth Senior Hurling Championship Final Naomh Moninne 3-15 St Fechins 2-14 The Argus Today at 21:30 Ahead 2-12 to 1-9 at the interval at Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda on Sunday afternoon, St Fechins looked to have one hand on the Paddy Kelly Cup and set to make it a remarkable five Louth senior hurling championship titles in-a-row. However, no one expected what came in the second half as Dundalk side Naomh Moninne restricted the Fechins to just 1-2, hit the post, had a goal disallowed and then scored 1-1 in three minutes of added time to win by a single point and claim their first county title since 2019.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Conor Murphy the leading man as Naomh Moninne stun St Fechin's late on to win Louth hurling title
Louth SHC final: Naomh Moninne 3-15 St Fechin's 3-14 Ahead 2-12 to 1-9 at the interval at Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, St Fechin's looked to have one hand on the Paddy Kelly Cup and set to make it a remarkable five Louth senior hurling championship titles in-a-row. However, no one expected what came in the second half as Dundalk side Naomh Moninne restricted Fechin's to just 1-2, hit the post, had a goal disallowed and then scored 1-1 in three minutes of time added on to win by a single point to claim their first county title since 2019.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Independent
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.
Irish Independent
27-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Naomh Moninne's rare win over Knockbridge sets up St Fechin's final showdown in Louth Senior Hurling Championship
The decider will take place on Sunday August 10, with the county's most successful team Moninne seeking their first Paddy Kelly Cup triumph since 2019 when they overcame the Fechin's by two points in the final. They set themselves up for victory with a strong first-half performance, at the end of which they led by 1-12 to 1-4. The impressive Darren Geoghegan accounted for 10 of the points, including one direct from a sideline cut, while the goal was fired home in fine style by Conor Murphy on 22 minutes. The second half was a typical, keenly contested affair, with Knockbridge managing to cut the deficit to just four points with less than 10 minutes remaining. However, Moninne held their nerve and responded with the next three scores to secure what is a rare championship victory over Knockbridge. The point-scorers in the second half for the black and ambers were Darren Geoghegan (5), new signing John Casey, Fionn Cumiskey, Conor Murphy and Mark Gahan. Naomh Moninne: Conor Whyte; Darren O'Hanrahan, Mattie Fee, Cathal Azzopardi; Sean Magill, Gavin Baxter, James Murphy; Darren Geoghegan 0-15, Michael O'Shea; Conor Murphy 1-1, Tom O'Dwyer, John Casey 0-1; Mark Gahan 0-2, Aaron McGuinness Smith 0-1, Sam Phelan. Subs: Fionn Cumiskey 0-1 for Sam Phelan, Coran Trainor for Aaron McGuinness Smith, Kyle Rafferty for Darren O Hanrahan, Eoin Murphy for Tom O'Dwyer.
Irish Independent
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Defending champions St Fechin's draw on all their resources to book final spot as Knockbridge get second chance
Despite fielding a reshuffled side due to injuries, St Fechin's battled back from an early deficit to earn a hard-fought draw against Knockbridge and that was enough to secure their place back in the Louth SHC Final on August 11. Their opponents the weekend after next will be known this Thursday back in Dowdallshill where Knockbridge need just a draw against Naomh Moninne to set up a rematch with the men from south Louth, but a victory for the Dundalk town side would put them through to the county showpiece. Sean Kerrisk got the first score of this second-round contest, but it was Knockbridge who made the stronger start, rattling in 2-3 inside the opening quarter to lead by eight, with Ronan Byrne and David Kettle raising the green flags. For their part, the reigning champions struggled with early wides, but a pointed free from Leon Fox finally got them back in the game, followed by scores from Ross Berkery and Micheál Byrne. Knockbridge's final point of the half came on 23 minutes as Fechin's began to dominate. Points from Sean Kerrisk, David Stephenson, Danny Morgan and others drew the sides level by the break - 0-10 to 2-4. The second period proved to be a gritty, physical encounter. Knockbridge nudged ahead briefly, but Fechin's soon equalised and they took the lead for the second time with a fine point from Seaghan Conneely. A '65 from Leon Fox extended the lead, before Knockbridge replied from a placed ball. The teams traded points once more, with Knockbridge drawing level in the 58th minute, but despite late pressure at both ends neither side could find a winner in the final five minutes. Attention now turns to Thursday's round-three clash between Knockbridge and Naomh Moninne in Dowdallshill (7.30pm) which will determine who will have the opportunity to face St Fechin's in the battle for the Paddy Kelly Cup. St Fechin's: Dan O'Neill; Cormac McAuley, Paddy McCarthy, Conor Higgins; Sean Hodgins, Donal Ryan, Cathal Moynagh; David Stephenson 0-2 (1f), Danny Morgan 0-1; Sean Kerrisk 0-2, Leon Fox 0-5 (4f) , Ross Berkery 0-1; Micheál Byrne 0-3, Seaghan Conneely 0-2, Daniel Cleary. Subs: Thomas McCreesh for Ross Berkery (38), Oisín Byrne for Conor Higgins (47), Shane Curtins for Daniel Cleary (56). Knockbridge scorers: Ronan Byrne 1-2, Sean Flynn 0-4, David Kettle 1-0; Stephen Hoey, Ricky McKeown, Robert Wallace, Gareth Hall 0-1 each.
