Louth GAA club | Naomh Moninne HC complete domestic double

County champions Naomh Moninne turned on the style in Darver on Thursday night to see off St Fechins and capture the senior league title to add to their Championship success from last month.

You have to go back to 1998 for the last time the Dundalk side pulled off the senior League and Championship double, and they have Conor Murphy in the main to thank as he finished top scorer on this occasion with 3-3.

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In fact, all six of their starting forwards contributed important scores on the night, with midfielder and captain Darren Geoghegan alongside defenders John Casey and Sean Magill all on target under the lights at the Centre of Excellence.

Moninne had the better of the opening exchanges and led by 0-4 to 0-2 after eight minutes with points from Mark Gahan, Darren Geoghegan (2) and Aaron McGuinness Smith.

Stephen Murphy Louth County Board Secretary (left) and Tom Rice (right) a brother of the late Paddy Rice of Ardee St. Marys presenting the Paddy Rice Cup to Naomh Moninne captain Darren Geoghegan. Photo by Arthur Kinahan

The St Fechins points came from a Rory Morrissey 65m free and one from play Daragh Stone. The lead changed hands when Ciaran Brennan fired past Conor Whyte from a tight angle for the game's opening goal.

The sides exchanged the next two points from Geoghegan and Rory Morrissey frees before a run of five unanswered points from Conor Murphy (2), Gahan (2), and Geoghegan had Moninne four to the good as half-time approached.

The Fechins lost their goalkeeper, Dan O'Neill, to injury before a point from Luke Black had the Fechins trailing by 0-10 to 1-4 at the break.

Two quick-fire points at the start of the second half from Tom O'Dwyer and Tadhg Dowdall extended the eventual winners' lead.

The sides shared the next four points before the impressive Conor Murphy fired home his side's opening goal on 39 minutes.

He added his second three minutes later after his initial shot was saved by goalkeeper Morrissey. Tom O'Dwyer added his second point of the half to leave Moninne in control by 2-15 to 1-5 on 43 minutes.

The Fechins reduced the deficit with a brace of David Stephenson frees, added to by one from play by substitute Micháel Byrne.

Conor Murphy sealed this victory for Aidan Carter's charges with his third goal of the half on 55 minutes, and there was still time for his side to notch further good scores from Geoghegan, Fionn Cumiskey, Murphy again, Gahan and Sean Magill, a beautiful score from the right wing.

The concession of an injury time goal did not deter from the celebrations at the final whistle among the players, mentors and supporters alike.

Naomh Moninne will now continue their preparations for their Leinster Junior Club Championship campaign, where they have a home game against the Kildare representatives on Saturday, 8th November.

Afterwards, the 'Paddy Rice' Cup was presented to captain Darren Geoghegan by Tom Rice (brother) alongside County Board Secretary Stephen Murphy.

Naomh Moninne: Conor Whyte; Darren O'Hanrahan, Gavin Baxter, Kyle Rafferty; Seán Magill (0-1), John Casey (0-1), James Murphy; Darren Geoghegan (0-7, 3f), Michael O'Shea; Fionn Cumiskey (0-1), Tom O'Dwyer (0-2), Mark Gahan (0-4); Tadhg Dowdall (0-1), Aaron McGuinness-Smith (0-1), Conor Murphy (3-3).

Subs: Conor Caraher for D O'Hanrahan (32), Aaron Heaney for T Dowdall (47), Cathal Azzopardi for A McGuinness-Smith (60).

St Fechins: Dan O'Neill; Cormac McAuley, Paddy McCarthy, Conor Higgins; Oisin Byrne, Conor Mathews, Cathal Moynagh; Peter Fortune, Seán Hodgins; Seaghan Conneely, Ciarán Brennan (1-0), David Stephenson (1-4, 4f); Luke Black (0-1), Rory Morrissey (0-2 f), Daragh Stone (0-1).

Subs: Seán Kerrisk for D O'Neill (25), Micháel Byrne (0-1) for S Hodgins (33), Darragh O'Gorman (0-1) for C Brennan (49), Brian O Connell for D Stone (54).

Referee: Patrick Collins (Monaghan).