Carlingford win McConville Cup to secure Dundalk and District League treble

Due to Oriel Park being unavailable, the Fastfix Brian McConville Cup final was played in Muirhevnamor Gill's Park, only the second occasion in 47 years that the home of Dundalk football did not host the blue riband of Dundalk junior football.

On a bitterly cold October night, Carlingford won 2-1 to make a clean sweep of all three trophies, the league, Clancy Cup, and McConville Cup.

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To join the Elite band of St. Patricks 1945 and 1946, Rangers 2005, Muirhevnamor 2007, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, Shamrocks 2022, who won all trophies on offer to them.

A crowd of 400 patrons braved the cold and dampness and were treated to a tense game played at a very fast pace.

Muirhevnamor took the lead after just 12 minutes of play, Oisin Marron rising highest to meet a left-wing cross to head powerfully past Connor McAvinney.

Carlingford came close to equalising midway through the half, a downward header coming back off the upright.

The ‘Ford’s top scorer then tested Tiernan McElroy with a good strike but failed to add to his tally of 23 goals. It was to prove to be a barren night for Peter Shields.

The second half saw Carlingford dominate play with attack after attack, the pressure finally turning in the 63rd minute when Gary Connor fired a low shot to the bottom corner of the Blues' net.

McElroy, with a great save, denied the Peninsula side from taking the lead shortly after. A diving header from Caolan Haugh in the 88th minute finally broke Muirhevnamor’s resolve.

In one final push, Muirhevnamor saw a brilliant goal-line clearance prevent the game from going into extra time, and jubilant Carlingford fans swarmed onto the pristine surface at the final whistle.

The Brian McConville Cup was presented to Seán O'Connor, captain of the victorious Carlingford team, by Colm McConville, son of the late Brian McConville. The only blight on an enjoyable final was the late sending off of a Carlingford player for a second yellow card.

Carlingford Celtic: C. McAvinney, S. McCarragher, C. Farrel, E. O’Neill, A. Farnon, S. O’Connor, E. Duffy, Q. Ryan, P. Shields, G. Connor, J. McCabe, E. Sheelan, S. McAvinney, A. McGuinness, J. Laughan, F. Scott.

Muirhevnamor FC: T. McElroy, O. Marron, S. Conlon, R. Flynn, A. Flynn, K. Marron, M. O’Kane, D. Duffy, C. Macken, C. Dixon, K. Carroll, E. Kearney, K. Cluskey, K. Brown, L. Macken, R. McNally, J. Bratz, D. Pawelkiewik.

Referee: Arun Doris. Assistants: Paddy White and Ciaran Reilly (Louth Branch).