Knockbridge clinch Maurice Murphy Championship Cup

MAURICE MURPHY CUP FINAL 2023
St Fechins 1-11
Knockbridge 0-16

The hurlers of Knockbridge survived a late fightback from their opponents St Fechins holding on in the end to capture the 'Maurice Murphy' Championship in this 2023 Final played in Darver on Sunday morning.

Held over from last year a feature of this game was the appearance of eleven of the current Louth panel who will now focus their attention on the counties next NHL Div3A clash at home to Sligo in Dowdallshill this Sunday at 1pm.

Knockbridge were quick out of the traps firing over three successive points inside the opening two minutes from Robert Wallace, David Kettle and Gareth Hall. The south Louth outfit replied with their opening point from a Rory Morrissey free after which the sides shared the next two points.

The Bridge extended their lead to four points on 14 minutes with a good score from midfielder James Costello and a free from Shane Fennell. Their lead was still four points on 20 minutes, 0-8 to 0-4, when Fennell added another brace in reply to points from David Stephenson and Sean Hodgins.

Knockbridge had the better of the closing minutes of the first half with Kettle, Wallace and Stephen Hoey (free) adding points to leave them in front by 0-11 to 0-4 at the break. David Stephenson fired over the opening point for the Fechins on the resumption but they soon found themselves eight points in arrears as Fennell fired over another brace of frees.

The sides shared the next four points before Rory Morrissey struck over successive frees to leave his side still trailing by seven 0-16 to 0-9.

A good Sean Hodgins point and another Morrissey free cut the arrears and they ensured supporters of both teams an exciting finish to this match when substitute Paddy Keane fired home the games only goal from close range to leave just two between the teams.

In added time Ross Berkery almost won it dramatically for the current county champions only for his late effort finding the side netting as Knockbridge held on for the victory.

Afterwards Josephine Maguire and Maurice Murphy presented the 'Maurice Murphy Cup' to the winners captain Conor Kerrigan.

KNOCKBRIDGE: Conor Kerrigan; Ben Goss Kieran, Ronan Byrne, James Searson; Jake McNamara, Andrew Smith, Daire McKiernan; Sean Flynn, James Costello (0-1); Stephen Hoey (0-3, 1 free), David Kettle (0-4), Robert Wallace (0-2); Shane Fennell (0-5, 4 frees), Gareth Hall (0-1), Brian Coughlan. Subs - Mark Wallace for D Mc Kiernan, Aidan O Brien for B Coughlan, Rory McConnell for S Fennell.

ST FECHINS: Stephen Hackett; Colin Griffin, Cormac McAuley, Paddy Reddy; Ciaran Brennan, Cathal Ryan, Conor Higgins; Ross Berkery, George Allen (0-1); Paddy Lynch (0-1), David Stephenson (0-3, 1 free), Sean Hodgins (0-2); Danny Fallon, Rory Morrissey (0-4 frees), Barry Devlin. Subs used - Paddy Keane (1-0) and Zac Lennon.

REFEREE: Stephen Shields.