St. Fechin's secure fourth consecutive title

The hurlers of St Fechins captured a fourth 'Anchor Tours' Louth Senior Hurling Championship title in a row with this well merited victory over Knockbridge in this final played at St Brigid's Park Dowdallshill on Sunday afternoon.

In what has been a difficult year for the club following the tragic death of their manager Niall 'Trigger' McEnaney on the St Patrick's weekend, this team has regrouped and will celebrate this deserving victory in his memory.

Even in the last week the club suffered another loss with the sudden death of Anton Mooney and both were remembered in speeches during the cup presentation after the final whistle.

On the field of play no one will deny the Termonfeckin outfit this victory but things could have been so much closer if only their opponents had capitalised on more of their scoring opportunities.

They had 15 wides in total, ten in the second half alone in comparison to the Fechins tally of 6 in total. On days like this a team must take every opportunity presented to it, however on this occasion it is Knockbridge who failed to take their chances and their wait to add to their last championship success in 2020 goes on.

The Beaulieu side were straight on the attack from the throw in and Paddy Lynch opened the scoring sending over a point straight off a sideline cut out on the right wing.

A foul on full forward Seaghan Conneely presented Lynch with the opportunity to double the early advantage from the resultant 20 metre free. Brian Corcoran was making his first championship start for Knockbridge and he was on target with their first point from left of the post on four minutes.

He was off target with his sides next chance before county stalwart Peter Fortune restored the Fechins lead from distance. The sides shared the next four points with the Knockbridge midfield pair of James Costello and Sean Flynn both on target from play in reply to points from Sean Hodgins and Lynch.

Paul Mathews was denied the games opening goal as his effort was well saved by keeper Mark Wallace. Sean Kerrisk and Costello then exchanged points to leave the South Louth side in front on 13 minutes by 0-6 to 0-4.

They then took command racking up five unanswered points to open up a seven points lead on the run in to half time. Paddy Lynch accounted for three of them, two from open play, with Hodgins adding his second of the half and one from a long range free from midfielder David Stephenson.

With the game slipping away from them, Knockbridge were given a lifeline late in the half as Ricky McKeown's delivery from a sideline cut from the left wing was volleyed past keeper Dan O Neill by Sean Flynn from the edge of the square.

A late point from another free by Paddy Lynch had his side going into the dressing rooms at the break leading by 0-12 to 1-4. Just like the first half Lynch opened the scoring again on the the resumption with a point from a free awarded for a foul on Paul Mathews. 

The County footballer failed to have the same impact on this game as he did 12 months ago where he tormented the Naomh Moninne defence in their 3 in a row victory. 

David Kettle responded with a point from close range before the Fechins effectively killed off this match as a contest when Seaghan Conneely took a good pass from Hodgins to fire past keeper Wallace on 35 minutes for their one and only goal.

To their credit Knockbridge responded with a brace of points from Costello and Shane Fennell (free), 1-13 to 1-7. Conneely was denied a second goal again by Wallace before Donal Ryan fired over from long range.

Paddy Lynch added to his personal tally with points nine and ten both from frees in between which Shane Fennell fired over a 65 metre free. Knockbridge were not devoid of chances late in the game as they accounted for four wides between the 54th and 58th minutes.

Taking over the free taking duties, following the withdrawal of Shane Fennell, full forward Ricky McKeown wrapped up his sides scoring with a brace of frees.

Substitute Ruairi Morrissey sealed the victory and confirmed the destination of the 'Paddy Kelly Cup' back again to Termonfeckin with an injury time point from play. Afterwards the cup was presented to the St Fechins joint captains David Stephenson and Ross Berkery.

ST. FECHINS: Dan O Neill; Cormac McAuley, Oisin Byrne, Colin Griffin; Conor Mathews, Peter Fortune (0-1), George Allen; David Stephenson (0-1 free), Donal Ryan (0-1); Paddy Lynch (0-10, 6 frees, 1 sideline) Danny Morgan, Sean Kerrisk (0-1); Sean Hodgins (0-2), Seaghan Conneely (1-0), Paul Mathews.

Subs: Ross Berkery for C Mathews (46), Ruairi Morrissey (0-1) for D Ryan (60), Micheál Byrne for Sean Hodgins (60), Barry Devlin for S Conneely (60).

KNOCKBRIDGE: Mark Wallace; Andrew Smith, Ronan Byrne, Daire McKiernan; Ben Goss Kieran, Conor Quigley, Stephen Kettle; Sean Flynn (1-1), James Costello (0-3); Shane Fennell (0-2 free, 1 65f), David Kettle (0-1), Gareth Hall; Brian Corcoran (0-1), Ricky McKeown (0-2 frees), Robbie Wallace.

Subs: Stephen Hoey for S Fennell (53), Andy McCrave for D McKiernan (30).

WIDES: St Fechins 6 (5 in first half); Knockbridge 15 (5 in first half).

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paddy Lynch (St Fechins).

REFEREE: Fr. Derek Ryan (Sean O Mahoney's).