Tones beat Barrs to go through to JFC semi-final

In a repeat of last year’s dramatic Junior Championship semi-final between these two sides, it was the Wolfe Tones who came out on top this time around, avenging their defeat to Naomh Fionnbarra 12 months ago.

In a tight and tense quarter final in Monsterboice where the weather conditions had a big say in the outcome of this fixture, the Wolfe Tones like their current run of form, came good at the right time, registering six points without reply in the last 10 minutes to seal a four point victory over Naomh Fionnbarra, with talented forward Eoghan Brennan holding his nerve from the dead ball when it mattered most.

A hattrick of frees from Brennan, which followed a Chris Cudden equaliser, and a Dwayne Leavy effort sealed this four-point victory for the Tones, who are through to the JFC semi finals for the third year running.

Before that, Naomh Fionnbarra had their noses ahead in that final quarter, leading by 0-7 to 0-5, before the late Tones onslaught. The wet and windy weather made it understandably difficult for both sides to establish a foothold or any attacking rhythm, in a match littered with turnovers.

The first half saw these elements favour Naomh Fionnbarra, who were bidding to reach their third Junior Championship final since 2019.

With the wind at their backs, the Togher side set up in their defensive shape, making life difficult for their opponents, with defenders, Sean Boyle, Kalum Regan, and Stephen Doyle marshalling that backline, while midfielder Brendan Simms and winger Adam Hanratty put in commendable shifts for their side.

In fact, it was Simms who set up Thomas McCreesh to with a fine strike from range, for the pick of the early scores.  

Darren Weldon who had landed the Tones opening score via a free, turned provider for Eoghan Brennan to convert from play, before a Ciaran Murphy free left it at 0-2 apiece at the end of the opening quarter.

Following a quickly taken free, Adam Hanratty have the Barrs the lead, while a Cormac McArdle free had them 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 18 minutes.

On reflection, the Finbarrs will rue not having a bigger lead to take into that second half, having only amassed 0-6 from 16 first half shots. Dwayne Leavy came around the loop to close the gap to a point following good work by David Bolger and Mark Healy for the Tones.

With the Tones’ kicking into an awkward first half gust, Naomh Fionnbarra’s Martin Murphy collected possession, to help Jack Regan set up Chris McGlynn to give them a 0-5 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

With both sides guilty of coughing up possession not long after winning it back, Cormac McArdle picked up a loose ball to set up Thomas McCreesh for another fine strike to leave it at 0-6 to 0-3 in the Finbarrs’ favour at the break.

Second Half:

You felt that with the wind in their favour, the Wolfe Tones may use it to their advantage. However, John Garvey’s side only managed 0-3 from 14 second half shots in open play, with another Darren Weldon free closing the gap to two upon the resumption.

In their group stage victory over the John Mitchells, Naomh Fionnbarra’s Jack Regan struck for an early second half goal, and the forward came close to repeating the feat, when his effort on the ground was kept out by Tones’ keeper Alan Sweeney, in a game where you felt that a goal either way would feel like a six-pointer.

An Eoghan Brennan free did close the gap to a point, before the Finbarrs responded when a Cormac McArdle free deflected over the bar to keep the Togher side ahead at the end of the third quarter at 0-7 to 0-5.

As the wind and rain gathered pace, the Finbarrs found it increasingly difficult to venture out from defence and make inroads up the pitch.

The Tones pressed up on their opponents, winning 10 out of 12 Finbarrs’ kickouts in that final quarter, with Sam Kelly, Dwayne Leavy and Mark Healy getting their hands on the ball, while defenders Rhys McGovern and David Bolger also got their hands to several breaks, with McGovern driving at the opposition at every opportunity in an excellent outing.

Bolger on the other hand, finished with 25 possessions over the hour, with Leavy have 22 touches.

The Tones also sprung Garret Cooney and Paddy Fanning from the bench, with both players playing their part, with Cooney being fouled for a free which was converted by Eoghan Brennan, one of three struck by him on the bounce in that final 10 minutes.

However, the Tones very nearly came unstuck when Ronan Callaghan’s strike cannoned back off the post, with Conor Osborne’s follow-up effort for a point coming back off the crossbar, as the Wolfe Tones’ breathed a huge sigh of relief.

The Drogheda side soon made it safe, thanks to three frees from Eoghan Brennan, and a Dwayne Leavy strike from play, sealing a 0-11 to 0-7 win, and a semi final date with the O’Connells in a fortnight’s time.

Wolfe Tones: Alan Sweeney; Rhys McGovern, Reece Owens, David Bolger; Sean Flanagan, Alan Fanning, Sean McQuail; Mark Healy, Sam Kelly (0-1); Tadgh Rock, Dwayne Leavy (0-2), Liam Gaffney; Eoghan Brennan (0-5) (4f), Darren Weldon (0-2) (2f), Chris Cudden (0-1).

Subs: Paddy Fanning for Flanagan (47), Garret Cooney for Weldon (47).

Naomh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan; James Butterly, Kalum Regan, Sean Boyle; Ronan McCreesh, Sean Doyle, Chris McGlynn (0-1); Ronan Callaghan, Brendan Simms; Thomas McCreesh (0-2), Cormac McArdle (0-2) (2f), Adam Hanratty (0-1); Conor Osborne, Martin Murphy, Ciaran Murphy (0-1) (1f).

Subs: Jack Regan for Ciaran Murphy (18), Michael McArdle for Butterly (39), Jack Murtagh for Martin Murphy (45), Oisin Madden for Ronan McCreesh (57).

Referee: Stephen Murphy (Naomh Mairtin).