St. Fechins win Paddy Rice Cup with victory over Naomh Moninne

The hurlers of St Fechins added the Louth Senior Hurling League title to their earlier championship success thanks to this hard earned victory over Naomh Moninne in a robust encounter played under the lights in Darver on Thursday night.

The Dundalk side were on the back foot from very early on following the concession of two goals inside the opening two minutes.

Firstly full forward Seaghan Conneely was played through as he fired past keeper Dylan Carey and the keeper was picking the sliotar out of his net again 30 seconds later after Ruairi Morrissey fired home.

Moninne responded with a goal of their own on three minutes when Conor Murphy struck home from close range which was added to by a good point from the right wing by Sam Phelan.

Over the next twelve minutes the Fechins hit five unanswered points from Paul Mathews (2), Peter Fortune, David Stephenson and Ruairi Morrissey, the latter two from placed balls.

As the game appeared to be quickly getting away from them, Moninne responded with three points of their own, all from play, from the sticks of Mark Gahan, Darren Geoghegan and Murphy.

The South Louth side added another brace of points before grabbing a third goal on 26 minutes when Ryan Walsh's initial shot was saved by Carey before rebounding off a defender into the net.

Sam Phelan and Conor Murphy responded with points before a late point from Walsh had the Fechins leading by 3-8 to 1-6 at the break. 

Dylan Carey denied Paul Mathews a Fechins fourth goal straight from the throw in before Micháel Byrne extended his sides lead with a point from distance.

Looking to get themselves back into the match both Tadhg Dowdall and Geoghegan were on target for the black and amber outfit.

Morrissey and David Stephenson replied with good points before the sides went on to share the next four points leaving the Fechins leading by 3-13 to 1-10 on 45 minutes.

Paul Mathews was causing the Moninne defence all sorts of trouble all night and he took his personal tally to five points before grabbing the winners fourth goal from close range on 47 minutes.

Moninne were forced to play out the last ten minutes of this match with 14 men following the sending off of County regular Darren Geoghegan by referee Kevin Brady.

Conor Murphy flicked a consolation goal to the net for the Dundalk men as the county champions sealed the victory with a point from substitute Ross Berkery and a late goal from fellow substitute Darragh Stone.

Afterwards the Paddy Rice Cup was presented to the Fechins joint captains David Stephenson and Ross Berkery by County Board Vice Chairman Colm Marry.

They will now continue their preparations for their opening match in the Leinster Club Junior Championship again European representatives Amsterdam on November 9.

ST. FECHINS: Dan O Neill; Colin Griffin, Oisin Byrne, Conor Higgins; Sean McConnell, Peter Fortune (0-1), George Allen; Donal Ryan,  David Stephenson (0-3, 1f); Sean Kerrisk, Ryan Walsh (1-1), Micháel Byrne (0-2); Ruairi Morrissey (1-2, 1f), Seaghan Conneely (1-0), Paul Mathews (1-5).

Subs: Ross Berkery (0-1) for M Byrne (44), Darragh Stone (1-0) for Seaghan Conneely (54), Paddy McCarthy for D Lee (56), Luke Black for R Walsh (57), Paddy Reddy for P Mathews (60).

NAOMH MONINNE: Dylan Carey; Gavin Baxter, Darren O Hanrahan, Conor Caraher; Sean Magill, Aaron McGuinness Smith, Conor Whyte; Andrew Mackin, James Murphy; Darren Geoghegan (0-4, 1f), Conor Murphy (2-2), Mark Gahan (0-1); Tadhg Dowdall (0-1), Donal Lee, Sam Phelan (0-2).

Subs: Cathal Azzopardi for G Baxter (44), James Byrne for D Lee (55), David Yore for D O Hanrahan (56).

REFEREE: Kevin Brady.