Louth GAA club | O’Connell’s claim Kevin McGahon Cup with win against Naps

O’Connell’s came from behind to beat Na Piarsaigh Blackrock by four points to claim the Kevin McGahon Cup at Shawport Páirc MacDiarmada on Thursday evening.

Trailing by a point at the break and struggling to get a foothold early on, the Castlebellingham side came to life in the second half and outscored their opponents by 1-12 to 2-4 to secure the silverware.

READ NEXT: Louth aim “to bring back some silverware” says McLaughlin

It was a slow-burning final, with Dundalk side taking the early initiative. Ciarán Murphy was at the heart of their first-half push, landing four of their five scores, including a pair of frees to move 0-5 to 0-4 ahead by the break.

Na Piarsaigh struck first after the restart through Murphy again, this time with a two-point effort, but from there, the game turned on its head.

A black card to Murphy just minutes later proved a turning point. With the extra man, O’Connell's went through the gears.

Robbie Quigley clipped over a free, and soon after, Cian Geeney pounced for a brilliant goal that gave O’Connell’s the lead for the first time since the opening minute.

That goal opened the floodgates, and scores followed from Jackie Agnew, Emmet Byrne, and Conall Clerkin, with Quigley continuing to punish from placed balls.

By the 52nd minute, O’Connells had hit nine without reply, stretching the gap to 1-13 to 0-7. Na Piarsaigh Blackrock looked stunned, their earlier confidence draining away.

Jamie Feely gave them a brief lifeline with a point and a well-taken goal, but it was a case of too little, too late.

Harry Kierans and Byrne steadied the ship with late scores, and even though David Boyle fired home a thumping goal in injury time, O’Connell’s had already done enough.

O'Connells: Jonathan Brennan; Adam Flynn, Jack McGeough, Tadh Kearney; James Walsh, Stuart Osbourne (0-1), Emmet Byrne (0-2); Jackie Agnew (0-3), Cian Geeney (1-1); TJ Conlon, Andrew Sharkey, Conall Clerkin (0-1); Robert Quigley (0-6, 4f), Niall Conlon, Evan Kearney.

Subs: Harry Kierans (0-2)

Referee: David Fedigan (Hunterstown Rovers)