Louth GAA club | O’Connells get JFC up and running with victory

A hugely entertaining Saturday night clash saw the O’Connells get themselves up and running with this opening round victory over a plucky Annaghminnon Rovers in Darver in Group 2 of the DKIT Louth Junior Football Championship.

In a first half which saw five goals, the O’Connells managed to edge themselves ahead at the interval, thanks mainly to a first half hattrick of majors from the lethal Robert Quigley, who helped himself to 3-3 on the night.

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Any side who boasts the scoring prowess of Robert Quigley and Niall Conlon at their disposal will always fancy their chances of going far in any competition, with the dynamic duo accounting for 3-8 of the O’Connells final tally.

Quigley’s first half intervention was necessary from an O’Connells perspective, as Annaghminnon Rovers asked serious questions of last year’s semi finalists, taking a 2-1 to no score lead inside eight minutes.

Rovers had their own talented forward to boast about in the form of the livewire that was Dwayne Markey, who latched onto a first time delivery by Colin Campbell from an O’Connells kickout, before the forward evaded keeper Jonothan Brennan to slot to the net.

Annaghminnon were edging the O’Connells on the kickout early doors, with Colin Campbell, Dylan McArdle and Conor Russell thriving in that middle sector.

McArdle pointed, before a neat one two between Shane Grimes and Campbell saw the latter fire home Rovers’ second green flag. Shooting with the breeze at their backs, the O’Connells quickly settled.

Following a point from Niall Conlon, a neat passing move from a turnover saw Sean Cairns and Conlon combine for Quigley to fire to the net to leave three between the sides after nine minutes.

Quigley found the net again minutes later, before the same player collected a Bernard Osbourne footpass to put the O’Connells side ahead at the end of the opening quarter.

In a topsy turvy first half where Annaghminnon gave the O’Connells their fill of it, back to back points from Rory Phelan put his side back ahead at 2-3 to 2-2.

However, the O’Connells continued to reap the rewards of kicking the ball long and early into their attacking three, including Conlon and Quigley, with the latter sealing his 18 minute hattrick, following a one two with Conlon, to leave the Castlebellingham side ahead by 3-2 to 2-2 in a crazy opening 20 minutes.

Further scores from Harry Kierans and Quigley added to this lead, as the O’Connells got on top of the Annaghminnon kickout, winning six out of 12 Rovers restarts in that opening period, with Bernard Osbourne, Stewart Osbourne and Emmet Byrne supporting Jackie Agnew and Sean Cairns in the middle sector.

In fact, Stewart Osbourne finished with 25 possessions to his credit. However, the O’Connells were guilty of some wayward kick passing at times, as scores from Dwayne Markey (2), Shane Grimes, and Conor Russell left the sides level at 3-4 to 2-7 approaching half time.

1-5 of this tally came as a result of turnovers, as Rovers capitalised on some cheap concessions of the ball from the O’Connells. A late free from Robert Quigley did mean that the O’Connells had their noses in front at the break

Second Half:

The second half saw the O’Connells introduce subs Andrew Sharkey and Cian Geeney into the fray, as well as move Evan Kearney into the half back line, with Emmet Byrne moving in the other direction.

These changes worked a treat, with Byrne’s early second half goal giving his side a four point lead, six minutes after the restart, with Niall Conlon trading scores with Annaghminnon’s Conor Russell.

From there, the O’Connells were able to keep their opponents at arm's length, Niall Conlon continuing to find the range from play, as did subs Cian Geeney (2) and Andrew Sharkey (1), with the latter’s footpassing around the corner for forwards to latch onto, leading to several scores, while Robert Quigley and Jackie Agnew added to their tallies along with Bernard Osbourne.

There was also time for Emmet Byrne to drill home his second goal following a clever dummy to evade his marker.

To their credit, Annaghminnon Rovers continued to battle for each ball, despite showing signs of fatigue in that second half.

James O’Connor who was a bundle of energy from wing back, landed three impressive scores, while some late two pointers from the handful Dwayne Markey kept the O’Connells honest.

However, the O’Connells were able to tag on those scores to keep their opponents at bay, seeing off Rovers with eight to spare at the finish as they look ahead to a clash against St Oliver Plunketts this weekend coming.

O’Connells: Jonathan Brennan; Adam Flynn, Jack McGeough, Tadgh Kearney, Alan McGovern, Stewart Osbourne, Emmet Byrne (2-0); Jackie Agnew (0-2), Sean Cairns; Harry Kierans (0-1), Robert Quigley (3-3), TJ Conlon; Bernard Osbourne (0-1), Niall Conlon (0-5), Evan Kearney.

Subs: Andrew Sharkey (0-1) for Kierans (HT), Cian Geeney (0-2) for McGovern (HT), James Walsh for Tadgh Kearney (36), Conal Clerkin for TJ Conlon (50), Nathan Carragher for Bernard Osbourne (57).

Annaghminnon Rovers: Ciaran O’Reilly; Christopher Connolly, Tomos Byrne, Tiernan O’Brien; Nathan Buckley, Conor Russell (0-1), James O’Connor (0-3); Colin Campbell (1-1), Dylan McArdle (0-1); Fergal Markey, Paraic Russell, Ronan McRedmond (0-1); Rory Phelan (0-2), Shane Grimes (0-1), Dwayne Markey (1-6) (1 f), 1 tp) (1tpf).

Subs: Diarmuid Murray for O’Brien (16), Michael Marron for Fergal Markey (48), Helvis Douglis number for T Byrne (48), Aidan Lee Martin for McRedmond (48), Seamus McConnon for McArdle (54).

Referee: Stephen Johnson (Glen Emmets).