Louth GAA club | Plunketts come out on top against O’Connells

Oliver Plunketts came out on top in an exciting Group Two, Round Two encounter on Friday evening at PPFS, Darver, edging past O’Connells by three points to continue their promising start in the Louth GAA DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship.

In a game that ebbed and flowed, it was the Plunketts’ sharper finishing in the second half, combined with the influence of substitute Ben Boyce and the reliable free-taking of Kristian Nolan, that ultimately separated the sides.

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The early stages gave a taste of what was to follow: a free-flowing contest, heavy on attacking play but peppered with wides and turnovers.

Jamie Byrne set the tone for Plunketts with the opening score inside the first minute, quickly followed by a tidy effort from Barry Reynolds.

O’Connells, however, weren’t long in responding. Niall Conlon opened their account from a free before Robbie Quigley produced a booming two-pointer to put the Castlebellingham men ahead.

The first quarter saw the teams trade blows at pace. Cian Brady was lively in the Plunketts attack, clipping over from play and a free, while O’Connell’s looked dangerous whenever Quigley got on the ball.

Evan Kearney added a fine two-pointer midway through the half, nudging O’Connell’s 0-5 to 0-4 in front, and further points from Conlon and Quigley pushed them three clear.

But Plunketts steadied the ship. Luke Haggins and Brady both found the range, while Byrne levelled matters with a smartly taken score.

O’Connells regained the advantage briefly through Quigley, only for Brady and Byrne to wrestle back control with well-taken points as the half drew to a close.

Nolan then nailed a free in first-half injury time to leave Plunketts two up at the break after an entertaining opening period that could have swung either way.

Half time: Oliver Plunketts 0-10 O'Connells 0-8

The second half began in a similar fashion. O’Connells reduced the deficit immediately through Quigley, before Byrne struck at the other end. Moments later, Quigley again responded, keeping the scoreboard tight.

The game might have turned on its head in the 37th minute when Byrne burst through for the game’s first real goal chance, but O’Connells goalkeeper, Jonathan Brennan, produced a superb reflex save.

Minutes later, Brennan denied Nolan with another outstanding stop, keeping O’Connells very much in the contest.

That resilience seemed to galvanise the Plunketts, however. Boyce, introduced at midfield, made an instant impact with back-to-back points, and Adam Lambe also chipped in as Plunketts stretched their advantage to three by the 47th minute.

With momentum shifting, Nolan began to exert his influence, converting two frees in quick succession and then adding a score from play to put real daylight between the teams. When Adam Smith fired over on 55 minutes, Plunketts had opened up a six-point cushion.

O’Connells, though, were not finished. The game sparked back into life on the hour when referee Declan Dunne showed Plunkett's defender Barry Reynolds a straight red card for an off-the-ball incident with Stuart Osborne.

Reduced to 14 men, Plunketts suddenly found themselves under pressure. Nathan Carragher pulled one back for O’Connells before Evan Kearney landed an excellent two-pointer to cut the gap to just three with time running out.

Yet once again, Nolan’s composure from placed balls proved crucial. The Plunketts' talisman stroked over another free to ease the nerves.

Though Conlon replied with a late free for O’Connells, it wasn’t enough, and Plunketts saw out the final moments to secure a hard-earned win.

Full time: Oliver Plunketts 0-19 O'Connells 0-16.

Oliver Plunketts: Luke Haggins (0-1,1f); Ricky Bateson, David McTeggart, Barry Reynolds (0-1); Adam Lambe (0-1), Jamie Byrne (0-3), David Lambe; Robert Brodigan, Shaun Smith; Adam Smith (0-1), Kristian Nolan (0-5, 4f), Jack Taaffe; Cian Brady (0-4, 2f), Dean Carolan, Cillian Smith.

Subs: Ben Boyce (0-2) on for David Lambe (38’), Adam Brodigan on for Jack Taaffe (50’), Niall Murtagh on for Cian Brady (63’).

O’Connells: Jonathan Brennan; Jack McGeough, Tadhg Kearney, James Walsh; Stuart Osborne, Conor Culligan; Seán Cairns, Harry Kierans; Robert Quigley (0-7, 1 2pf, 1f), Emmet Byrne, TJ Conlon; Niall Conlon (0-4, 3f), Cian Geeney, Bernard Osborne, Evan Kearney (0-4, 2 2pt).

Subs: Justin Cooney on for James Walsh (36’), Conall Clerkin on for Harry Kierans (42’), Nathan Carragher (0-1) for TJ Conlon (46’), Alan McGovern for Cian Geeney (54’).

Referee: Declan Dunne (John Mitchels).