Louth GAA club | Barrs go top with victory over Na Piarsaigh

The DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship produced another lively contest on Sunday afternoon as Naomh Fionnbarra proved too strong for Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock at the Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda, running out eight-point winners to cement their place at the top of Group Three.

Both sides entered the clash brimming with confidence after opening round victories. Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock had edged past Cuchulainn Gaels in a high-scoring affair last weekend, while the men from Togher overcame Lannléire in their own opener.

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With both teams chasing a second win to seize control of the group, there was no shortage of intensity in the early exchanges.

It was Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock who started brighter. Inside the first minute, Ciarán Murphy made an immediate impact, converting a clever two-pointer from long range.

Moments later, Gerard Rice added another score, and by the fourth minute the town side had raced into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead. The Barrs looked nervous in possession and were off target with their first attempt from a placed ball.

Naomh Fionnbarra, however, soon settled. On 11 minutes, Jack Murtagh opened their account with a superb two-pointer free, neatly judged from distance.

That strike steadied their nerves, and two minutes later Chris McGlynn clipped over a classy score to bring the sides level.

The Togher men grew in confidence, and when Conor Osborne added another point, they had turned the tide completely.
The game’s turning point arrived three minutes later.

A sweeping move carried the ball the length of the field before finding Ciarán Markey, who finished low to the net with composure. Suddenly, the Barrs were 1-3 to 0-3 ahead and in full control.

Although Jamie Fealy responded with an ambitious point, Markey soon added two further scores to stretch the lead. Murphy reduced the deficit with a pair of frees, leaving the half-time deficit in favour of the Togher men.

Half time: Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock 0-6 Naomh Fionnbarra 1-6

The interval came at a good time for Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock, who had looked rattled after the goal. They re-emerged with intent but found it difficult to break down a resolute Fionnbarra defence.

Half time substitute William Woods made an immediate impact, pointing within a minute of his introduction, before Murphy replied with another free for the Drogheda men.

Murtagh converted another placed ball on 37 minutes before Murphy, who was Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock’s most consistent attacking outlet, struck back with a fine two-pointer to cut the margin to just a single score at 1-8 to 0-9. That was as close as they would get.

From there, the Togher men took complete control. Mackin produced a terrific save on 45 minutes to deny Conor Osborne, but the reprieve was short-lived as Stephen O’Reilly slotted the resulting 45.

Markey then delivered a moment of quality, landing a long-range two-pointer that had the crowd applauding. It pushed the margin to five, and the Barrs never looked back.

Colin McGrane added a fine point before Markey struck again, his accuracy and sharp movement tormenting the Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock defence.

The Togher side closed it out in style, with Markey finishing as the game’s top scorer on 1-6, a tally that rightly earned him man-of-the-match honours.

Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock, for all their promising start, went nearly 25 minutes of the second half without raising a flag.

Their attack, so lively in the first quarter, ran out of ideas against a disciplined defence marshalled well by Máirtin Murphy, Josh Crosbie and Chris McGlynn.

The final whistle confirmed a victory for Naomh Fionnbarra, who now sit proudly at the top of Group Three with maximum points from their opening two fixtures.

For Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock, this defeat leaves them on two points, still very much in the hunt for qualification but with plenty to reflect on after letting a strong opening slip away.

Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock 0-9 Naomh Fionnbarra 1-14

Na Piarsaigh/Blackrock: Jordan Mackin; Fionn Tipping, Gerard Rice (0-1), Stephen McGuinness; John Galligan, Michael Woods, Paul Mallon; Conal Myles, Darren McElhinney; James Mahoney, Ciarán Murphy (0-7, 2 tp, 3f), Jamie Fealy (0-1); Joseph Woods, Eoin Farrell, Tommy Muckian.

Subs: Robert Murphy on for Paul Mallon (48'), David Boyle on for Gerard Rice (54'), Matthew McAloon on for Joseph Woods (54').

Naomh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan; Máirtin Murphy, Ronan Callaghan, Kieran Lenihan; Chris McGlynn (0-1), Colin McGrane (0-1), Josh Crosbie; Matthew O’Reilly, Jack Butterly; Jack Regan, Stephen O’Reilly (0-1, 1 45), Conor Osborne (0-1); Ciarán Murphy, Ciarán Markey (1-6, 1tp, 1f), Jack Murtagh (0-3, 1tp).

Subs: William Woods (0-1) for Ciarán Murphy (HT), Seán Boyle on for Kieran Lenihan (39'), Andy McCann on for William Woods (47'), Padraig Butterly on for Matthew O’Reilly (47'), Adam Hanratty on for Josh Crosbie (54').

Referee: Bryan Smith (O’Raghallaighs).