Louth GAA club | Naomh Moninne HC complete domestic double

The Moninne hurlers turned on the style in Darver on Thursday night to see off St Fechins and capture the Louth Senior Hurling League title to add to their championship success of August.

You have to go back to 1998 for the last time the Dundalk side pulled off the senior league and championship double, and they have Conor Murphy in the main to thank as he finished top scorer on this occasion with 3-3.

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In fact, all six of the starting forwards contributed important scores on the night, with midfielder and captain Darren Geoghegan and defenders John Casey and Sean Magill also on target under the lights at the Centre of Excellence.

Moninne had the better of the opening exchanges and led by 0-4 to 0-2 after eight minutes with points from Mark Gahan, Darren Geoghegan (2) and Aaron McGuinness-Smith.

Stephen Murphy Louth County Board Secretary (left) and Tom Rice (right) a brother of the late Paddy Rice of Ardee St. Marys presenting the Paddy Rice Cup to Naomh Moninne captain Darren Geoghegan. Photo by Arthur Kinahan

The lead changed hands when Ciarán Brennan fired past Conor Murphy from a tight angle. The sides exchanged the next two points from Geoghegan and Rory Morrissey frees before a run of five unanswered points from Conor Murphy (2), Gahan (2), and Geoghegan had Moninne four to the good as half-time approached.

The Fechins lost their 'keeper, Dan O'Neill, to injury before a point from Luke Black had the Fechins trailing by 0-10 to 1-4 at the break.

Two quick-fire points at the start of the second half from Tom O'Dwyer and Tadhg Dowdall extended the eventual winners' lead.

The sides shared the next four points before the impressive Conor Murphy fired home his side's opening goal on 39 minutes.

He added his second three minutes later after his initial shot was saved by keeper Morrissey. Tom O'Dwyer added his second point of the half to leave Moninne in control by 2-15 to 1-5 on 43 minutes.

Conor Murphy sealed this terrific victory with his third goal of the half on 55 minutes, and there was still time for his side to notch further good scores from Geoghegan, Fionn Cumiskey, Murphy again, Gahan and Seán Magill, a beautiful score from the right wing.

The concession of an injury time goal did not deter from the celebrations at the final whistle among the players, mentors and supporters alike.

The Paddy Rice Cup was presented to captain Darren Geoghegan by Tom Rice (brother) alongside County Board Secretary Stephen Murphy.

Naomh Moninne: Conor Whyte; Darren O Hanrahan, Gavin Baxter, Kyle Rafferty; Seán Magill (0-1), John Casey (0-1), James Murphy; Darren Geoghegan (0-7), Michael O'Shea; Fionn Cumiskey (0-1), Tom O'Dwyer (0-2), Mark Gahan (0-4); Tadhg Dowdall (0-1), Aaron McGuinness-Smith (0-1), Conor Murphy (3-3).

Subs: Conor Caraher for Darren O'Hanrahan, Aaron Heaney for Tadhg Dowdall, Cathal Azzopardi for Aaron McGuinness Smith.

St. Fechins: Dan O’Neill, Cormac McAuley, Paddy McCarthy, Conor Higgins, Oisin Byrne, Conor Mathews, Cathal Moynagh, Peter Fortune, Seán Hodgins, Seaghan Conneely, Ciaran Brennan (1-0), David Stephenson (1-4, 4f), Luke Black (0-1), Rory Morrissey (0-2, 2f), Daragh Stone (0-1).

Subs: Seán Kerrisk for Dan O'Neill (inj), Michéal Byrne (0-1) for Seán Hodgins (inj), Darragh O'Gorman (0-1) for Ciarán Brennan, Brian O’Connell for Darragh Stone.

Referee: Patrick Collins.