Louth GAA club | Plunketts defeat Glyde to claim Christy Bellew Cup

The Oliver Plunketts are crowned 2025 DKIT Sport Louth Junior Football Champions after a dramatic extra-time victory over Glyde Rangers at The Grove, Castlebellingham, this evening.

The Drogheda side showed their never-say-die attitude to overturn a late deficit and claim the Christy Bellew Cup for the first time since 2014.

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After playing out a draw last week, there was little to separate them once again, but it was Plunketts’ composure in extra time that ultimately made the difference.

Glyde, who had been slow out of the traps in the first game, started the replay with real purpose.

Niall Sharkey opened the scoring with a fine point from play within 15 seconds, followed quickly by a two-point free from captain Ciarán Sheridan to double the advantage, before adding another close-range effort five minutes in.

Glyde led 0-4 to no score and looked in control before a Cian Brady free finally got the Mell men off the mark. The opening quarter belonged to Glyde, but Plunketts were creating chances, although they just couldn’t convert them.

Plunketts shot wide on several occasions as the wet surface and blustery wind did them no favours.

Glyde weren’t flawless, but their early efficiency kept them ahead as a Tadhg Kellet free pushed them four clear, before a long-range two-point free from Kristian Nolan just before the interval narrowed the deficit to two.

Half-time: Glyde Rangers 0-5 Oliver Plunketts 0-3

Plunketts came out rejuvenated after the restart as a point from Stephen Keely narrowed the gap to one, but Sheridan quickly responded with another superb two-point free from his left boot.

Kellet then added a tidy point from close range to stretch the Tallanstown team's lead to 0-8 to 0-4 by the third quarter. Still, the Mell side refused to go away as Nolan and Robert Brodigan landed important scores to keep them in touch.

Brian Duffy’s inspirational point on 61 minutes seemed to have sealed it for Glyde, but the drama was far from over. In stoppage time, Plunketts pressed forward one last time.

The ball broke kindly to Stephen Keely, who reacted quickest and buried shot past Glyde goalkeeper David Brennan to level the game and bring it to extra time.

Full-time: Glyde Rangers 0-10 Oliver Plunketts 1-7

Plunketts began to believe and had the momentum behind them as Cian Matthews scored a point to put them in front for the first time, but Kellet hit back almost immediately for Glyde.

However, a second wind had clearly taken hold of the Mell men as Keely added another point before goalkeeper Luke Haggins stepped up to land an extraordinary two-point free from distance.

Half-time (ET): Glyde Rangers 0-11 Oliver Plunketts 1-11

As fatigue began to tell, mistakes crept into both sides’ play, but Plunketts found just enough to see it out.

Matthews struck again with a left-footed effort that hit the upright before going over, and substitute Ben Boyce added a fine point late on to push them four clear.

There was still time for one last twist. Brian Duffy rifled a low shot into the net for Glyde to make it a two-point game, but it proved too little, too late.

Glyde can be proud of their efforts in a game that they led for long stretches and showed plenty of heart and battle.

For Plunketts manager, Emmett Kelleher and his players, the long wait is over as they are crowned Louth Junior Football Champions for the fourth time in their history.

They will now take on Shillelagh/Coolboy of Wicklow in the AIB Leinster Club Junior Football Championship on Saturday, 1st November.

Full-time (AET): Glyde Rangers 1-11 Oliver Plunketts 1-13

Glyde Rangers: David Brennan; Darren McKeever, Niall Sharkey (0-1), Conor McCullagh; Gerard Bourton, Jack McKeever, Seán Devaney; Adam Sweeney (0-1), Ciarán Sheridan (c) (0-5, 2f, 2tp); Killian Scott, Aaron Devlin, Olan Crosbie; Brian Duffy (1-1), Tadhg Kellet (0-3, 2f), Cormac Lundon.

Subs: Mark McKeever on for Conor McCullagh (23'), Cein Sheridan on for Jack McKeever (HT), Aaron Myles on for Seán Devaney (45'), Conor McCauley on for Aaron Devlin (57'), Oisin Lynch on for Killian Scott (69'), Shane Mullaney on for Gerard Bourton (69'), Pauric Kearney on for Darren McKeever (74').

Oliver Plunketts: Luke Haggins (0-2, 1tpf); Gary Keogh, David McTeggart, Barry Reynolds; Adam Lambe, Jamie Byrne, Cillian Smith; Robert Brodigan (0-1), Shaun Smith; Adam Smith, Kristian Nolan (0-3, 3f), Jack Taaffe; Cian Brady, Dean Carolan (c), Stephen Keely (1-2).

Subs: Ben Boyce (0-1) on for Cian Brady (43'), Conor Haggins on for Jack Taaffe (50'), Cian Matthews (0-1) on for Barry Reynolds (54'), Jack Taaffe on for Dean Carolan (72'), David Lambe on for Kristian Nolan (74'), Niall Murtagh on for Adam Smith (79').

Referee: Paul Kneel (Kilkerley Emmets).