Louth GAA: Naomh Fionnbarra see off John Mitchels to reach Junior semi
Naomh Fionnbarra 4-13
John Mitchels 2-7
Under the blistering Ardee sun, Naomh Fionnbarra punished John Mitchels at the end of the first half to seal their place in the Junior semi finals for the second season running.
Two goals either side of half time from Jack Regan extended the quarter final beyond doubt. Regan in his first adult season felt at home with two well taken finishes.
The heat overall was unforgiving and you couldn't be harsh on the Ballybailie men for not keeping their concentration at the end of that key opening period.
The concession of an unanswered 1-3 however, would ultimately be Mitchels downfall. Regan finished a dipping ’45 while Ciarán Markey and Conor Osborne added to their handsome tallies to turn the screw.
What also took the spirit out of James Murray’s side was a couple of earlier missed goal chances. Jake GIllespie had the best chance but Fionn McQuillan stood firm to his left and James Clarke fluffed a pass that would have led to a certain break again goal.
Despite the huge opportunities missed, Mitchels John Gallagher cut the gap to two points before the key juncture. His classy effort only inspired the ‘Barrs to shift the gear stick.
Having gone 0-5 to 0-1 ahead in the opening exchanges, you felt Stuart Reynolds’ side was not going to let it happen again. And once Regan banged his second from the restart, that was made very clear.
Finbarrs sweeper Cormac Reynolds thundered over from distance to set the tone in that early part, much to the chagrin of former Newtown Blues team mate Murray on the opposing sideline.
With Markey adding point after point to every blow Togher landed, Conor Osborne capped a fine display with a well finished goal. Markey duly added the next score from the resultant kick out.
It was just the menace and focus Naomh Fionnbarra brought to the thing. The players sensed the game was there and the competition for places at the business end of the championship was very apparent.
A superb solo effort from Gallagher only highlighted his lack of support even further but Josh Crosbie would go the other end and quickly cancel out any ideas of a comeback.
Jack Butterly was well marshalled by John Bingham over the hour but still managed to nab a point in the finish. Other men in green and yellow stood up and that's a nice sign at this time of year.
One of those was the excellent Chris McGlynn, he clipped over his second point of the game and Hugh Osborne rounded up the total. Keeping both fit will be crucial for the Annagassan based outfit.
Gallagher blasted at the end to bring the season to a close. League football will bring them on for next season but for now, Finbarrs have their sights on reclaiming Christy Bellew once again.
NAOMH FIONNBARRA: Fionn McQuillan; Hugh McGrane, Kalum Regan, Ronan Callaghan; Niall Woods, Adam Hanratty, Chris McGlynn 0-2; Josh Crosbie 1-0, Brendan Simms; Hugh Osborne 0-1, Jack Regan 2-0, Conor Osborne 1-2; Cormac Reynolds 0-1; Ciarán Markey 0-5 (2f), Jack Butterly 0-1. SUBS: Máirtín Murphy for Simms (47), Michael McArdle 0-1 for J Regan (47), Ciarán Murphy for Crosbie (55), Ronan McCreesh for Markey (58), James Butterly for Callaghan (58)
JOHN MITCHELS: David Anderson; John Bingham, Andrew Bingham, James Sands; Aaron Kane, Emmet Farrell, Mikey Nulty; James Clarke, Shane Crossan; Jamie Durnin, John Gallagher 2-4 (1-3f), Cathal Corrigan; Alan Mackin; Jake Gillespie, Trevor Matthews 0-3 (1f). SUBS: Stephen Campbell for Clarke (HT), Carl Courtney for Mackin (34), Mickey Quinn for Kane (47), Stephen Bingham for Durnin (51), Anthony Coyle for Sands (55).
REF: Paul Kneel (Kilkerley Emmets).