Louth GAA club | Barrs brush Nicks aside to book place in JFC final

Naomh Fionnbarra booked their place in the Christy Bellew Cup final after an impressive 11-point victory over St Nicholas at the Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.

The Barrs did most of the damage during a dominant opening half as they held St Nicholas scoreless and built up a 0-11 to 0-0 interval advantage.

The game had originally been scheduled for Páirc Uí Mhuirí in Dunleer but was switched to Drogheda because of an unplayable pitch. The rain had stopped before throw-in and the sun later appeared, although the surface remained slippery.

St Nicholas actually created the first major opportunity after three minutes, but Fionn McQuillan denied them with a good save.

Once Fionnbarra settled, however, they gradually took control. Niall McCreesh opened the scoring after six minutes before Ciaran Murphy doubled the advantage with a close-range point.

Conor Osborne then struck twice in quick succession as the Togher side moved four clear. Andrew O’Reilly had an opportunity to increase the advantage when he burst through the middle, only for Shane Finegan to produce an excellent save.

McCreesh soon added his second point before Stephen O’Reilly provided the first two-pointer of the afternoon with a fine long-range effort.

Ciaran Markey converted a free and Stephen O’Reilly followed with another excellent score as the Barrs continued to pull away.

Andrew O’Reilly completed an impressive first half by converting a two-point free, sending Fionnbarra into the break with an 11 point to no score lead.

Half time: Naomh Fionnbarra 0-11 St Nicholas 0-0.

St Nicholas needed a major response and finally found a breakthrough shortly after the restart.

Con Sheehan’s initial effort was saved by McQuillan, but Hayden Quinn reacted quickest to the rebound and finished to the net from close range.

Fionnbarra responded immediately through midfielder Matthew O’Reilly before Markey converted another free. The Nicks then struck for a second goal in the 37th minute when half-time substitute Leo Quinn powered a shot beyond McQuillan.

At 0-13 to 2-0, there was at least some hope of a St Nicholas recovery, but Fionnbarra quickly shut the door. Matthew O’Reilly landed his second point before Pádraig Butterly got on the scoresheet to restore a healthy advantage.

Markey added another point in the 49th minute before Fionnbarra finally found the goal their performance deserved. Stephen O’Reilly supplied the pass and Murphy finished from close range in the 53rd minute to put the result beyond any doubt.

Andrew O’Reilly added the final point of the afternoon as the Barrs comfortably negotiated the closing stages to secure a 1-17 to 2-0 victory.

It was an impressive all-round display from Fionnbarra, particularly in a first half when their defence kept the Nicks scoreless while their attack steadily built an 11-point advantage.

The victory sends the Togher side into their first Christy Bellew Cup final since 2023, where they will face Dundalk Young Irelands. Fionnbarra will be chasing a fourth Junior Championship title following previous successes in 2010, 2015 and 2020.

Full time: Naomh Fionnbarra 1-17 St. Nicholas 2-0

Naomh Fionnbarra scorers: Stephen O’Reilly 0-3 (1tp), Andrew O’Reilly 0-3 (1tpf), Ciaran Murphy 1-1, Ciaran Markey 0-3 (0-2 frees), Matthew O’Reilly 0-2, Conor Osborne 0-2, Niall McCreesh 0-2, Pádraig Butterly 0-1.

St Nicholas scorers: Hayden Quinn 1-0, Leo Quinn 1-0.

Naomh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan; Adam Hanratty, Ronan Callaghan, Adam Kirwan; Chris McGlynn, Josh Crosbie, Andrew O’Reilly; Matthew O’Reilly, Jack Butterly; Conor Osborne, Stephen O’Reilly, Pádraig Butterly; Ciaran Murphy, Ciaran Markey, Niall McCreesh.

Subs: Thomas McCreesh on for Pádraig Butterly (53’), Seán Boyle on for Chris McGlynn (58’), Stephen Doyle on for Andrew O’Reilly (62’).

St Nicholas: Shane Finegan; Alex Jordon, Donal Carr, Aaron Flanagan; Cebhan Houshidari, Sam Reilly, Dylan Brogan; Hayden Quinn, Shane Downey; Philip Kirwan, Roy Kierans, Con Sheehan; Alan McCordick, Fionn Meagher, Alex Finnegan.

Subs: Leo Quinn on for Alex Finnegan (HT), Paudie Downey on for Hayden Quinn (40’), Ross Brady on for Con Sheehan (45’), Jamie O’Brien on for Alan McCordick (55’).

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).