Louth GAA club | Barrs make light work of Mals to progress to JFC semi-final
Naomh Fionnbarra 5-20 Naomh Malachi 0-4
Naomh Fionnbarra booked their place in the Louth GAA DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship semi-final following a heavy victory over Naomh Malachi at Cullen Autoparts Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver, on Friday night.
The Barrs took control from the early stages and never looked back, with five goals helping them to a comfortable victory. Niall McCreesh led the way with two goals, while Ciarán Markey, Stephen O’Reilly and substitute Hugh Osborne also found the net.
Conor Osborne opened the scoring after three minutes before Stephen O’Reilly quickly doubled the advantage. The Mals got off the mark with a point, but the Tougher men responded strongly as they began to take a firm grip on proceedings.
Matthew O’Reilly fisted over before Andrew O’Reilly, Markey and McCreesh all found the target. The first goal arrived midway through the first half when McCreesh finished from close range, and he followed that with another point three minutes later.
Stephen O’Reilly converted a free before Markey struck for the Barrs' second goal with his close-range effort ruled to have crossed the line. Andrew O’Reilly then produced one of the scores of the game when he landed an excellent two-pointer.
He followed that with another fine point off his left foot before Adam Kirwan also found the target. Jason Clarke registered a point for the Courtbane side shortly before the break, but the Fionnbars were firmly in control heading into the dressing room.
Half time: Naomh Fionnbarra 4-12 Naomh Malachi 0-2
There was little sign of a Mals comeback after the restart as McCreesh and Matthew O’Reilly added points before McCreesh struck for his second goal four minutes into the second half.
It was a fine individual effort as he drove through before finding the corner to stretch his team's advantage further. Ciarán Markey converted a free before Ronan Callaghan came forward to land another placed ball off his left foot.
Jamie Kelly replied with a good point for the Mals after being set up by substitute Jack Kirwan, but Naomh Fionnbarra continued to dominate. They struck for another goal in the 45th minute when Stephen O’Reilly turned his marker and fired low into the corner.
Mals goalkeeper Darrin Kearney came forward to convert a free, but it did little to halt his opponents' momentum. Markey added another free before the Barrs continued to increase their advantage in the closing stages.
Substitute Jack Murtagh got on the scoresheet before adding another from a free. Fionnbarra saved their fifth and final goal for the hour mark when substitute Hugh Osborne finished from close range.
It completed a commanding performance from Brendan Grant's team, who never allowed Naomh Malachi a way back into the contest.
McCreesh was particularly influential with his two goals, while Fionnbarra carried a scoring threat throughout their attack and continued to punish the Mals even after making a number of second-half changes.
Iarla McMahon, Jason Clarke, Jamie Kelly and Kearney supplied the scores for Naomh Malachi but they were unable to contain a Naomh Fionnbarra side which had the result secured well before the final whistle.
The one-sided affair sends Naomh Fionnbarra through to the Junior Championship last four.
Full time: Naomh Fionnbarra 5-20 Naomh Malachi 0-4
Naomh Fionnbarra scorers: Niall McCreesh 2-3, Ciarán Markey 1-3 (0-3f), Stephen O’Reilly 1-2 (0-1f), Andrew O’Reilly 0-4 (1tp), Matthew O’Reilly 0-2, Hugh Osborne 1-0, Jack Murtagh 0-2 (1f), Conor Osborne 0-1, Adam Kirwan 0-1, Ronan Callaghan 0-1 (1f).
Naomh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan; Máirtín Murphy, Ronan Callaghan, Adam Kirwan; Chris McGlynn, Josh Crosbie (jc), Andrew O’Reilly; Matthew O’Reilly, Jack Butterly; Conor Osborne (jc), Stephen O’Reilly, Pádraig Butterly; Jack Murtagh, Ciarán Markey, Cillian McQuillan.
Subs: Jack Murtagh on for Jack Butterly (HT), Adam Hanratty on for Andrew O’Reilly (HT), Thomas McCreesh on for Niall McCreesh (36'), Stephen Doyle on for Chris McGlynn (40'), Hugh Osborne on for Conor Osborne (40').
Naomh Malachi scorers: Darrin Kearney 0-1 (1f), Jamie Kelly 0-1, Jason Clarke 0-1, Iarla McMahon 0-1.
Naomh Malachi: Darrin Kearney; Seán McArdle, Lee McShane, Jamie Kelly; Shea Burns, Daniel Mulligan, Donal Begley; Kevin McShane, Jason Clarke; Matty Campbell, Iarla McMahon, Darren Clarke (c); Conor Nicholson, Collie Rooney, Dean Murtagh.
Subs: Jack Kirwan on for Dean Murtagh (HT), Ronan McElroy on for Conor Nicholson (38'), Shay Rooney on for Donal Begley (42'), Ciaran Hughes on for Lee McShane (55'), Oisin McArdle on for Collie Rooney (58').