Louth GAA club | Barrs produce comeback to clinch Christy Bellew Cup
Full-time: Naomh Fionnbarra 0-13 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-8
Naomh Fionnbarra are Louth GAA DKIT Sport Junior Football Championship winners for the fourth time after two late two-pointers from Matthew O'Reilly secured a dramatic victory over Dundalk Young Irelands at Páirc Uí Thaibh, Tallanstown on this afternoon.
The Barrs trailed for most of the contest but produced an excellent second-half comeback to win by two points and bring the Christy Bellew Cup back to Togher for the first time since 2020.
O'Reilly was the hero with two superb long-range scores in the closing minutes, earning the midfielder the Man of the Match award as Brendan Grant's side celebrated a memorable victory.
Young Irelands had enjoyed the better of the opening half and looked well placed to take the title after building a six-point lead. Ruairí Kelly opened the scoring for the Dundalk side in the third minute before Cillian McQuillan levelled from a free.
Cian O'Donoghue put the Irelanders back in front, but McQuillan replied with another point to leave the teams level after eight minutes.
Young Irelands then enjoyed a good spell as captain Jordan O'Donoghue landed a two-pointer before Liam McStravick followed with a point.
Jordan O'Donoghue then scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute. He carried the ball forward before exchanging passes with Kelly and punching the return ball into the net.
The Barrs responded through Niall McCreesh before McQuillan then converted a two-point free to bring his side back within three points.
Young Irelands had a goal disallowed for too many steps, while Fionnbarra also had a chance to find the net when Josh Crosbie's effort was saved by goalkeeper Fergal Sheekey.
O'Donoghue added a free with three minutes left in the first half to restore the four-point advantage. Fionnbarra had a great chance to reduce the lead shortly before half-time when Conor Osborne was fouled inside the penalty area.
Referee Ultan McElroy awarded a penalty and showed Ciarán Murray a black card. McQuillan took the penalty, but Sheekey got down to his left to make an excellent save.
Half-time: Dundalk Young Irelands 1-6 Naomh Fionnbarra 0-5.
Fionnbarra started the second half well as Stephen O'Reilly scored two points in the opening five minutes before Ciarán Markey landed a two-pointer to bring the teams level at 0-9 to 1-6.
The Young Irelands responded through Kelly to move back in front, but scores became harder to find as both sides missed chances.
The Dundalk side remained narrowly ahead, and Dean Maguire added another point with little under 10 minutes remaining to make it 1-8 to 0-9.
With time running out, Fionnbarra needed two scores to turn the game around, and Matthew O'Reilly provided both. The midfielder landed a two-pointer on the hour mark to level the scores before adding another from long range in the 63rd minute.
His second effort put Fionnbarra ahead for the first time in the game, with the Togher men now leading by two points. The Irelanders had a late chance to respond, but Derek Maguire's effort struck the crossbar.
A further opportunity from a free went wide to allow Fionnbarra to hold on for a two-point win. The final whistle was greeted by celebrations from the Fionnbarra players and supporters after a game in which they had spent most of the afternoon behind.
Full-time: Naomh Fionnbarra 0-13 Dundalk Young Irelands 1-8
Naomh Fionnbarra scorers: Cillian McQuillan 0-4 (1tp,1f), Matthew O'Reilly 0-4 (2tp), Stephen O'Reilly 0-2, Ciarán Markey 0-2 (1tp), Niall McCreesh 0-1.
Dundalk Young Irelands: Jordan O'Donoghue 1-3 (1tp, 1f), Ruairí Kelly 0-2, Cian O'Donoghue 0-1, Liam McStravick 0-1, Dean Maguire 0-1.
Naomh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan, Niall McCreesh, 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, Adam Hanratty, Ciarán Markey, Cillian McQuillan.
Subs: Thomas McCreesh on for Conor Osborne (51'), Stephen Doyle on for Chris McGlynn (52'), Hugh Osborne on for Padraig Butterly (56'), William Woods for Niall McCreesh (60').
Dundalk Young Irelands: Fergal Sheekey, Peter McCourt, Ciarán Murray, Conn O'Donoghue, Evan McArdle, Brendan Prendergast, Cian O'Donoghue, James Prendergast, Lee O'Donoghue, Derek Maguire, Jordan O'Donoghue (c), Seán Murphy, Dean Maguire, Ruairí Kelly, Liam McStravick.
Subs: Lee O’Donoghue on for Peter McCourt (10'), Evan McArdle on for Peter Nixon (51'), Jack Waters on for Liam McStravick (55'), Dermot Mone on for Dean Maguire (58').
Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).
Man of the Match: Matthew O'Reilly (Naomh Fionnbarra).