Louth GAA club | Barrs win Leinster JFC opener against Barcelona Gaels

Naomh Fionnbarra got off to winning ways in their AIB GAA Leinster Junior Club Football Championship campaign by beating Barcelona Gaels by eight points at Páirc Mhuire in Ardee, this afternoon.

Cillian McQuillan led the scoring with ten points, while a first-half goal from Conor Osborne helped the Louth GAA junior champions take control of the first-round encounter.

The Togher side made a bright start when McQuillan converted a close-range free inside the opening minute before Barcelona responded through Kilkerley native Cormac Mallon, who landed an excellent two-point free in the third minute to put the visitors ahead.

The European champions then gained a numerical advantage when Fionnbarra defender Adam Hanratty received a black card in the eighth minute.

Mallon converted another free to put Des Mackin's team two points ahead, but the Christy Bellew Cup winners responded almost immediately with the opening goal.

Stephen O'Reilly delivered a good pass into Osborne, who blasted past goalkeeper Christopher Jordan from close range in the ninth minute before Darragh Murphy replied with a point to bring Barcelona level, but the Barrs soon began to establish themselves.

McQuillan kicked a fine point from distance before adding two frees to put his side three points ahead. Barcelona had several opportunities during this period but were unable to make the most of them, sending a number of efforts wide.

Hanratty returned to the field after serving his black-card suspension, and Fionnbarra continued to build their lead.

Andrew O'Reilly landed an excellent left-footed two-point free from the ground with less than five minutes remaining of normal time to stretch the advantage to five points.

That proved to be the final score of the opening half as the Togher side went into the interval in a strong position.

Half-time: Naomh Fionnbarra 1-6 Barcelona Gaels 0-4.

Fionnbarra made an immediate impact after the restart, with McQuillan kicking a point just 13 seconds into the second half. Mallon replied with a free for Barcelona before Darragh Murphy added another point to reduce the deficit.

However, Fionnbarra responded well, and McQuillan converted another free, a minute later Niall McCreesh created a good goal chance when he broke through the Barcelona defence.

His shot was saved but went over for a point. McQuillan followed with another score before adding his eighth point six minutes later to leave Fionnbarra leading 1-11 to 0-6.

Barcelona refused to give up and produced a late spell of scoring as Conor Murphy landed a fine two-pointer before substitute Thomas Cooney added another point following good work from Mallon.

That brought the visitors back to within five points, but Fionnbarra quickly settled again before Ciarán Murphy converted a free and McQuillan landed a fine two-point free to put eight points between the sides.

Barcelona's Conor Murphy added a point deep in injury time, but Fionnbarra had the final say when Ciarán Murphy converted another close-range free before the final whistle.

The closing stages also saw Samuel Devlin and Thomas McCreesh receive black cards following an incident in added time.

The Togher men now progress to the Leinster quarter-finals, where they will travel to face Wicklow champions Ballinacor on Saturday, 14th November.

Full-time: Naomh Fionnbarra 1-15 Barcelona Gaels 0-10.

Naomh Fionnbarra scorers: Cillian McQuillan (0-10, 1tpf, 4f), Conor Osborne (1-0), Andrew O'Reilly (0-2, 1tpf), Ciarán Murphy (0-2, 2f), Niall McCreesh (0-1).

Barcelona Gaels scorers: Cormac Mallon (0-4,1tpf, 2f), Conor Murphy (0-3, 1tp), Darragh Murphy (0-2), Thomas Cooney (0-1).

Naomh Fionnbarra: Fionn McQuillan; Adam Hanratty, Ronan Callaghan, Adam Kirwan; Hugh Osborne, Josh Crosbie (jc), Andrew O'Reilly (0-2, 1tpf); Matthew O'Reilly, Stephen Doyle; Conor Osborne (jc) (1-0), Stephen O'Reilly, Padraig Butterly; Niall McCreesh (0-1), Ciarán Markey, Cillian McQuillan (0-10, 1tpf, 4f).

Subs: Thomas McCreesh on for Ciarán Markey (51'), Ciarán Murphy (0-2) on for Hugh Osborne (51'), Jack Murtagh on for Cillian McQuillan (59')

Barcelona Gaels: Christopher Jordan; Joe Reville, Niall Meehan, Caolan McGuinness; Samuel Devlin, Donagh O'Buachalla, Jonah Dunne; Conor Murphy (0-2, 1tp), Gavin Sherlock; Aodhan Inglis, Darragh Murphy (0-2), Shane Donegan; Cormac Mallon (0-4,1tpf, 2f), Conor Murphy, John O'Keeffe.

Subs: Eoin Keenan on for Caolan McGuinness (32), Louis Ryle on for Jonah Dunne (45'), Thomas Cooney on for Jon Reville (46'), Jonah Dunne on for Gavin Sherlock (48'), Donal Hastings on for John O'Keeffe (51'), Jack O'Sullivan on for Eoin Keenan (56'),

Referee: Andrew Smith (Meath).