Louth GAA club | Moninne record emphatic victory over St Fechins
Naomh Moninne 1-28 St Fechins 0-15
Six weeks after relinquishing their Championship title to the same opposition, the hurlers of Naomh Moninne sent out a clear message that they want to get their hands on some silverware this year by recording this emphatic victory over St Fechins in the opening round of the Louth GAA Senior Hurling League at the Point Road last Thursday night.
A brace of points apiece from Darren Geoghegan and the impressive John Casey, as well as one from Mark Gahan, had the Dundalk side leading by five points after just seven minutes of play.
After Sean Kerrisk had responded with the visitors' opening point, the sides shared the next four points.
Gahan added his second point of the half before three successive points from the sticks of Paddy Lynch (2) and David Stephenson had the Fechins trailing by 0-8 to 0-6 on the quarter hour.
Moninne responded with three of their own, which included one from Michael O Shea before full forward Eoin Murphy netted the game's only goal from close range after Sam Phelan's initial shot was saved by keeper Dan O Neill, 1-11 to 0- 6.
They continued to apply the pressure and went on to lead by 1-18 to 0-8 at the break.
The scores continued to flow in this high-scoring encounter as the sides shared the opening eight points on the resumption.
Three further points from the Fechins, which included good scores from substitute Donal Ryan and Ruairi Morrissey, had them trailing by 1-22 to 0-14 with ten minutes remaining.
Moninne wrapped up this impressive victory with late points from Darren Geoghegan, who took his personal tally to ten points, and Ciaran McKelvey.
Naomh Moninne: Conor Whyte; James Murphy, Darren O Hanrahan, Conor Caraher; Sean Magill, Aaron McGuinness Smith, John Casey (0-5); Darren Geoghegan (0-10, 4f), Michael O Shea (0-2); Ciaran McKelvey (0-4), Conan Trainor, Fionn Cumiskey; Sam Phelan, Eoin Murphy (1-2), Mark Gahan (0-5).
Subs: Tom O Dwyer for C Trainor, David Yore for E Murphy, Aaron Heaney for F Cumiskey.
St. Fechins: Dan O Neill; Sean McAleer, Oisin Byrne, Ryan McGinley; Cathal Ryan, Peter Fortune, Paddy McCarthy; Cathal Moynagh, Sean Kerrisk (0-1); David Stephenson (0-4, 1f), Barry Devlin, Paddy Lynch (0-7, 4f), Darragh O'Gorman, Ruairi Morrissey (0-2), Darragh Stone.
Subs: Conor Higgins for P Lynch, Donal Ryan for B Devlin, Zac Lennon for R Morrissey, Seamus McKenna for C Ryan, Paddy Reddy for S McAleer.
Referee: Martin Dawson.