St Eunan’s victorious in Donegal football upset
St Eunan’s 1-11 Naomh Conaill 0-4
St Eunan’s upset the odds as they completely overwhelmed favourites Naomh Conaill to take the Dr Maguire Cup home for the first time since 2014.
The first quarter saw just two points shared but St Eunan’s took control after the water break with a goal from Eoin McGeehin to lead by 1-3 to 0-3 at half-time.
The Letterkenny side again dominated in the second half with Shaun Patton setting them on their way with a ‘45, their only score from play.
The O’Donnell brothers accounted for 0-6 of the tally with Naomh Conaill’s only point of the second half coming in the 54th minute.
It was a comprehensive win with former county player Rory Kavanagh as manager. They had come in under the radar but really expressed themselves in the decider.
Naomh Conaill finished with 13 men as Eunan Doherty and Charles McGuinness both picked up double yellow cards.
There was a minute’s silence before the game in memory of the late Martin Griffin of Sean MacCumhaill’s, who was fullback for Donegal in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s.
St Euanan's: Shaun Patton (0-01,'45'); Peter Devine, Caolan Ward, Aaron Deeney; Kieran Tobin (0-02), Conor O'Donnell Snr. (0-01), Peter McEniff; Darragh Mulgrew, Kevin Kealy; Eoin Dowling, Shane O'Donnell (0-02), Sean McVeigh; Padraig McGettigan (0-01), Niall O'Donnell (0-03), Eoin McGeehin (1-01). Subs: Conor O'Donnell Jnr for McGeehin (48), Eamonn Doherty for Deeney (48), Sean McGettigan for Kealy (53), Anthony Gallagher for P McEniff (57), Ronan McGeehin for P McGettigan (60+1).
Naomh Conaill: Stephen McGrath; Ultan Doherty, Jason Campbell, Kevin McGettigan; Ethan O'Donnell, Anthony Thompson, Eoin Waide; Leo McLoone (0-01), Ciaran Thompson (0-03, 2f); Eunan Doherty, Odhrán Doherty, Marty Boyle; Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí, Charles McGuinness, Kieran Gallagher. Subs: Brendan McDyer for M Boyle; Keelin McGill for K Gallagher, (both 38), Dermot Molloy for U Dohertyt (40), Nathan Byrne for E Waide (46), John O'Malley for O Doherty (60+1).
Referee: Enda McFeely (St Mary's, Convoy).
Kilcoo notch Down three-in-a-row
Kilcoo 1-12 Burren 0-13
Kilcoo withstood a late fight back from Burren to land their third consecutive Down senior championship title in what was a pulsating finale in Páirc Esler, Newry on Sunday.
Ryan Johnston was effortlessly good at times with four sweetly struck points, however it was an opening quarter goal from his brother Jerome in the fourth minute that handed the holders the initiative.
Playing with the lead, Mickey Moran’s side controlled the contest - as they have become accustomed to doing - and went in 1-7 to 0-5 ahead at the turn. Donal O’Hare defiantly kept the 2018 champions in touch.
Anthony Morgan returned from the sin bin to clip over a vital point for the Magies as the late surge from Burren was to come. Jim McCorry looked to his bench and Shay McArdle landed three late points but Kilcoo hung on to record their tenth Frank O’Hare cup in eleven seasons.
Kilcoo: N Kane; N Branagan, R McEvoy, (0-1, 1f) Daryl Branagan; M Rooney (0-1) Anthony Morgan (0-1), A Branagan; Aaron Morgan, D Ward; C Doherty, R Johnston, (0-4) P Devlin (0-3, 3f); C Laverty, Jerome Johnston (1-0), Shealan Johnston (0-2). Subs: E Branagan for D Branagan (27), A Branagan for S Johnson (h/t), F McGreevy for Laverty (64).
Burren: C Burns; P McCarthy, S Fegan, R Magill; C McGovern, A McEvoy, P Fegan; M McKay, O Murdock; R McGrath (0-2), D Magill (0-1,1 '45), D O'Hare (0-7,7f); D McEntee, K McKernan, G McGovern. Subs: C Toner for A McEvoy (h/t), R Treanor for C McGovern (40), S McArdle (0-3) for McKay (49), P Poland for McGrath (53).
Referee: B Rice (Warrenpoint).
Gowna force a replay with Ramor in Cavan
Ramor United 0-10 Gowna 0-10
Strapping midfielder Ryan Donohoe proved to be Gowna’s saviour at Kingspan Breffni Park as Ramor United were denied the Cavan SFC title.
Donohoe’s 44 metre punt in the 57th minute ensured a stalemate as underdogs Ramor looked on the cusp of victory after star man Jack Brady’s strike a minute earlier gave his side the lead.
Ramor had to dig deep when defender Adam O’Connell was black carded in the 21st minute but they still managed to edge matters 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval.
Gowna had a gilt-edged chance after the restart to grab a goal but inside 10 seconds a double-save by Ramor goalkeeper Liam Brady and a follow-up block by substitute Damien Barkey kept Ramor’s goal intact.
Ramor led by 0-9 to 0-8 after the final water break but then lost their second player, Enda Maguire, with 18 minutes left to play.
Gowna were on the front foot in the dregs of the game but failed to follow-up Donohoe’s point with the requisite accuracy as Ramor grimly hung on until the final whistle.
Ramor United: L Brady; L Lynch, B O'Connell, Matthew Magee; A O'Connell, Jack Brady (0-1), Mark Magee (0-1); L Caffrey, E Maguire; B Smith (0-1), S McEvoy, S Cadden; James Brady (0-5, 3f), A Cole (0-2), D Barkey.
Subs: C Maguire for L Lynch (40); G Mannion for S Cadden (54); K Maguire for L Caffrey (60).
Gowna: R Bannon; Cormac Brady, M McKeever (0-1), R McGahern; F Brady, R Brady, T Madden; R Donohoe (0-1), Conor Brady; R Fitzpatrick (0-2, 1f), O Pierson (0-1), Cian Madden (0-3, 2 f); A Brady (0-2), Conor Madden, C Casey.
Subs: J Madden for F Brady (21); R Keogh for A Brady (54).
Referee: P Clarke (Killinkere).
Mullinalaghta take fourth Longford title in six years
St. Columba’s Mullinalaghta 0-15 Mostrim 0-6
St Columba’s Mullinalaghta proved that form is temporary and class is permanent as they claimed the 2021 Longford SFC title for the fourth time in six years and their first since 2018 with nine points to spare over Mostrim.
Playing in their first final since 1992, Mostrim battled hard but found the going tough against the 2018 Leinster Club Champions.
For all their possession in the opening half, the Mullinalaghta side were only ahead by three at the break - 0-6 to 0-3. In stoppage time, Jayson Matthews somehow missed a glorious goal chance after he had received the ball from Aidan McElligott.
Rian Brady opened the scoring in the sixth minute but two minutes later Padraig Joyce drew Mostrim level. Mullinalaghta were patient in their build up play. Points from Matthews, Cian Mackey and Gary Rogers extended their lead to four in the 13th minute.
Mostrim were back in the game by the 22nd minute when Brian Farrell and Darragh Doherty fired over points. Although they had the ball their attacks were broken down by a resolute Mullinalaghta defence.
Matthews and Brady (free) hit over points to put three between the sides in the second minute of stoppage time. One minute later Matthews should’ve found the back of the net but he hit his effort wide.
Mullinalaghta kicked the first three points of the second half as they stretched their lead to six points after 36 minutes. Mostrim got a much needed point from Doherty in the 37th minute and fired over an excellent score three minutes later.
But Mullinalaghta showed their experience with David McGivney kicking over two points (one free) and Shane Mulligan was denied a goal in the 46th minute. Seamus Hannon scored a mark in the 50th minute to close the gap to five but that was their final score of the game. Hannon was to receive a second yellow minutes later as Mostrim finished the game with 14.
Mullinalaghta ended the game with scores from James McGivney, Gary Rogers and Mackey as they became Longford champions once again.
St. Columba's: P Rogers; S Cadam, P Fox, F Mulligan; D McElligott, S Mulligan (0-1), G Rogers (0-2); D McGivney (0-4, 2f, 1m), J Keegan; M Cunningham, J McGivney (0-1), C Mackey (0-2); J Matthews (0-2), A McElligott, R Brady (0-3, 2fs). Subs: D O'Rourke for P Rogers (24), B Fox for A McElligott (54), C Leonard for Brady (60+2).
Mostrim: C Garvey; S Campbell, M Coyle, N Quinn; S Hannon (0-1, m), S Kiernan, A O'Hara; D Connell, B Farrell (0-1, 1f); M O'Donohoe, A Gallagher, P Joyce (0-1); F Coyle, T Hussey, D Doherty (0-3, 1f). Subs: J Dempsey for O'Donohoe (40), M Hussey for F Coyle (58), D Bloomer for Campbell (60+2), L Kelly for Dempsey (60+5)
Referee: P Maguire (St. Mary's, Granard)
Éire Óg secure first Clare title since 2006
Éire Óg 1-11 Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-09
Mark McInerney’s 17th minute goal proved decisive for Éire Óg to cement a first Clare Senior Football title since 2006 in Cusack Park Ennis on Sunday afternoon.
Up against vastly experienced holders Kilmurry Ibrickane, who were contesting their fifth final in six years, the youthful Ennis side were bolstered by a flicked goal just after the water break on their way to building up a 1-5 to 0-2 advantage.
The holders did inevitably unearth a backlash but late first half goal opportunities for county duo Keelan Sexton and Daniel Walsh were both repelled by a miserly Éire Óg rearguard leaving proceedings at 1-6 to 0-4 by the interval.
Talisman Sexton did convert three successive frees to slash the arrears to just two entering the final ten minutes. However, a Seanie Buckley-trained Éire Óg crucially never relented and after weathering the storm, countered with three injury-time points to garner the club’s 19th senior crown.
Éire Óg: N Murray; M Doherty, A Fitzgerald, R Lanigan; C Russell, C Ó hAiniféin (0-1), E O'Connor (0-1); D O'Neill, D McNamara; N McMahon, D Reidy (0-2), A McGrath (0-1); M McInerney (1-0), G Cooney (0-5, 3f), P Talty (0-1). Subs: I Ugwueru for McMahon (39), D Walsh for Talty (48), T Connellan for McGrath (53), E Courtney (0-1) for McInerney (59), C O'Halloran for Reidy (64)
Kilmurry Ibrickane: D Sexton; J McCarthy, M Killeen, D Hickey; E Coughlan, C Morrissey (0-1), D Sexton; D Walsh (0-1), A McCarthy; K Sexton (0-5, 4f), M O'Dwyer (0-1), A Shannon; M McMahon, D Callinan (0-1f), E Bracken. Subs: M McCarthy for Callinan (39), C Brigdale for Coughlan (48), Coughlan for Morrissey (51, inj.), J Campbell for Bracken (57)
Referee: J Hickey
Glen demolish reigning champions in Derry
Slaughtneil 0-7 Glen 1-13
For the first time in their 73-year history, the Glen club of Maghera got to lift the John McLaughlin Cup for winning the Derry senior championship.
Beaten here at the final play of the final two years ago, they hit the reigning champions Slaughtneil with all they had from the first whistle to the last. It left them partaking in one of the most one-sided Derry finals ever witnessed.
County star Ciaran McFaul took home the player-of-the-match award, scoring three points in total from centre back, two of them in the first quarter alone. They restricted Slaughtneil to a single score in the first half, that coming from Brendan Rogers.
Hopes of a revival were dashed when Danny Tallon poked home a goal after some quick-thinking by Conor Glass, formerly of Hawthorn in the AFL.
With a 1-6 to 0-1 lead at the break, Glen could afford to coast home and send their fans into delirium after beating their parish rivals.
Slaughtneil: A McMullan; P McNeill, B Rogers (0-1), K McKaigue; F McGrath, C McKaigue, K Feeney; P Bradley, P Cassidy (0-1); G Bradley, R Bradley, M McGrath; C Bradley (0-4, 2f), Shane McGuigan (0-1 m), B Cassidy. Subs: C McAlister for R Bradley (28), S McGuigan for G Bradley (35), S Cassidy for F McGuigan (56), M McGuigan for P Cassidy (57).
Glen: C Bradley; M Warnock, R Dougan, C Carville (0-1); T Flanagan, C McFaul (0-3), E Doherty; C Glass (0-3, 1f), E Doherty (0-2 2f); E Mulholland, J Doherty (0-1), C Convery; P Gunning (0-1 1f), D Tallon (1-2, 2f), C McGuckian. Subs: C McDevitt for E Mulholland (45), C Mulholland for C Carville (54), S O'Hara for P Gunning (54), A Doherty for C Convery (56).
Referee: Sean Curran (Faughanvale)
Naomh Mairtin blow away St Mochta’s in Louth
Naomh Mairtin 1-15 St Mochta’s 0-7
Naomh Mairtin were relentless in pursuit of their second Louth senior championship in-a-row against shell-shocked first time finalists St Mochta’s in Ardee on Sunday.
County and indeed club captain Sam Mulroy controlled proceedings with 1-7 from placed balls to lift Joe Ward. In contrast, the underdogs St Mochtas failed to score from play over the hour.
A black card for Mochta’s midfielder Danny Kindlon just before the first half water break allowed the holders to seize the initiative in the decider. Wayne Campbell’s brace before half-time made it 0-8 to 0-2 at the break to the holders.
With a mountain to climb, Declan Byrne and his brother Ciarán found the range from frees for the Louth Village based outfit but once Mulroy finished a late penalty, that would be that.
The final’s ending was marred by an injury to Mochta’s substitute Stephen McCooey who had to leave the field by ambulance. Mick Fanning would pick up a red card in the process.
Naomh Mairtin: C Lynch; C Morgan, T Sullivan, C Healy; J Clutterbuck (0-2), S Healy, M Whelan; W Campbell (0-2), E Whelan; J Murphy (0-1), E Callaghan, S Campbell; C Whelan (0-3,1m, 1f), S Mulroy 1-7 (1-0pen, 6f, 0-145'), JP Rooney.
Subs: B McQuillan for Rooney (42), V Leddy for Murphy (53), M Fanning for Morgan (54), C Smyth for Callaghan (56), E Wright for Clutterbuck (60).
St. Mochtas: J Callan; A English, B Goss Kieran, D Lennon; L Lawlor, C Garland, O Callan; G Garland, D Kindlon; J Farrell, P Englishby, C Lennon; D McMahon; D Byrne (0-6, 6f), C Byrne (0-1,1f).
Subs: S McCooey for O Callan (35), C McMahon for Farrell (46), C Smyth for Goss Kieran (53), O Lennon for English (59), E O'Neill for McCooey (66).
Referee: D Ryan (Sean O'Mahony's).
Blessington take Wicklow title at the death
Blessington 0-11 Baltinglass 0-10
Blessington carved out a sensational win over defending champions Baltinglass with a last minute winner in Aughrim on Sunday.
These teams also clashed in the 1983 final and Blessington also emerged victorious over their west Wicklow neighbours on that occasion.
Blessington led all the way until the final minutes, and that despite Anto McLoughlin missing the target with at least three frees.
Tommy Keogh brought Baltinglass level at 0-9 each in the 58th minute and thereafter exchanges ended in a welter of excitement right to the final whistle.
Paul McLoughlin drilled over a terrific point from a 45 to put Blessington back in the lead. Billy Cullen made it all square at 0-10 in injury time and then the mercurial Kevin Quinn floated over the winner for Blessington after taking a pass from his wing-back Kevin Hanlon.
Blessington: J Sargent; S Bohan, J Gilligan, C Gallagher; K Hanlon (0-1), P McLoughlin (0-2, 1 '45), B Bohan; C Maguire, KJ Rogers; J Cotter, P O'Connor (0-2), E Keogh (0-1); D Cooney, A McLoughlin (0-3, 2f), K Quinn (0-2). Subs: M Shannon for D Cooney, D Boothman, KJ Rogers.
Baltinglass: M Jackson (0-4, 4f); D Gethings, C Lee, K Furlong; P Burke, B Cullen (0-1), T Burke; K Murphy, J Kennedy; C Heaslip (0-2), J Keogh (0-2), S Doody; T Keogh (0-1), A McHugh, J McGrath. Subs: P Burke for S Doody, D K Kelly for A McHugh.
Referee: Darragh Byrne (Ballymanus).
