Holders stunned as unfancied Moninne prevail
Nh Monnine 2-13 St Fechin’s 1-7
STABANNON was the venue on Thursday last for the first upset in the Louth SHC when Naomh Moninne, last winners in 2010, saw off holders St Fechin’s with a strong second-half performance to run out winners by nine points.
The Termonfeckin outfit started brightly and grabbed an early goal from full forward John Crosbie, which was added to a minute later with a pointed free from Paddy Lynch. Moninne then responded with a brace of pointed frees from Ronan Geoghegan.
The sides shared the next six points as the Fechins held a 1-4 to 0-5 lead with 25 minutes played, but in the time that remained to half-time Moninne saw the experienced Diarmuid Murphy fire over a good point from play from just inside the 65-metre line and Geoghegan then added his third pointed free of the half to leave the sides tied at the break - 1-4 to 0-7.
Vincent Hynes fired over the opening point on the resumption for the south Louth outfit, but the Dundalk side’s response was impressive and they accounted for the next four points in a row through Stephen Rafferty, John Martin (2) and Diarmuid Murphy between the 37th and 47th minutes - 0-11 to 1-5.
Substitute Niall Devlin grabbed a welcome point for the Fechin’s on 48 minutes, but they were unable to stop their opponents from grabbing a first goal on 53 minutes, scored by Stephen Rafferty from close range.
Centre half forward John Martin and county regular Paddy McCormack then exchanged points, before Darren O’Hanrahan restored his side’s six points advantage in added time with a good score from the left wing.
Four minutes into injury time Moninne sealed this impressive victory when Andrew Mackin fired home a second goal past keeper Stephen Hackett, to the delight of the Dundalk side’s supporters.
This coming Thursday St Brigids Park in Dowdallshill will be the venue for the round two all-Dundalk clash of Naomh Moninne and Pearse Og at 7.30pm. Pearse Og suffered a 2-19 to 1-11 defeat to Knockbridge in Darver last Thursday evening.
NAOMH MONINNE: Paul Delaney; Paul Challoner, Chris Lennon, Andrew McArdle; Mattie Fee, Oisin Drumm, Diarmuid Murphy 0-2 (1f); Darren O Hanrahan 0-1, Feidlelm Joyce 0-1; Ronan Geoghegan 0-3 (fs), John Martin 0-4, Collins Connolly 0-1; David Yore, Andrew Mackin 1-0, Stephen Rafferty 1-1. Subs: Stephen Ryan for C Connolly (47min), Niall Cafferkey for R Geoghegan (57).
ST FECHIN’S: Stephen Hackett; Cormac McAuley, Darren McDonnell, Wayne Tracey; Robert Moynagh, Cathal Ryan, Oisin Byrne; Paddy Lynch 0-2 (fs), Paddy McCormack 0-1 (f); Donal Ryan, Vincent Hynes 0-1, Seaghan Conneely 0-1; David Stephenson, John Crosbie 1-1, Michael Ryan. Subs: Barry Devlin for W Tracey (4min), Niall Devlin for J Crosbie (40).
REFEREE: Gerry Keoghan (Meath)