Special year for Moninne

Naomh Moninne 0-16 Knockbridge 0-8

NAOMH Moninne have made it a double success in the Special Hurling competitions (played without County players) in Louth this year. They added to their earlier Special Championship success with this victory over holders Knockbridge in the Special League Final played in Darver on Sunday afternoon.

The Dundalk outfit had a man of the match performance from young midfielder Darren Geoghegan, where the Waterford IT student finished top scorer with 13 points.

Geoghegan accounted for the first four points of this encounter before Sean Byrne grabbed the village sides first point from a free on 11 minutes.

The deficit was reduced to one with a point from play from Sean Marry and another Byrne free. Geoghegan responded with his fifth point of the half before Gerard McKeown and Ultan McEnaney exchanged points to leave Moninne two in front with half time approaching.

In the time that remained Knockbridge ensured that the sides went in level at the break 0-6 a piece with good points from the ageless Mick Lundon and Sean Byrne.

Feidhelm Joyce grabbed the eventual winners opening point on the resumption which was replied to by one from Gareth Hall. The sides were level at eight points a piece on 45 minutes but it was the black and amber outfit who dominated the closing quarter.

Darren Geoghegan accounted for seven of the last eight points with six of them from placed balls. Eoin Murphy also got on the scoresheet with a good point from play to seal Moninne’s deserving victory as they got their hands on the Colm Geary Cup (former Naomh Moninne player) for the very first time.

Aft erwards the Colm Geary Cup was presented to the Naomh Moninne Captain Darren O Hanrahan by the Co Board Chairman Des Halpenny.

NAOMH MONINNE: Graham Harrington; Donal Lee, Oisin Drumm, James Murphy; Paul Challoner, Mattie Fee, Tadhg Litchfield; Darren O Hanrahan, Darren Geoghegan (0-13, 10 frees); Padraig Fallon, Feidhelm Joyce (0-1), Donal Connolly; Stephen Ryan, Eoin Murphy (0-1), Ultan McEnaney (0-1). Subs: Alan Carr for D Connolly, Caoilte O Rourke for U McEnaney.

KNOCKBRIDGE: Brendan McNally; Stephen Hoey, Ricky McKeown, James Searson; Andrew Smith, Liam Molloy, Ronan Mulholland; Peter Brennan, Gerard McKeown (0-1); Sean Byrne (0-4, 3 frees), Gareth Hall (0-1), Sean Marry (0-1); Dara Magee, Mick Lundon (0-1), Robert Wallace. Sub: James King for D Magee.

REFEREE: Noel Mullaney (Monaghan).