‘Bridge take direct route

Knockbridge Naomh Moninne 3-15 3-13

KNOCKBRIDGE are through to the final of the Louth Senior Hurling Championship as group winners following this hard fought victory over holders Naomh Moninne at St Brigids Park, Dowdallshill last Thursday night.

The concession of two late goals denied Moninne a second group victory, where they were hoping to add to their win over Mattock Rangers a week earlier and they must now face St Fechins in the semi final.

Knockbridge had three points on the board inside the opening three minutes from the sticks of Gareth Hall, David Kettle and Shane Fennell but the sides would be tied up at three points a piece after eight minutes of play with all three of the Moninne points coming from frees by Darren Geoghegan.

Knockbridge went in front when Peter Brennan scored a good point on the turn before Ronan Geoghegan struck for the black and amber sides first goal on 10 minutes. The sides exchanged the next two points before Moninne went four points clear thanks to another brace of Darren Geoghegan points, the second from a 65 metre free, 1-6 to 0-5.

The village outfit had the better of the exchanges in the time that remained to the break scoring three unanswered points from Ronan Byrne and Shane Fennell (2) to leave them trailing their town opponents by 1-6 to 0-8 at half time.

Midfielder Feidhelm Joyce doubled Moninne’s advantage at the start of the second half with a good point from play, however it did not take long for Knockbridge to tie up matters with the next two points from Fennell and Gareth Hall.

Darren O Hanrahan and Gerry McKeown then exchanged points before David Kettle fired over to put Knockbridge in front on 37 minutes, 0-12 to 1-8.

A second well taken goal from Ronan Geoghegan on 42 minutes saw the lead changing hands again before Knockbridge struck for their first goal of this encounter from close range by David Kettle on 44 minutes.

A good interception from full back Chris Lennon denied them a second goal with Shane Fennell firing over the resultant 65 metre free.

Three successive points from young Darren Geoghegan had Brian Brady’s side two points up at 2-13 to 1-14 with just four minutes remaining. Some poor defending then let Knockbridge in for two quick fire goals scored by Gareth Hall and Peter Brennan, both from close range.

Moninne however were not going to go down without a fight and Ronan Geoghegan completed his hatrick of goals on 60 minutes with another good finish.

His side would finish with just 13 men with both Paul Challoner (second yellow card) and John Martin (red card) sent off in injury time by referee Jim O Rourke.

Gerry McKeown sealed the Knockbridge win and with it their place in the show piece final on Sunday September 30 with the closing point of the match. KNOCKBRIDGE: James King; Stephen Hoey, Ronan Byrne (0-1 free), Stephen Kettle; Mark Wallace, Conor Kerrigan, Andrew Smith; Gerry McKeown (0-2), Shane Kerrigan; David Kettle (1-2), Gareth Hall (1-2), Sean Marry; Shane Fennell (0-7, 6 frees), Peter Brennan (1-1), Ciaran Deane. Subs – Conor Deane for Ciaran Deane (36 mins), Robert Wallace for S Marry (41).

NAOMH MONINNE: Donal Connolly; Donal Lee, Chris Lennon, Paul Challoner; Mattie Fee, Diarmuid Murphy, Stephen Rafferty; Darren O Hanrahan (0-1), Feidhelm Joyce (0-1); Padraic Fallon, Johnny Carter, Darren Geoghegan (0-10, 7 frees); Ronan Geoghegan (3-0), Oisin Drumm; Daire Flanagan. Subs – John Martin for J Carter (29), Ultan McEneaney for D O Hanrahan (43), Ciaran McGlynn for D Flanagan (53), Stephen Ryan for O Drumm (55).

REFEREE: Jim O Rourke (Monaghan).

• On the same night in Darver, St Fechins completed their group campaign in the Senior Hurling Championship with a comfortable 7-16 to 0-7 victory over Mattock Rangers to secure their place in the semi final where they will face Naomh Moninne.

The Fechins had victory all but wrapped up at half time when they led by 4-9 to 0-6, with Sean Conneely accounting for three goals of his sides final tally.

St Fechins scorers: Seaghan Conneely (3-0), Paddy Lynch (17), Michael Ryan (1-3), Vincent Hynes (1-1), Sean Brennan (1-0), Brendan Hynes, Oisin Byrne, Sean McConnell, Brian Stephenson (0-1 each).

Mattock Rangers scorers: Gary Rellis (0-5), Peter Mullan (0-1), Graham Condon (0-1).

GAA FIXTURES