Fechin’s pass their Barr exam in style
WHEN they were pipped for Intermediate glory in 2014 by an emerging Sean O’Mahony’s side you would have bet the feckin’ house on the Hoops making amends sooner rather than later.
But like houses, final appearances don’t come cheap - just ask the Finbarrs - and it’s taken four years for St Fechin’s to navigate their way back to the big stage.
They had to earn their October 14th date with destiny as Naomh Fionnbarra scrapped back from eight points down to lead by three midway through the second-half, but a strong finish edged Eugene Judge’s troops home.
For the second year running the Barrs were left to ponder what might have been as a poor start and a missed firsthalf penalty proved too heavy a handicap on run to the line.
It won’t come as much consolation to Paddy White or his players, but it was a cracking game, and not least because of the Barr’s stubborn refusal to accept their fate after falling 1-5 to 0-0 behind after just 12 minutes.
County men Ronan Holcroft and William Woods finished with 1-6 and 1-5 respectively, and Holcroft had 1-3 on the board before anyone else from either side opened their account.
The Barr’s were struggling in almost every department at that stage but there’s nothing like a goal to lift a few heads.
Conor Osborne did just that with a 20th minute strike that won’t be winning any power awards, but nonetheless deceived Naill McDonnell enough to settle in the bottom corner.
And almost like a switch, that goal completely altered the flow of the game as the Barrs assumed control.
Two superb scores from Woods and Jack Butterly cut the deficit to three points and although Holcroft replied with a close-range free, the Barrs could and should sliced another big chunk off Fechin’s lead shortly before half-time.
It was one of the easiest decisions Brian Brady had to make all evening as he penalised Niall McDonnell for pulling down Jack Butterly as he prepared to pull the trigger.
Bernard Osborne appeared to beat McDonnell from the spot but the ball struck the butt of an upright and, much to the relief of the Fechin’s brigade, away to safety.
A Woods free made it 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time, but the Barrs will feel they should have been on level terms.
But they continued to dominate after the re-start and they belatedly got back on level terms with a brace of frees from Woods either side of a Conor Osborne point.
Woods showed his predator’s instinct to bring the Barrs comeback full circle, slapping a Mairtin Murphy pass beyond McDonnell to make it 2-6 to 1-6.
By that stage St Fechin’s only had a solitary Holcroft free to show for almost a half hour of action, but wing back Matthew Flanagan got them back on track and another purple patch similar to their grand opening saw them regain control of the contest.
Three points without reply drew them level and a goal set up by Bevan Duffy and finished by his brother Eoghan made it 2-10 to 2-7.
With Paul Matthews’ influence on the game growing following his switch to attack, his persistence put four between the side.
Woods kept the Barrs hopes alive with a free, but it was the Fechin’s who found an extra gear in the closing stages as Holcroft and Matthew Flanagan sealed the deal with injury-time points.
NAOMH FIONNBARRA: Andy McCann; Hugh McGrane, Kieran Lenehan, James Butterly; Bryan Sharkey, Hugh Osborne, Niall Woods; John Doyle, Darren McConnon; Bernard Osborne 0-1, Conor Osborne 1-1, Jack Butterly 0-1; Adam Hanratty, William Woods 1-5 (4f), Mairtin Murphy. Subs: Padraig Butterly for McConnon.
ST FECHIN’S: Niall McDonnell 0-1f; Colm O’Neill, Niall McCabe, Leo McGrane; Conor Haughney, Paul Matthews 0-1, Matthew Flanagan 0-3; Bevan Duffy 0-1, Donal Ryan; Alex Smith, Jamie McDonnell 0-1, Joe Corrigan; Eoghan Duffy 1-0, Niall Devlin, Ronan Holcroft 1-6 (5f). Subs: Brian Devlin for A Smith, Fergal McEvoy for E Duffy, Sean McConnell for D Ryan.
REFEREE: Brian Brady.