FL2: Barrs beat Gaels for first time since 2006
April 08, 2019Naomh Fionnbarra 3-7 (16)
Dundalk Gaels 1-11 (14)
Naomh Fionnbarra recorded a 2 point win over Dundalk Gaels in the ACL Division 2 Round 2 on Sunday afternoon. Played in sunny and windy conditions the game swung to and fro but the Barrs hung firm in the end to beat the Gaels for the first time since 2006. The Finbarrs started brightly and Jack Butterly had the ball in the back of the net after 2 minutes. William Woods then hit the post with a goal effort before nailing a free. This was in the middle of a purple patch for the Gaels as they scored 5 points to lead by 1. Woods then was unlucky to hit the post with 3 long range frees however the Togher forwards were alert and Padraic Murphy nabbed a point form 1 rebound and then lobbed the Gaels keeper to score a cheeky goal from another.
The Barrs were in full flow at this stage and the Dundalk men could not keep them at bay. Hugh Osborne scored a nice point after a powerful run after some good defending by the Finbarrs full back line who were very solid throughout. Woods then rounded the keeper who took him down as he scored a goal. The referee Stephen Johnson made the strange decision of disallowing the goal and then only giving the keeper a yellow card even though he took out Woods. Unfortunately, William missed the reslting penalty. This however didn't seem to affect the Togher man as Jack Butterly put Woods through for a goal which he buried and he then scored the point of the game with a stunning effort of the outside of the boot. The Barrs went in at the short whistle ahead by 8. Half time score: Naomh Fionnbarra 3-4 (13) Dundalk Gaels 0-5 (5).
In fairness to the Dundalk men they started the second half brighter and scored 2 frees in a row. A lovely Woods point from distance kept the Togher men 7 ahead. 2 more points from the Gaels were answered by a Conor Osborne effort after a nice move leaving 6 in it with 10 minutes to play. An unanswered goal and 2 point for the Gaels made for a nervy finish as the Dundalk men got to within 1. Once again Conor Osborne scored a tidy point with his left to give the Toghermen the breathing space they needed to close out the game.
Naomh Fionnbarra team: Matthew O'Reilly; Hugh McGrane, Kieran Lenehan, Kalem Regan; Bryan Sharkey, Hugh Osborne 0-1, Chris McGlynn; John Doyle, Darren McConnon, Jack Butterly 0-1; Adam Hanratty, Conor Osborne 0-2, Mairtin Murphy, Jack Butterly 1-0, William Woods 1-2(1f), Padraig Murphy 1-1. Subs: Ciaran Markey for Adam Hanratty, Nicholas Butterly for Padraic Murphy.
