O’Connells clinch Kevin Mullen Shield

O’Connells won their first Louth GAA trophy since 2017 when they captured the Kevin Mullen Shield on Sunday afternoon in Monasterboice with a penalty shootout win over neighbours Naomh Fionnbarra.

In a dramatic final, the Ballygassan side snatched equalisers at the end of normal time and extra time but it was O’Connells who held their nerve to win the shoot-out. The heroes for the winners were goalkeeper John Brennan who pulled off a crucial save, and Matthew Reynolds, who converted the winning kick.

Just after the throw in the Barrs lost Josh Crosbie with a shoulder injury before Conor Culligan got the first point of the game for O’Connells only for Padraig Butterly got the equaliser a minute later.

Robert Quigley put the Bellingham side in front again with a point but the Togher side got the next two points from substitute Jack Regan and Butterly’s second of the game. Both teams number tens got the next two points, Harry Kierans for O’Connells and Jack Murtagh for the Barrs.

A point from Niall Conlon left the score 0-4 each after 27 minutes and the same player got the first goal of the game a couple of minutes later after being put through by Evan Kearney. Thomas McCreesh cut the lead to two but Kearney got the last point of the half to leave the score at the break 1-5 to 0-5 in favour of O’Connells.

Conlon got the first point of the second half to increase his side’s lead to four but the Togher side got the next four points from Regan, Murtagh, Conor Osborne and substitute James Butterly in an eight minute spell to level the game 1-6 to 0-9 after 40 minutes.

O’Connells got their second goal of the game after a series of one twos that finished with Sean Cairns shooting to the net. Colum Kierans reduced the lead to two with a point but Conlon’s third point of the game left three between the sides again.

A free from Murtagh and another point from Osborne cut the margin to one with ten minutes to go. Sub Dean Stanfield made it a two point game with a point for the Bellingham side with just over two minutes to go.

A free form Osborne left one between the sides and in the last minute Kierans got the equaliser and the referee blew the full time whistle on the kickout with the score 2-8 to 0-14 and we were heading for 20 minutes of extra time.

Conor Culligan got the first point of extra time for the Bellingham team and Jack Murtagh got the equaliser couple of minutes later. Substitute Matthew Reynolds put O’Connells in front again but a Chris McGlynn point left the sides level at half time in extra time - 2-10 to 0-16.

Evan Kearney got the first point in the second period of extra time for O’Connells and a Robert Quigley free increased the lead to two a minute later.

Aaron Kearney pulled one back for the Barrs with five minutes left on the clock. Niall Conlon put the Bellingham team two in front again and the same player looked to have won it for his side with an outstanding long range effort to leave it a three point game.

With time almost up and the O’Connells side trying to play keep ball they made a mistake and the ball made its way to Conor Osborne and he shot to the net to level the game 2-14 to 1-17 and there would have to be a penalty shootout to decide the winner of the Kevin Mullen Shield.

O’Connells went first in the shootout and Niall Conlon scored with his kick and Ciaran Murphy also scored with the Barr’s first penalty. Evan Kearney scored the second and so did Conor Osborne. Robert Quigley and Padraig Butterly were both successful with their teams third kicks.

Stuart Osborne scored the Bellingham side’s fourth kick but O’Connells keeper John Brennan got down well to save from Chris McGlynn on the Togher teams fourth kick. It was left to Matthew Reynolds to convert his kick which he duly did to secure the victory for O’Connells.

O’CONNELLS: John Brennan; Sam Shearman, Conor Byrne, Jack McGeough; Emmet Byrne, Stuart Osborne, Nathan Carragher; Conor Culligan 0-2, Sean Cairns 1-0; Harry Kierans 0-1, Niall Conlon 1-5, Cailum Woods; Sean Geeney, Robert Quigley 0-2, Evan Kearney 0-2.

Subs: Dean Stanfield 0-1 for H. Kierans, Tadgh Kearney for S. Cairns, Matthew Reynolds 0-1 for S. Geeney.

Penalty scorers: Niall Conlon, Evan Kearney, Robert Quigley, Stuart Osborne, Matthew Reynolds.

NH FIONNBARRA: Fionn McQuillan; Colin McGrane, Kalum Regan, Chris McGlynn 0-1; Sean Boyle, Stephen Boyle, Dylan Hanratty; Adam Hanratty, Josh Crosbie; Jack Murtagh 0-4(1f), Thomas McCreesh 0-1, Ben Turley; Conor Osborne 1-3(1f), Martin Murphy, Padraig Butterly 0-2.

Subs: Jack Regan 0-2 for J. Crosbie, Colum Kierans 0-2 for B. Turley, James Butterly 0-1 for T. McCreesh, Conor Boyle for M. Murphy, Aaron Kearney 0-1 for J. Regan, Ciaran Murphy for C. Kierans, Liam Markey for K. Regan.

Penalty scorers: Ciaran Murphy, Conor Osborne, Padraig Butterly. Miss: Chris McGlynn.