Daingean Uí Chúis (Dingle) 2-13; Austin Stacks 1-12
Paul Geaney may play the supporting role to the Clifford brothers and Sean Ó Shea with Kerry but he was the main man as Dingle claimed the Kerry county SFC title in Tralee on Sunday.
The veteran forward struck for two late goals to ensure there would be unbridled joy on the football front for the first time since 1948 as his strikes shocked Austin Stacks, who themselves were seeking a table topping 14th Kingdom title.
After losing last year’s final to Dr Crokes, the celebration was all the more intense as they had also lost two further finals in the past 13 years.
This was something man of the match Geaney referred to after the game when he declared that the group had made a pact to kick on this year and bring home the silverware.
However that storyline looked like having another disappointing ending for large tracts of the game as Stacks appeared to have enough in the tank to get across the line.
They reckoned without Geaney, though, whose two green flags changed the complexion of the game in the dying moments after their opponents had led from the off to within sight of the finishing line.
The hero can thank his fellow county man Tom O’Sullivan, for it was he who provided the bullet with long balls for his inside man to prove the deadly assassin - as he ended the game with 2-2 to his name. The defender also chipped in with a brace of points as Daingean Uí Chúis hit 1-4 without conceding in a purple patch which saw them turn a two-point disadvantage into a five point lead.
Stacks didn’t give in without a fight and a late penalty from Cian Purcell meant the game was in the melting pot once more.
It was Dingle though who had the final say as the long O’Sullivan ball was won by Ned Ryan and once he transferred to Geaney, there was danger for the losers as he collected and dispatched with great authority to score the winning goal.
Daingean Uí Chúis: Gavin H Curran; Padraig O’Connor, Aidan O’Connor, Tom O’Sullivan (0-2); Tom Leo O’Sullivan, Conor Flannery, Brian O’Connor (0-1); Billy O’Connor, Niall Geaney; Tadhg de Brún (0-1), Paul Geaney (2-2), Mark O’Connor; Conor Geaney (0-4, 0-1 tpf, 1f), M Flaherty, D Geaney (0-3, 0-1 tpf) Subs: D O’Sullivan for P Geaney (temp, 7-13), N Ryan for O’Connor (51), M Geaney for De Brun (51), C Bambury for C Geaney (57), S Óg Moran for T Leo O’Sullivan (58).
Austin Stacks: M Tansley; C Griffin, J Nagle, N Fitzmaurice; E Carroll, A Heinrich (0-2, 1tp), R Shanahan; Je O’Connor (0-2, 1tp), B Murphy (0-3); M O’Donnell, C Horan, D Kirby; P Lane (0-3, 0-1f), C Purcell (1-0, pen), J Kissane (0-1) Subs: J O’Shea for Carroll (ht), D Casey for Fitzmaurice (37), G Horan (0-1f) for Horan (42), R Carroll for Kissane, C Browne for O’Donnell, J Murphy for Griffin (temp, 56-ft).
Ref: Sean Joy.
Loughmacrory St Teresa's 0-18 Trillick St Macartan's 2-11
Loughmacrory club is living proof that rag to riches stories still survive in Gaelic games as they came from nowhere in the recent past to become kingpins of Tyrone football for the first time with an exciting one-point victory over Trillick in Healy Park on Sunday.
Incredibly, the Lough men had never even reached a semi-final up to 2024 so for a small club to surpass all expectations this season will provide hope for similar clubs that they too can enjoy their day in the sun.
They made a lot of the running in this game but when the experienced heads of Trillick brought the game back to level pegging, the odds were they would kick on and leave us with Loghmacrory’s gallant losers’ story.
No one told the underdogs that they should accept that script though and even when Ciaran Daly almost broke their hearts with two late Trillick goals, they refused to bow the knee.
Cometh the hour, cometh Gareth Donaghy who produced a winning point that will be remembered for as long as GAA fans breathe around Lough.
It was by no means a one-man show as another Donaghy, Cathal was immense at midfield while star county U20 forward Eoin Mcelhom and his scoring partner Ruairi Mc Cullagh sparkled all game through against a resolute Trillick rearguard.
McElholm was unlucky not to claim a first half goal as his brilliant effort came back off the crossbar as the winners led by 0-7 to 0-4.
Trillick were rejuvenated after that and Daly’s first-half goal on 19 minutes needed a response which came from McCullagh, McElholm with a two-pointer and a single from Aodhan Donaghy to make 0-12 to 1-6 interval lead.
Midfielder Cathal Donaghy gave the minnows big hope with a hat-trick of points, but Daly yet again cut through to record his second goal.
The side swapped scores until Lee Brennan shot the equalizer from a free in the 55th minute.
It asked the question - who had the bottle to find the winning score? Young McElhom turned provider and Gareth Donaghy ensured his name will be forever enshrined in Lough lore by kicking the winner on the hour mark.
Loughmacrory: O O’Kane; D Curran, N Kelly, A Macidulskas; S Dobbs, R Fox, S Conway; A Donaghy, C Donaghy (0-5, 1tp); G Donaghy (0-1), E McElholm (0-4, 1tp), C Gallager (0-1); P Meenagh, R McCullagh (0-6,0-3f), M McNamee Subs: R Grimley for Meenagh (61)
Trillick: J Maguire; D Gallagher, P McCaughey, Stephen O’Donnell; C Garrity, R Brennan (0-1), M Gallagher; L Gray (0-1), C Daly (2-0); Seanie O’Donnell, M Donnelly (0-1), C Donnelly (0-1); J Garrity, L Brennan (0-5, 0-3f, 0-1 ’45), S Garrity (0-1) Subs: D Tunney for Stephen O’Donnell (39), R Donnelly (0-01) for C Donnelly (43), L Corry for S Garrity (48)
Ref: M Loughran.
Loughmore-Castleiney 2-22 Nenagh Éire Óg 1-22
Two-in-a-row was indeed sweet music to Loughmore-Castleiney as the dual club secured its sixth Tipp hurling title but more importantly landed their first successful defence of the Dan Breen Cup against Nenagh Éire Óg in Semple Stadium on Sunday.
The McGrath powered winners had embarked on this year’s championship determined to make it back-to-back victory and they can thank veteran Liam, a match winner with a goal 13 years ago, who again struck the important green-flag score 12 minutes from time. With a further three points to his credit, this was a man of the match performance and one that gives the Tipp champions another tilt at winning a provincial title.
A disappointing crowd of just over 6,000 turned up on a foul day for the big day in the All Ireland champions back yard and it was lucky rather than great goals which we witnessed at either end.
Poor Nenagh must wonder if they have been cursed for this was their 6th defeat in finals since they made the well-documented breakthrough 30 years ago. Even sadder was the fact that sharpshooter Mikey Ferguson ended up on the losing side after scoring 1-8 in his fifth losing final appearance.
After a video tribute to county football manager Philly Ryan on the Semple Stadium big screen, Heffernan laid on their opening point for Sam O’Farrell before adding four of his own, split between placed balls and play.
The winners led by 0-13 to 0-10 at the break but Nenagh restarted well and trailed by a lone point before a mis-hit John McGrath free was bundled into his own net by goalkeeper Dermot McTiernan.
The holders looked to be cruising as they led by 1-15 to 0-12 but Nenagh found a real purple patch to level in a four-minute burst, which saw sub Tommy Heffernan provide an opportunity for teammate Hickey who slotted over and then he added a great white flag of his own.
Heffernan’s long free was allowed to bounce into the net by goalkeeper Aidan McGrath to level matters.
John McGrath, who finished with 1-5 to his credit, managed to get away a telling pass off the floor to his first cousin Liam whose goal put his side 2-17 to 1-17 ahead.
They went six up thanks to points from four of the McGrath clans and Ed Meagher finding the range.
Jake Morris, Heffernan, with a brace kept, the door open but John McGrath had the last word with a point to seal a three-point victory.
Loughmore-Castleiney: A McGrath; W Eviston, B McGrath (0-1), E Meagher (0-1); J Ryan, L Egan, E O’Connell; N McGrath (0-2), C Connolly (0-2); Ed Connolly (0-1), T McGrath (0-3), C McCormack (0-3, 0-1s/l); L McGrath (1-3), J McGrath (1-5f), C McGrath Subs: L Treacy (0-01) for C McGrath (h-t), T Maher for E Connolly (43, inj), D McCahey for O’Connell (43), P McCahey for McCormack (51), P O’Connell for L McGrath (60+2, inj).
Nenagh Éire Óg: D McTiernan; J Donelan-Houlihan, C Hennessy, M Carey; P Murphy, B Heffernan, M Cawley (0-2); C Ryan, J Mackey (0-1); J Keller (0-2), J Morris (0-5), S O’Farrell (0-1); M Heffernan (1-8, 1-3f, 0-1 65), P Hickey (0-2), B West Subs: T Heffernan (0-1) for West (32), A Carey for Mackey (47), C McCarthy for M Carey (54), B O’Brien for Hickey (56).
Ref: C Doyle (Silvermines).
Na Fianna 1-20 Lucan Sarsfields 0-22
Is there anything more galling for a team trying to make the breakthrough than to lead with time almost up only to lose to a deadly assassin that came calling late in the day?
Such was the misfortune for the gallant Lucan lads and their large following as they led by two points on the point the clock went into the red after an hour’s play before three-in-a-row seeking Na Fianna conjured up magic to strike three times and win when it seemed well-nigh impossible a few minutes earlier.
It was the deadeye finish of county man Sean Currie who caused the west Dublin outfit such heartache as he slotted over the last gasp winner for the Dublin, Leinster and All Ireland holders at Parnell Park on Sunday.
The amazing end came when Brian Ryan, the best player afield on the day, landed his fifth score of the night to cut the deficit to a single point.
Then another Currie, Colin stroked over a free, his ninth of the day, to level matters. Then he did the spade work by winning a long puckout to flick to his brother Sean who nonchalantly tapped over the winner.
Na Fianna: J Tracey; SBurke, C McHugh, D Clerkin; P O'Dea (0-1), L Rushe, P Feeney; B Ryan (0-5), J Meagher; M Murphy, D Burke (1-0, pen), S Currie (0-2); C Currie (0-9, 0-7f), AJ Murphy (0-2), T Brennan Subs: J Kavanagh for Clerkin 45, C McCarthy (0-1) for Brennan 52, L Stacey for Meagher 57.
Lucan Sarsfields: S McClelland (0-1f); M Pappalardo, C Crummey (0-1), J Bellew; M McCaffrey, P Rigney, R Smith; C Walsh (0-1), L Garrigan; C Keher (0-4), D Flannery (0-1), B Coffey (0-10, 0-8f); D Mulqueen, P Crummey (0-2), C Kennedy (0-1) Subs: C Dowling for Mulqueen 43, K Costelloe (0-1) for Garrigan 50, M Coogan for Flannery 53.
Ref: R Hanley (St Brigid's).
GAA RESULTS
Sunday 26 October
Armagh SFC final
Madden Rapparees 0-20 St Patrick's Cullyhanna 0-9
Cork Premier SFC final
St Finbarr's 1-14 Nemo Rangers 1-13
Down SHC final
St Patrick's 2-24 Ballygalget 2-13
Kerry SFC final
Dingle 2-13 Austin Stacks 1-12
Kilkenny SHC final
Ballyhale Shamrocks 1-18 O'Loughlin Gaels 0-12
London SHC final
St Gabriels 2-15 Kilburn Gaels 1-13
Louth SFC final
Naomh Martin 1-18 Newtown Blues 1-11
Monaghan SFC final
Scotstown 0-22 Inniskeen 0-17 (AET)
Offaly SFC final
Tullamore 0-19 Ferbane 1-12
Roscommon SFC final
Padraig Pearses 1-15 St Brigid's 1-15
Sligo SFC final replay
Shamrock Gaels 2-11 Coolera/Strandhill 0-8
Tipperary SHC final
Loughmore-Castleiney 2-22 Nenagh Eire Óg 1-22
Tyrone SFC final
Loughmacrory 0-18 Trillick St MacCartan's 2-11
Westmeath SFC final
The Downs 4-12 Coralstown/Kinnegad 1-15
Wexford SHC final
St Martin's 2-14 Rathnure 0-16, St Anne's
Limerick SFC quarter-final
Mungret St Paul's 1-12 Monaleen 1-10
Waterford SFC semi-final
Rathgormack 1-15 Ballinacourty 1-14
Saturday 25 October
Dublin SHC final
Na Fianna 1-20 Lucan Sarsfields 0-22
Fermanagh SFC final replay
Erne Gaels Belleek 1-12 Derrygonnelly Harps 1-9
Galway SFC final
Moycullen 1-17 Salthill-Knocknacarra 1-15
Laois SFC final replay
Portarlington 1-7 Courtwood 0-7
Mayo SFC final replay
Ballina Stephenites 2-13 Westport 1-15
Meath SHC final replay
Ratoath 2-22 Kiltale 4-10
Limerick SFC quarter-final
Fr Casey's 0-14 St Kieran's 0-11
