Five-star Letterkenny Gaels overcome Naomh Bríd in extra-time to reach JFC final

Letterkenny Gaels hit five goals but still had to dig deep in extra-time to defeat Naomh Bríd and reach the final of the Junior ‘A’ Championship with a four point win in Killygordon.

Despite three first half goals for Letterkenny Gaels from Conor McBrearty, Shay Doherty and Brian Diver, it was level at half time with Eoin Rush getting six scores and two each from Darren Russell and Callum Gallagher. 

McBrearty would go on to get a hat-trick, but a goal in between those at the other end from Rush, and one on 59 minutes from Gearoid Gallagher sent the game to extra-time, Naomh Bríd down to 14 after Callum Gallagher got sent off following McBrearty's third. 

The man advantage looked to be important against tired legs, while Rush came off hurt for the Ballintra men as the Gaels led by two at half-time, with Frain hitting a two-pointer after the restart to seal the win and set up a repeat of the 2022 final with Carndonagh.

Naomh Bríd made the final by topping Group A, while Letterkenny Gaels were runners-up to Carndonagh and Group B, although they had a facile 3-15 to 0-3 win over Robert Emmets to reach the semi-final stage.

With a breeze in their favour, Naomh Bríd wasted no time in getting off the mark and Eoin Rush lashed over a two pointer in the second minute. 

Darren Russell pointed next, while Callum Gallagher played a free short and after a 1-2 with Liam Duffy, Gallagher kicked over. 

But a first Gaels venture forward proved successful, Brian Diver’s high ball in palmed down by Ronan Frain to Conor McBrearty, with the full forward going to ground and James Callaghan signalled for a penalty. 

McBrearty stepped up and drilled the ball low into the bottom left on nine minutes. 

Callum Gallagher responded with a ‘45, but the Letterkenny men hit the net again as McBrearty and Diver were involved again, the latter driving through and finding Shay Doherty who palmed into the top corner. 

A bursting run and point from Russell levelled the game on 17 minutes, with a McBrearty free getting the first white flag for the Gaels moment later. 

Rush responded after a good move, but a third goal came straight after as Diver powered through and shot for a point, with the ball hitting the post and coming back to him and this time he fired below the crossbar and in. 

The Ballintra side responded well again, a Rush free was followed by a two pointer from the midfielder as he made it look easy, while Liam Duffy’s jinking run and point put them ahead. 

But a first point from play for Aidy Glackin’s men, coming through Ronan Frain, levelled the game at 3-2 to 0-11 with the last kick of the half. 

McBrearty’s free was the first score after the restart, but another good move from Naomh Bríd ended in a Russell point. 

Letterkenny Gaels went back ahead as Liam McAlary pointed from a tight angle, but again Gearoid Gallagher responded to level the game for a fifth time. 

But the Glebe men went ahead again as Jack Keys pointed, before Charlie Robinson’s high ball in was fielded by McBrearty, who turned his man and poked the ball into the bottom corner. 

Once again, Declan McCafferty’s side didn’t let that faze them, a two point free from Gallagher and points from Jack O’Hara and Rush (free) levelling the game once again. 

Conor Walker and Doherty pointed at the other end, just before a first Naomh Bríd goal as Gearoid Gallagher found Rush in a two-on-one and the midfielder tapped the ball past Mark Margey. 

That lead only lasted a minute, with Frain bursting down the right and squaring the ball across, McAlary getting a bit of a touch, but it was McBrearty who completed his hat-trick as he touched in from close range. 

Naomh Bríd lost Callum Gallagher to a red card for an off-the-ball altercation straight after the goal, while Oisin Brogan prevented Keys from getting a sixth goal. 

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But a Rush ball in on 59 minutes was palmed in by Gearoid Gallagher to retake the lead. 

Liam Doherty then hit the crossbar, but Brian Diver’s fisted effort brought the game to extra-time at 5-8 to 2-17. 

Points were exchanged after the restart by Shay Doherty and Russell, but Diver and McBrearty fisted over to put the Gaels two ahead. 

They almost went further ahead as Diver’s fisted attempt went short and Liam Doherty pushed the ball along the line but the danger was cleared just before the whistle went. 

Frain added a two point free off the ground while Naomh Bríd lost talisman Rush, and the game looked to be going the way of the Letterkenny men.

And while Donal Gallagher got a point for Naomh Bríd, McBrearty brought his tally to 3-4 and fittingly ended the scoring for the day as the Gaels will meet Carndonagh in the final.

Letterkenny Gaels scorers: Conor McBrearty 3-4,1-0 pen, 3f; Shay Doherty and Brian Diver 1-2 each; Ronan Frain 0-3,1tpf; Liam McAlary, Jack Keys and Conor Walker  0-1 each. 

Naomh Bríd scorers: Eoin Rush 1-7,2tp,2f; Darren Russell 0-4; Callum Gallagher 0-4,1’45,1tpf; Gearoid Gallagher 1-1; Liam Duffy, Jack O’Hara and Donal Gallagher 0-1 each

Letterkenny Gaels: Mark Margey; Niall Diver, Conor Browne, Charlie Robinson; Brian Diver, Diarmuid Ó Cathail, Liam McAlary; Darren Hunter, Ronan Frain; Conor Walker, Jack Keys, Matthew Winters; Paddy Doherty, Conor McBrearty, Shay Doherty.

Subs: Adam Duffy for Winters (49), Aaron Bonner and Liam Doherty for Duffy and P Doherty (60), Ray Quinn for N Diver (et), Will Jones for Walker (77)

Naomh Bríd: Stephen Doherty; Callum Doherty Kennedy, Damien Cleary, Patrick Gormley; Oisin Brogan, Callum Gallagher, Donal Gallagher; Gearoid Gallagher, Eoin Rush; Eoin Quinn, Darren Russell, Gary McCafferty; TJ Gallagher, Callum McCafferty, Liam Duffy.

Subs: Jack O’Hara for TJ Gallagher (ht) Kevin Timoney for Rush, (67), Rush and Billy Harron for E Quinn and O’Hara (77)

Refere: James Callaghan (Setanta)