Naomh Muire dominate as they capture All-Ireland Junior Gaeltacht championship

Naomh Muire have been crowned Cómortas Péile na Gaeltachta All-Ireland Junior champions in a one-sided match that saw the Donegal side cruise to a 3-13 to 2-10 victory in Cork. 

The Donegal team proved to be too strong from start to finish as they produced eight different scorers in an all-round team performance that no doubt they will be pleased with. 

Travelling a long distance to Munster, it was Naomh Muire who would lay down the mark from the off when Eoin Ó Máirtín fired over from distance straight from the throw-in.  

With neither side wanting to give up easy scores they both formed defensive shapes, with Lios Poil opting for the long ball game early on with their first two scores coming from such attacks, with Cormac Ó Cinnéide and Cian Ó Cinnéide winning the loose ball on the ground to slot over and take the lead. 

Ó Máirtín would slot over his second point and first free of the afternoon from 13 metres to level matters. 

With little action in the opening 20 minutes, Naomh Muire widened the gap with four scores on the bounce with Harry Ó Ardáin kicking over from a free, while Cian Ó Cinnéide, Nollaig Ó hUigín and Garret Ó Núnáin nailed over from distance to make it 0-6 to 0-2. 

Naomh Muire’s Ó Máirtín would land his third point of the afternoon with five minutes of the half remaining as the Donegal side looked very comfortable and controlled.  

Lios Poil tried to narrow the gap with a free knocked over by Colm Ó Muirthile, but Naomh Muire’s Ó Máirtín was on hand yet again as he fired into the back of the net on the 28th minute after he burst through the Lios Poil’s defence to blast home to leave it 1-7 to 0-3 points at half-time, but the Donegal side could’ve been even further ahead in this one-sided affair.  

Líos Poil needed a quick response early in the second half and that’s exactly what happened when Maitiú Seán Ó Grifin slapped the ball into the back of the net after Nollaig Ó hUigín squared it across the box. 

And while Tuathal Ó Luinnigh would keep his side in a nice lead when he fired over for his side’s opening point of the half, the Donegal side were once again caught sleeping when a long ball into Maitiú Seán Ó Grifin in the corner saw the Líos Poil forward dart through three defenders to fire the ball into the net for his team’s second goal in a matter of minutes. 

With Líos Poil very much back in the game, it was important for Naomh Muire to stay strong, and that they did, when Jeaic Ó Dónaill rounded the keeper to kick off his left and calmly put it into the back of the net to make 2-8 to 2-3 after 35 minutes.  

Naomh Muire kept the scoreboard ticking with a Dónal Ó Duibhlinn point, but Líos Poil kept fighting and fired over three brilliant scores from Cormac Ó Cinnéide while Cian Ó Cinnéide kicked over two from distance. 

But Naomh Muire found their rhythm again to put six between them when lobbing kick from 18 found the fist of Pádraig Mac Giolla Easbaig, who was only on the field a matter of seconds, as he punched the ball into the net as goalkeeper Seán Ó Muircheartaigh left his line in an attempt to catch the ball and intercept the attack. 

Nollaig Ó hUigín had two goal opportunities, with the first chance stopped on the line by Seán Ó Broin, while the second goal chance went inches wide of the post. 

Dónal Ó Duibhlinn would land two more scores for Naomh Muire, while Ó Cinnéide knocked over two points followed by Garret Ó Núnáin kicking a score over for Líos Poil, but the Donegal side remained solid and had a comfortable enough gap to see the game out with Ó Máirtín and Ó Ardáin putting over the final two points as Naomh Muire finished the game 3-13 to 2-10 winners. 

Scorers – Naomh Muire: Eoin Ó Máirtín 1-4, 1 f; Dónal Ó Duibhlinn 0-4; Jeaic Ó Dónaill and Pádraig Mac Giolla Easbaig 1-0 each; Harry Ó Ardáin 0-2, 2fs; Tuathal Ó Luinnigh, Fintan Ó Dochartaigh and Pádraig Mac Eamharcaigh 0-1 each. Líos Póil: Cormac Ó Cinnéide 0-6, 1f; Cian Ó Cinnéide 1-2; Maitiú Seán Ó Grifin 1-0; Colm Ó Muirthile 1f, and Garret Ó Núnáin 0-1 each. 

Naomh Muire: Lee Ó Baoill; Conchúr Ó Canainn, Ferdia O Dochartaigh, Tuathal Ó Luinnigh; Fintan Ó Dochartaigh, Pádraig Mac Eamharcaigh, Dónal Mac a Bhaird; Adam Ó Briain, Darragh Ó Dochartaigh; Jeaic Ó Dónaill, Seosamh Mac Giolla Easbaig, Seán Ó Broin; Harry Ó Ardáin, Dónal Ó Duibhlinn, Eoin Ó Máirtín. Subs: Pádraig Mac Giolla Easbaig for Mac a Bhaird (45 mins); Dara de Faoithe for Ó Dónaill (55 mins). 

Líos Póil: Seán Ó Muircheartaigh; Dara Ó Súilleabháin, Rónan Ó Grifin, Lúcas Ó Grifin; Nollaig Ó hUigín, Garret Ó Núnáin, Seán Ó Conchúir; Donnacha Ó hUigín, Cathal Ó Gealbháin; Cian Ó Cinnéide, Cormac Ó Cinnéide, Seán Ó Cinnéide; Aaron Ó Muircheartaigh, Maitiú Seán Ó Grifin, Colm Ó Muirthile. Subs: Eamonn Ó Beagloich for Ó Cinnéide (28 mins); Rónan O Conchúir for Seán Ó Conchúir (HT); Deaglan Ó Suilleabhain for Colm Ó Muirthile (40 mins); Shane Ó Muircheartaigh for Lúcas Ó Grifin (55 mins).