Late All-Ireland Club heartbreak for Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin 

A cruel late twist in the All-Ireland Club JFC final seen An Cheathrú Rua edge out Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin and take the win. 

With the game seemingly wobbling towards extra-time, the contest’s standout player Fionan Ó Conghaile pounced right at the end of four minutes of injury time to finally seal it. 

Cian Ó Domhnaill passed up on a glorious chance for the Galway outfit to win moments earlier. But with Naomh Padraig coughing up possession straight from the subsequent kick out, the game’s decisive blow was then landed. 

On a crisp but calm Jones Road, Naomh Padraig would have been more than content with their opening half efforts. 

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After a cagey opening first quarter, where the sides were locked at three each, the Donegal and Ulster champions really turned the screw. 

And three points on the trot from Daniel McCauley’s side had them 0-5 to 0-3 clear going into added time at the end of the first-half. 

Kevin Lynch had kicked the opening point of the game from a free but an An Cheathrú Rua brace, one from Fionan Ó Conghaile and one from Padraig Mac Donnacha, flipped the early dynamic. 

A direct ball into the area from Cormac McColgan just missed Lynch’s swipe but the same player was on hand on six minutes when he again squared it from another free. 

A trademark Jonathan Toye burst almost got its reward but his effort from out the park just tailed wide. 

The dangerous looking Ó Conghaile then made it 0-3 to 0-2 before Naomh Padraig finally found gear. 

A superb Cormac McColgan clip from the wide right squared it and with Kevin Doherty quickly following that up, Naomh Padraig led for the first time. 

Indeed, the Inishowen side seemed to have legitimate claims for a penalty in the lead-up to that effort as Oisin McIntyre looked to be bundled over inside the area. 

On 20 minutes another Lynch free made it 0-5 to 0-3 but it was an effort kicked in frustration as the player was called back just as he’d turned his man and zoned in on goal.

As An Cheathrú continued to chalk up an alarming number of wides, 11 in that opening half hour alone to Naomh Padraig’s one, the Connacht champions did at least have the final say of the first stanza as Myles Mac Donnchadha halved the deficit. 

An Cheathrú Rua opened on the restart with real intent as Mac Donnchadha cracked the foot of the post straight from throw-in. 

Feargal Ó Se then levelled it up on 32 minutes however Naomh Padraig, after another direct ball towards Lynch caused bother, again edged in front as the same player nabbed his fourth, and first from play. 

Direct running from Caolan McColgan then sourced the time and space for the Donegal player to make it 0-7 to 0-5. 

And blistering pace once again from the wide right seen McColgan travel all the way inside the area but his attempted square just evaded Lynch and the chance went begging. 

An Ó Se brace, one from play and one from a free, left it 0-7 apiece nearing the final ten minutes while an off-cue Toye effort from a free meant it remained deadlocked down the stretch. 

With nerves and fatigue taking over, both sides squandered possession and opportunities as late trades from Paudie Mac Cormac and Caolan McColgan seemed to have sent this one to extra-time.

However, late in the red Ó Conghaile popped up to sail over a winner for An Cheathrú Rua. 

Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin scorers: Kevin Lynch 0-4,3f; Caolan McColgan 0-2; Kevin Doherty 0-1; Cormac McColgan 0-1. 

An Cheathrú scorers: Fionan Ó Conghaile 0-4; Feargal Ó Sé 0-2,1f; Padraig Mac Donnacha 0-1; Myles Mac Donnchadha 0-1;  Paudie Mac Cormac 0-1,1f

Naomh Padraig, Usice Chaoin: Oran McCauley; Cormac Kelly, Caolan Harkin, Darragh McIntyre; Ronan Hoy, Jonathan Toye, Jason McCallion; Eunan Mullan, Cormac McColgan; Oisin McIntyre, Kevin Doherty, Rory Hirrell; Joseph McCauley, Kevin Lynch, Caolan McColgan. 

Subs: Drew McKinney for Doherty (36), Michael McCarron for Hoy (44), Andrew McCarron for McCallion (55); Dermot Keaveney for Toye (60).

An Cheathrú Rua: Seamus Ó Flatharta; Sean ÓTiarnaigh, Iarfhlaith Ó Conchubhair, Daragh Ó Ceoinin; Colin Ó Domhnaill, Myles Mac Donnchadha, Ethan De Paor; Stiofan Ó Briain, Padraig Mac Donnacha; Padraic O Loideain, Maitiu Ó Domhnaill, Eanna Mac Cormac; Fionan Ó Conghaile, Michael Ó Briain, Feargal Ó Sé. 

Subs: Oisin Ó Locknain for Mac Cormac (37), Paudie Mac Cormac for ÓTiarnaigh (47), Cian Ó Domhnaill for S Ó Briain (55); Sean Óg Loideain for P Mac Donnacha (60+4).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Luimneach)