St Naul’s won their first ever All-Ireland Comortas Peile na Gaeltachta title as the Mountcharles side overcame hosts Tourmakeady in today’s Junior final.
St Naul’s 2-14 Tourmakeady 2-8
A first-half goal by Cathal Lowther and a second-half penalty from top scorer Stephen Griffin – who ended with 1-7 – fired John McNulty’s team to glory in Mayo.
St Naul’s had needed extra time on Sunday to defeat Lispole from Kerry 2-19 to 2-12 and the Parish of Inver men played twice on Saturday, defeating Moindearg of London 4-20 to 2-4 and Cork’s Átha an Ghaorthaidh 2-16 to 0-4.
Peadar Mogan, this year’s Donegal minor captain, traveled today to line out in the final.
Stuart Johnston – who was named as the Man of the Match – scored two early points for St Naul’s while Griffin arrowed over a free from nearly half-way.
Tourmakeady bagged a goal midway through the first half from Darren Kelly, but Mogan’s long ball in was fisted hime by Lowther and St Naul’s were 1-7 to 1-4 ahead at the break.
A second Tourmakeady goal, just after the start of the second period from Kevin Dolan, rocked St Naul’s, but when Griffin blasted home a penalty they were on their way to a historic win.
Tourmakeady had Michael Ronan sent off in the 44th minute.
Griffin and John Relihan, who came on as an early substitute, kept the scoreboard ticking and kept St Naul’s on their way to silverware.
St Naul’s: Patrick Burke; Enda Lynch, Edward Kane, Conor Gavigan; Stuart Johnston (0-2), John Rose, Peadar Mogan; Barry Griffin, Lee McBrearty; Des McGroarty, Cathal Lowther (1-1), Barry Rose (0-1); Stephen Griffin (1-7, 5f, 1-0 pen), Shane Conneely (0-1), Daniel Brennan (0-1). Subs: John Relihan (0-2) for D McGroarty (10), Conor McBrearty for Lynch (35).
