Division 6 North League Review

A full review on the Division 6 North League Campaign

Following on from last year’s top four finish in Division 6, O’Connell’s GFC came into this season with optimism that another positive season could be achieved. This season seen a change to the format of Division 6, with the league being split into North and South divisions. O’Connell’s GFC were placed into Division 6 North along with Cuchulainn Gaels, Annaghminnon Rovers, Glyde Rangers, Stabannon Parnells, Na Pairsaigh, Dundalk Young Irelanders and John Mitchels. Each team was to play each other once in league play, with the top four teams at the conclusion of the league entering the quarter-finals.

O’Connell’s GFC started their Division 6 league campaign with defeat on Tuesday, April 8th as they lost on a 0-14 to 2-12 scoreline to Cuchulainn Gaels in Omeath. On what was a lovely evening for football, on one of the more scenic pitches the county has to offer, O’Connell’s were placed on the back foot early as two quick fire goals at the start of the game had the team chasing right from the off. Despite the best efforts of all involved, four points was the closest O’Connell’s were able to get for the rest of the game as the teams traded scores back and forth, with O’Connell’s trailing 0-07 to 2-05 at the break. Despite the best efforts of the team, a second half comeback wasn’t on the cards as the team fell to defeat.

O’Connell’s GFC: Ciáran Kearney, Adam Flynn, Jack McGeough, Tadgh Kearney, Alan McGovern, Conor Byrne, James Walsh, Cian Geeney (0-7), Micheal Cairns, Darragh McDonnell, Harry Kierans (0-4), T.J Conlon, Leo Walsh (0-2), Matthew Reynolds (0-1), Dalton O’Brien.

Subs: Stuart Reynolds for D. McDonnell, Salem Raife for J. Walsh, Paul McKeever for D. O’Brien, Darragh McDonnell for M. Reynolds, Matthew Reynolds for C. Geeney

O’Connell’s GFC got their first win of the Division 6 campaign when they welcomed Annaghminnon Rovers to the Grove on Tuesday, April 15th. O’Connell’s GFC started strongly with the advantage of a strong breeze, moving the ball nicely to create some early chances. O’Connell’s managed to hit the goals first game, when Sean Geeney stuck the ball into the back of the Annaghminnon net, however the visitors would answer back with a goal of their own not long after to ensure the game didn’t get away from them. O’Connell’s were able to add on more scores through Cian Geeney and Leo Walsh to ensure that the home side would go into the break with a 1-8 to 1-6 lead. The second half started perfectly, with an early goal from James Walsh after an amazing solo run, followed swiftly by another goal from Harry Kierans. Despite missing a plethora of second half chances from play and from frees, Dean Stanfield would add another goal for the home side to ensure that O’Connell’s would do enough to hang on to the lead and win the game, securing their first victory of the campaign.

O’Connell’s GFC: Stuart Reynolds, Jake Kearney, Conor Byrne, Tadgh Kearney, Conall Clerkin, James Walsh (1-0), T.J Conlon, Micheal Cairns, Ciarán Kearney, Darragh McDonnell, Harry Kierans (1-2), Sean Geeney (1-1), Leo Walsh (0-3 (0-1 f)), Cian Geeney (0-2), Dalton O’Brien

Subs: Dean Stanfield (1-2) for D. O’Brien, David Neasy for J. Walsh, Dalton O’Brien for D. McDonnell

Next up was originally scheduled to be O’Connell’s GFC’s trip across the parish to play Stabannon Parnells on Tuesday, April 29th, however due to their withdrawal from the competition, Stabannon were unable to fulfil the fixture and as such O’Connell’s GFC were awarded the victory.

O’Connell’s GFC hosted Glyde Rangers on Tuesday, May 6th in round four. With the game only being 13 players a side due to a lack of numbers on both sides, space was plentiful and the scoreboard reflected this with the visitors coming out of the game 4-17 to 2-09 victors. O’Connell’s started the game the better, with Sean Geeney hitting a goal and a point within the first few minutes to put the home side on the front foot. Glyde Rangers responded well, hitting a run of scores to pull themselves back into contention leaving them ahead at the midpoint of the first half. O’Connell’s were able to add on two more scores, but a hatful of goals before the end of the half to ensure that they took a commanding lead into the break, with O’Connell’s having it all to do in the second half. O’Connell’s GFC started the second half well, with points from Dalton O’Brien and Darragh McDonnell keeping the scoreboard ticking over for the hosts. The visitors were also reduced to twelve men in this period, with the same player receiving a yellow, black and subsequent red card all in the span of thirty seconds. O’Connell’s were able to add on another Evan Kearney point, followed by Sean Geeney’s second goal of the game, but the score-for-score nature of the second half meant a comeback was never on the cards. Despite additional points from Dean Stanfield, Conall Clerkin and Darragh McDonnell’s second of the game, the full time whistle brought the game to a close on a scoreline of 2-09 to 4-17.

O’Connell’s GFC: Stuart Reynolds, Conor Byrne, Adam Flynn, T.J Conlon, Tadgh Kearney, Conall Clerkin (0-1), Ciaran Kearney, Evan Kearney (0-2 (0-1 45)), Darragh McDonnell (0 2), Sean Geeney (2-2), Leo Walsh, Dalton O’Brien (0-1 (0-1 f)), Jay Conlon

Subs: Dean Stanfield (0-1) for J. Conlon, Salem Raife for C. Kearney

Next on the agenda was a trip to Blackrock to take on Na Pairsaigh. The game started off even, with Evan Kearney getting the games’ first score early on, only to be cancelled out by a point from the hosts not long after. Sean Cairns would add O’Connell’s second point of the day, before an Evan Kearney two-point free put O’Connell’s 0-4 to 0-2 ahead. Na Pairsaigh were not to be put away that easy however, with the Blackrock side getting the games next two points to stay within touching distance. Another Evan Kearney score was also cancelled out by the hosts before half time to ensure the game went into the break level at 0-5 each. The second half couldn’t have started much better for O’Connell’s, with Sean Cairns finding the back of the net to put the side 1-5 to 0-5 ahead. This did not phase Na Pairsaigh, who would then go on to get the next three points of the game, including one two-pointer. Leo Walsh and Cian Geeney added on points to the O’Connell’s tally before Na Pairsaigh managed to find the back of the net to take the lead for the first time in the game, with the score being 1-8 to 1-7. O’Connell’s would look to have secured the game, going on to score the next four points unanswered through Harry Kierans and three from Cian Geeney, but it was not to be as Na Pairsaigh would get four of their own in the last ten minutes, only broken up by a solitary Cian Geeney point to ensure that both sides left with a point.

O’Connell’s GFC: Stuart Reynolds, Jake Kearney, Jack McGeough, Adam Flynn, T.J Conlon, James Walsh, Alan McGovern, Sean Cairns (1-1), Cian Geeney (0-5 (0-2 f)), Conall Clerkin, Harry Kierans (0-1), Ciaran Kearney, Leo Walsh (0-1), Evan Kearney (0-4 (0-2 2p)(0-2 f)), Dalton O’Brien

Subs: Sean Geeney for D. O’Brien, Conor Byrne for A. McGovern, Darragh McDonnell for T.J Conlon, Jay Conlon for C. Kearney

The final home game of the campaign took place on Tuesday, May 20th with the visit of Dundalk Young Irelanders to the Grove. A high scoring affair, O’Connell’s were never able to fully get into the game, with the Dundalk side showing why they are top of the table, running out 6-18 to 1-12 winners. The visitors dominated the first half, putting scores on the board early and leaving O’Connell’s with all the work to do. Conor Byrne opened the O’Connell’s account with a two-pointer, before a set of two pointers from Evan Kearney breathed a sense of life into O’Connell’s. After dispossessing the visitors from a kickout, the ball made its way to Sean Geeney who found the back of the net to ensure that O’Connell’s were not out of reach to early in the contest. Another Evan Kearney point brought the first half to a close with the score sitting at 1-07 to 3-13. The comeback was not to be however, as an early second half goal for the visitors ensured that their hold on the contest would not slip. Despite another five points from Evan Kearney, O’Connell’s were a long way from a miraculous comeback, eventually falling to a 1-12 to 6-18 defeat.

O’Connell’s GFC: Stuart Reynolds, Jake Kearney, Adam Flynn, Jay Conlon, T.J Conlon, James Walsh, Alan McGovern, Conor Byrne (0-2 (0-2 2p)), Ciaran Kearney, Conall Clerkin, Harry Kierans, Leo Walsh, Sean Geeney (1-0), Evan Kearney (0-10 (0-8 2p)), Darragh McDonnell

Subs (All made an appearance): Dalton O’Brien, David Neasey

Finally, O’Connell’s GFC finished off their league campaign with a trip to Ardee to take on John Mitchels on Tuesday, May 28th. The game started off even, with both teams trading early scores. Sean Geeney got the O’Connell’s account opened for the day with the first two points of the game for the visitors, broken up well by a gutsy home side with scores of their own. Evan Kearney and Harry Kierans stuck over their first points of the day before James Walsh hit the games first two-pointer with a superb effort from play beyond the arc. The home side were not going to go down easily however, with the hosts making the net bulge past Stuart Reynolds to tie the game up at 1-03 to 0-06. Unfortunately for John Mitchels, O’Connell’s finally kicked into gear following that goal, based largely on the superb defensive efforts of Jake Kearney, Tadgh Kearney and David Neasy in the full-back line, along with defensive re-enforcement Dalton O’Brien. O’Connell’s would get the next five scores of the half, with efforts from Evan Kearney, Adam Flynn, Conor Byrne and a brace from Sean Geeney ensuring that O’Connell’s went into the break with a 1-03 to 0-11 lead. The second half started well for the home side, with John Mitchels firing over the first score of the half as they looked to kickstart a comeback. This was to be short-lived however, as following a superb run from T.J Conlon, the ball fell to Adam Flynn who made no mistake in finding the back of the net to give O’Connell’s a 1-04 to 1-11 lead. Superb midfield play from Ciaran Kearney and Conor Byrne allowed for O’Connell’s to take control of the game following the goal, with Harry Kierans getting his second point of the game. The hosts were able to split the next six points with the O’Connell’s, with scores from Sean Geeney, Leo Walsh and Evan Kearney ensuring the visitors lead was kept intact. The game was sealed when following a great passage of play, the ball was played into Harry Kierans who found the back of the net for the O’Connell’s second goal of the game. O’Connell’s were unlucky not to have another goal when the ball fell to Jay Conlon inside the box, who seen his shot ultimately fly just wide of the post. This missed chance was not to prove costly however, with three more Evan Kearney points, along with efforts from Sean Geeney and a superb free from Paul McKeever at the final whistle seen the visitors emerge with a 1-09 to 2-18 victory and secure their place in the Division 6 quarterfinals.

O’Connell’s GFC: Stuart Reynolds, Jake Kearney, Tadgh Kearney, James Walsh (0-2 (0-2 2p)), T.J Conlon, Adam Flynn (1-1), Paul McKeever (0-1 (0-1 f)), Ciaran Kearney, Conor Byrne (0-1), Darragh McDonnell, Harry Kierans (1-2), Sean Geeney (0-6), Leo Walsh (0-1), Evan Kearney (0-5 (0-1 f)(0-2 2p)), Dalton O’Brien

Subs (All Featured): Jay Conlon, David Neasey

Total Stats:
Stuart Reynolds – 6 Appearances
Jake Kearney – 4 Appearances
Tadgh Kearney – 4 Appearances
James Walsh – 5 Appearances, 1-2 scored
Adam Flynn – 5 Appearances, 1-1 scored
T.J Conlon – 6 Appearances
David Neasey – 3 Appearances
Alan McGovern – 3 Appearances
Jack McGeough – 2 Appearances
Conall Clerkin – 4 Appearances, 0-1 scored
Salem Raife – 2 Appearances
Sean Cairns – 1 Appearance, 1-1 scored
Cian Geeney – 3 Appearances, 1-14 scored
Micheal Cairns – 2 Appearances
Ciaran Kearney – 6 Appearances
Darragh McDonnell – 6 Appearances, 0-2 scored
Harry Kierans – 5 Appearances, 2-9 scored
Evan Kearney – 4 Appearances, 0-21 scored
Sean Geeney – 5 Appearances, 4-9 scored
Dean Stanfield – 2 Appearances, 1-3 scored
Leo Walsh – 6 Appearances, 0-7 scored
Dalton O’Brien – 6 Appearances, 0-1 scored
Matthew Reynolds – 1 Appearance, 0-1 scored
Paul McKeever – 2 Appearances, 0-1 scored
Jay Conlon – 4 Appearances