Munterconnaught follow up JFC win with league success

ACFL Division 3 final

Munterconnaught 1-15

Denn 0-13

Eddie Halligan at Sheelin Park

Munterconnaught crowned off a hugely successful 2025 by adding another trophy to their Junior Championship success as a strong second-half showing landed them the Division 3 league title at the expense of a lacklustre Denn side in Sheelin Park, Ballymachugh on Saturday evening last.

In an entertaining contest, Munterconnaught’s overall sharpness, conditioning and fluency was the key factor against a Denn side who although the better team in the first half, visibly faded as the second half wore on as their lack of game time, (this was their first game in nearly three months), cost them.

However, the Munchies had to contend with challenges of their own with absentees from the starting line-up, most notably Nathan DeKleer and they were dealt a huge blow when Ryan Nwaneri and Ceejay Reilly both went off injured midway through the first half. Nonetheless, they had captain Eoin O’Shea, who was introduced for Nwaneri, to thank when his goal on the cusp of half-time hauled them back into contention against a Denn side who had the upper hand in the opening half - and from the restart, Munterconnaught displayed a greater desire and hunger to land the league title.

Talisman Enda O’Shea, who was excellent throughout, opened the scoring from a free in the fourth minute, but Denn soon replied when their own go-to man, Thomas Edward Donohoe, reacted quickest to a short kick-out from Charles Baugh that went awry to curl over.

O’Shea fired over another free only to be traded off with a neat score from Oisin Smith, but Munterconnaught briefly caught fire when two points from an O’Shea mark and excellent team score from Sean Hendricks saw them 0-4 to 0-2 ahead by the 14th minute. However, the junior champions were dealt a double whammy in when Ceejay Reilly and Ryan Nwaneri both had to be substituted through injury in separate incidents, and this had a knock-on effect in derailing the Munterconnaught momentum as Denn began to seize control.

In between both of those Munterconnaught substitutions, Sean Donohoe had blasted over from close range when a goal appeared on, and the midfielder was on hand again from 45 yards out when he received a pinpoint crossfield pass from Oisin O’Reilly to scorch over a terrific two-pointer.

Denn were looking dangerous at this juncture and although Cavell Keogan curled over from range in the 25th minute to put his side 0-6 to 0-4 ahead, the Crosskeys-based side possibly should have been further in front only for a number of missed opportunities in front of goal.

Danny Nolan awoke Munterconnaught from their slumber when he called Denn goalkeeper, Anthony Cobey into action by denying Nolan’s goal bound shot that ended up over the crossbar, the Munchies’ first score in over 15 minutes.

But Keogan wound up the right foot again to curl over a beauty as the game neared half-time with Denn in front at 0-7 to 0-5.

However, the game’s crucial score came two minutes into the allotted injury time when Munterconnaught created an excellent move which was finished to the net by substitute Eoin O’Shea who saw his shot come thundering off the underside of the crossbar and into the net to give the Munchies a valuable lead going into the interval.

Two quickfire Keogan points upon the restart of the second half pushed Denn in front by the minimum, but Munterconnaught soon settled with Ryan Gilsenan coming close to raising the green flag only to see his shot clip the crossbar and over a for a point.

Munterconnaught soon clicked however, and after a Denn attack broke down, the junior champions moved the ball swiftly and it was finished superbly from an acute angle from Enda O’Shea.

They soon followed up with an excellent two-pointer from Sean Hendricks and a soccer style effort from Conor Hetherton that sailed over to move Munterconnaught 1-10 to 0-9 in front by the 40th minute.

Sean Donohoe boomed over his second two-pointer to keep Denn in the hunt and the Munchies had their goalkeeper Baugh to thank soon after when he raced out from his goal to deny Ben Conaty’s goalbound shot amd keep the momentum firmly with the winners.

From there, Munterconnaught dominated as Denn faded away and frees from Enda O’Shea, including a two pointer, and an Eoin O’Shea curler, had the men in blue 1-15 to 0-11 in front as the clock struck 60 minutes.

And although Caoláin McCabe rattled the crossbar for Denn and late points from Keogan and Kian McMahon put some respectability to the scoreboard, Munterconnaught deservedly landed the silverware.

Munterconnaught: Charles Bough, Fearghal Keogan, Tadgh Morrissey, Cejay Reilly, Cian O’Shea, Conor Hetherton (0-1), Danny Nolan (0-1), Ryan Gilsenan (0-1), Ryan Nwaneri, Daniel Yore, Corey Gilsenan, Sean Hendrick (0-3, 1-2pt), Stephen Sheridan, Enda O’Shea (0-8, 1 2ptf, 1m, 3f)

Subs: Paddy Mathews for Ceejay Reilly; Eoin O’Shea (1-1) for Ryan Nwaneri; Cory Reilly for Fearghal Keogan; Daragh Cremin for Eoin O’Shea

Denn: Anthony Cobey, Fionnan McCabe, James Brady, Stephen Callaghan, Oran Callaghan, Caolain McCabe, Leon Cobey, Sean Donohoe (0-5, 2 2pt), Oisin Kiernan, Brandon Keogan, Cavell Keogan (0-5, 1f), Oisin Smith (0-1), Thomas Edward Donohoe (0-1), Ben Conaty, Oisin O’Reilly

Subs: Mark McSherry for Stephen Callaghan; Kian McMahon (0-1) for Ben Conaty