Feargal Ó Sé, An Cheathrú Rua, and Oisín McIntyre, Naomh Pádraig, in AIB All-Ireland Club JFC Final action. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
AIB All-Ireland Club JFC Final
An Cheathrú Rua 0-9 Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin 0-8
By Paul Keane at Croke Park
Fionan O Conghaile struck a dramatic winner six minutes into stoppage time at Croke Park to secure the AIB All-Ireland club JFC title for An Cheathrú Rua.
Frustrated and fatigued by a series of relegation battles that went against them in recent seasons, the Gaeltacht outfit from Galway have turned the tables in remarkable fashion this season, finishing it with national honours.
They flirted with another devastating defeat here though, as 15 wides over the entire game left them needing O Conghaile to clip over the winner off his left boot, from the left of goals about 20 metres out, in the 66th minute.
It was an excellent score worthy of deciding such a contest and it was no surprise that it came from the boot of the corner-forward who sparkled with four points from play overall.
Naomh Padraig, who have been inspired throughout their run by the memory of their former colleague Evan Craig, who passed away last September, lost no face in defeat.
Donegal star Coalan McColgan hit two second-half points to push An Cheathru Rua all the way while Donegal U-20 Kevin Lynch hit four points also but they came up just short.
An Cheathru Rua were a senior side as recently as 2022 before back-to-back relegations sent them tumbling down to the junior ranks.
It was a brief stay in Galway's third tier and they followed up their county junior success with wins over the Mayo and Sligo champions in Connacht.
After that they took out Leinster champions Ballinagar of Offaly at the All-Ireland semi-final stage to secure the Croke Park outing.
They brought all of that momentum with them to the big stage and dominated the first-half possession but, somehow, found themselves a point down at half-time.
Poor shooting resulted in a whopping 11 first-half wides for the side managed by former Galway goalkeeper Maghnus Breathnach.
Much of their play was promising until they reached the scoring zone when it often broke down with errant kicks, poor shot selection from difficult angles or simple failed final passes.
It meant that An Cheathrú Rua were just 0-3 to 0-2 ahead after the first quarter when it should have been more and Naomh Padraig duly took advantage, reeling off three points in a row to open up their own two-point lead.
McColgan blasted a terrific point for Naomh Padraig from out on the right during that burst of scoring but it was a brief moment of inspiration in a game still waiting to catch fire.
Naomh Padraig hit the interval with a 0-5 to 0-4 lead and the spark the game needed suddenly arrived in the seconds after the restart when An Cheathrú Rua immediately worked a goal chance.
Maitiu O Domhnaill set Myles MacDonnchadha clear from the throw-in but his low shot cannoned off the foot of the post. Feargal O Se, frustrated with a couple of earlier misses from frees, still finished off the move with a point.
Naomh Padraig then came to the boil with two great points, the first from Lynch and the second from county man McColgan, to reopen the two-point gap at 0-7 to 0-5.
But two more Carraroe scores, the second of which was a converted O Se free after MacDonnchadha was fouled, tied it up at 0-7 apiece.
A tense finale beckoned and both sides missed good chances from frees before Paudie MacCormac broke a 14-minute scoring drought with an An Cheathrú Rua point.
Caolan McColgan then slotted a dazzling score after a great catch and turn in front of the Hill 16 End, punching the air in delight afterwards.
The sides remained tied at 0-8 apiece deep into stoppage time until O Conghaile finally seized the responsibility with that pearler from the left of goals. The umpires looked at eachother for a moment but the historic score stood as time ran out on Naomh Padraig's brave bid.
Scorers for An Cheathru Rua: Fionan O Conghaile 0-4, Feargal O Se 0-2 (1f), Padraig MacDonnacha 0-1, Myles MacDonnchadha 0-1, Paudie MacCormac 0-1 (0-1f).
Scorers for Naomh Padraig Uisce Chaoin: Kevin Lynch 0-4 (3fs), Caolan McColgan 0-2, Cormac McColgan 0-1, Kevin Doherty 0-1.
An Cheathrú Rua: Seamas O Flatharta; Daragh O Ceoinin, Iarfhlaith O Conchubhair, Sean O Tiarnaigh; Colin O Domhnaill, Myles MacDonnchadha, Ethan de Paor; Stiofan O Briain, Padraig MacDonnacha; Padraic O Loideain, Maitiu O Domhnaill, Fionan O Conghaile; Micheal O Briain, Eanna MacCormac, Feargal O Se.
Subs: Oisin O Lochnain for MacCormac 36, Paudie MacCormac for O Tiarnaigh 46, Cian O Domhnaill for S O Briain 55, Micheal O Tuathail for O Conchubhair 60, Sean Og O Loideain for Padraig MacDonnchadha 63.
Naomh Pádraig Uisce Chaoin: Oran McCauley; Darragh McIntyre, Caolan Harkin, Cormac Kelly; Ronan Hoy, Jonathan Toye, Jason McCallion; Eunan Mullan, Cormac McColgan; Oisin McIntyre, Kevin Doherty, Joseph McCauley; Rory Hirrell, Kevin Lynch, Caolan McColgan.
Subs: Drew McKinney for Doherty 35, Michael McCarron for Hoy 44, Andrew McCarron for McCallion 55, Dermot Keaveney for Toye 60.
Referee: Jonathan Hayes (Limerick).
