Minor Football League – Sunday 23 rd January 2025

Posted February 27, 2025

Naomh Mearnóg 0-11
Round Towers Lusk 1-8

Minor Football League – Sunday 23 rd January 2025

Naomh Mearnóg and Round Towers Lusk played out an entertaining draw in their opening league
game of 2025, played in wintry conditions in Thomas Ashe Park in Lusk on Sunday morning. Leading
by a point at half-time, Lusk stretched their lead to three points midway through the second half,
but Mearnóg never gave in, and thanks to an inspirational display by man of match Matthew Reen,
Naomh Mearnóg came away with a well-earned draw.
Round Towers, who were playing with a strong wind in the first half, scored the opening point of the
game but it was Mearnóg who settled better in the early stages. Quick ball into the full forward line
caused real problems for Lusk and Daniel Burns and Matthew Reen capitalised with two early points.
Remarkably, Mearnóg failed to score for the remaining 24 minutes of the half as Lusk took control of
exchanges in the middle of the field. Despite their superiority, Lusk found it difficult to score. The
Mearnóg defence were under constant pressure, but the full back line of Cronin, Kerr and the
excellent Patrick Corcoran held out well. Lusk scored 2 points before the half time break but they will
rue the amount of wasted chances as they chalked up 7 wides.
The half time score was Round Towers Lusk 0-3 to Naomh Mearnóg 0-2.
Mearnóg came out with better intent and work rate at the start of the second half and Matthew
Reen levelled the game after 32 minutes. Lusk pulled one back but two further points from Dylan
McGowan and Matthew Reen gave Mearnóg a one-point lead after 40 minutes.
Just when it looked like Mearnóg had got to grips with the game, Lusk got a crucial goal against the
run of play. A fine move went the length of the field before the final pass was palmed to the net
beyond the unlucky Jack Clarke. Lusk followed up with a quick point and suddenly Mearnóg were 3
points down.
On 46 minutes, Matthew Reen converted a 20m free, following a foul on Burns, and he was unlucky
not to find the net moments later when he crashed a powerful kick off the crossbar. Lusk brought
the lead back to 3 points but Mearnóg were digging in deep and showing they were up for the fight.
Matthew Reen struck again with 2 more points before Daniel Burns levelled the game to set up a
thrilling finish with 5 minutes remaining.
After conceding a free in the middle of the field, Mearnóg failed to move aside and the referee
brought the ball up 50m to allow Lusk pop over the easiest of frees. The play moved quickly to the
other side of the field and Matthew Reen was on hand to kick a brilliant 2-pointer to give Mearnóg a
one-point lead in injury time. With the final attack of the game, Lusk were awarded a 30m free and
duly converted to leave the scores level at the final whistle.

Mearnóg Scorers: Matthew Reen 0-8 (3f, 1tp), Daniel Burns 0-2, Dylan McGowan 0-1.

Panel: Jack Clarke, Kian Cronin, Adam Kerr, Patrick Corcoran, Ciaran Doyle, Jack Dowley, Jake Gregan,
Dylan McGowan, Theo Dunne, Liam Hogan, Matthew Reen, Luke Rafter, Shane Rafter, Daniel Burns,
Mossy McGowan, Sam Reid, Senan Miland, Shane O’Brien, Cillian Brennan, Killian Lyons, Oisin
Carroll, Cillian Slevin, Ethan Fitzgibbon, Louis Burell.
Contd..

Naomh Mearnóg brought in a number of new faces to manage and coach the minor footballers this
year. Cormac Sugrue, Paul Malone and Mike Miland ran the line in Lusk. They will likely take plenty
of positives from this performance especially the resilience shown by Mearnóg in the second half.
The unfortunate Luke Rafter picked up a shoulder injury in the first half and we wish him a speedy
recovery – no doubt he’ll be back on the pitch soon.
Special thanks to John Fahy who kindly sponsored a new set of jerseys from J W Smyths butchers in
Portmarnock. John has been a very generous supporter of Naomh Mearnóg over a long number of
years.