26/08/2026
Match Report from this evenings Minor Football Championship Div.3 Rd.2 game played in Dunderry:
Carnlough Gaels 2-02-17 (27)
Dunderry 4-00-02 (14)
Referee: Declan Tolster
Carnlough Gaels made the trip to Dunderry on what turned out to be a sun-kissed Wednesday evening for Round 2 of the Division 3 U-18 Football Championship.
A couple of early Carnlough Gael efforts were sent wide of the posts before Dunderry opened the scoring with a goal in the third minute.
That score seemed to kickstart Carnlough Gaels into the correct gear with Conor Yore making a fine run forward and Luke Harte slotting over for the games opening point.
Excellent work from Robert O’Brien, who was outstanding all evening, set Drew Donaghy up for his first score in the fifth minute, and Carnlough Gaels took the lead when a dipping shot from Luke Harte landed kindly into the hands of James Brooks who smashed the ball to the roof of the net in the eighth minute to leave Carnlough leading by two points.
Points were traded when Conor Finn showed tenacious tackling to set Hugh O’Reilly up for a score, before Dunderry landed one of their own seconds later.
The work-rate from the Carnlough Gaels side was telling in the opening quarter and further good link up play between Luke Harte and Paddy White created the space for Drew Donaghy to send over two quick fire points by the 15th minute and Carnlough lead by four.
All that good work was wiped out seconds later though when Dunderry’s Cian Baker O’Reilly practically walked through the defence before finishing to the net and it was a one point game again.
Three minutes later Carnlough Gaels had a goal chance of their own but despite showing great feet to create space for himself, Conor Yore was unlucky to have his shot saved by the fingertips of the Dunderry net-minder.
That setback didn’t deter the young Carnlough Gaels men and they were inspired when Hugh O’Reilly sent over a superb point from play in the 19th minute, before another point from Drew Donaghy and an O’Reilly free in the 22nd minute.
From that kick-out Conor Yore fetched the ball effortlessly in midfield and played a perfect kick pass into Luke Harte, who turned his man and fired over once more to extend Carnlough Gaels lead to five points.
With five minutes left on the clock Dunderry worked hard to try and get a couple more scores on the board but superb defending from Eoin Ennis and Adam Darcy thwarted any serious threats and the scoreline remained the same.
So when the impressive Referee Declan Tolster blew the half time whistle Carnlough Gaels led by five points on a scoreline of 1-09 to Dunderry’s 2-01.
Upon the restart the first score of the half came from a simple tap-over when Referee Declan Tolster was alert to a 3v3 breach from Dunderry, with Hugh O’Reilly tipping over the free point on offer.
Similar to the first half Dunderry got themselves an early goal, Cian Baker O’Reilly coming up with the goods once more, but Carnlough Gaels were a man down with Luke Harte receiving treatment at the time.
A pointed free for Dunderry had the potential to breathe life into the home side as they only trailed by two points, but Carnlough Gaels stood firm with Drew Donaghy going on a fine solo run before laying off to the aforementioned Luke Harte who while still nursing a sore back ignored the pain and fired over in the 38th minute.
The next score could hands down be described as the score of the game as Hugh O’Reilly sent over an outrageous two pointer from play in the 42nd minute, his brother Frank might be currently plying his trade in New York but this one was from way Downtown from the younger of the O’Reilly clan.
While that score was brilliant for its individuality, the next Carnlough Gaels point was an exhibition in teamwork as Robert O’Brien, Conor Yore and Liam Farrelly all combined showing quick hands before Luke Harte took the final pass and sent the ball over the bar.
Luke Harte seemed to be everywhere this evening and it was his interception on a Dunderry free in the 45th minute saw the ball worked forward and Cian Gaughran getting his name on the scoresheet with a well taken point.
After coughing up a healthy lead the last time these two sides met Carnlough Gaels were in no mood to repeat history, and enhanced their lead when Conor Yore sent a lovely ball in and James Brooks collected possession before turning and unleashing a rocket of a shot to the back of the net in the 47th minute.
A Drew Donaghy point from play was followed up by a two point free from that man Hugh O’Reilly again in the 51st minute, and while they were struggling to get many scores Dunderry kept battling and got themselves a fortuitous fourth goal when the ball dropped and landed in the net rather than its intended target of over the bar.
Carnlough Gaels didn’t panic though and saw out the game superbly with Edward Farrelly and Robert O’Brien putting in huge tackles to deny Dunderry any further goal chances, and with Hugh O’Reilly nailing a 45’ down the other end followed up by a point from play and a pointed free from Evan Yore by the 60th minute, there was only ever going to be one winner this evening.
So when Referee Declan Tolster blew the full time whistle Carnlough Gaels took the win on a scoreline of 2-21 to Dunderry’s 4-02.
Carnlough Gaels Team:
Darragh Smith, Adam D’Arcy, Liam Farrelly, Eoin Ennis, Edward Farrelly, Robert O’Brien, Conor Finn, Hugh O’Reilly(0-09(one 2pt, one 2ptF, one 45’, 2f)), Conor Yore, Drew Donaghy(0-05), Luke Harte(0-04), Paddy White, James Brooks(2-00), Evan Yore(0-02), Cian Gaughran(0-01)
Subs:
Peter Dunne for A.Darcy 42’
Jack McDonnell for C.Gaughran 48’
Lucas Smith for J.Brooks 50’
Charlie Fox(injured)
