Aidan McAnespies vs Connemara Gaels
Sunday, June 8th 5pm
Aidan McAnespies 1-19 | Connemara Gaels 2-18
Sunday evening’s clash between Aidan McAnespies and Connemara Gaels doubled down as both a Senior Football Championship encounter and the final of the 2025 Pat O’Brien Cup—and it delivered a lively contest.
It was tit for tat early on, with Robbie Croft (Macs) and Cian Folan (Gaels) opening the scoring with frees. Eoin Gormley pointed from play to edge the Macs ahead, but Gaels Eoin Bagnall leveled from a well-worked move with Jack Lynch providing the assist.
The Macs then enjoyed a strong spell. A free won and converted by Croft was followed by a fine 2-point effort from Peter O’Connell, putting the Macs three points ahead. Bobby Walker claimed a Gaels kickout, feeding Ronan Buckley for another, before Croft added another two-pointer from a free—Macs 0-8 to 0-2 ahead.
The Gaels then found their stride. Bagnall clipped over a fine score off his left before converting a close-range free. The Gaels struck for goal next—Oisín McCann won a kickout and linked with Gavin Horan, who buried the ball into the back of the net. Folan followed with a point to level the game at 1-5 to 0-8.
Croft put the Macs back in front with another 2 pointer from a free, and two more from O’Connell gave them breathing room again. But the Gaels responded in kind—Cian McMahon with a goal and a point, bringing it back to a one-point game, 0-13 to 2-6.
The Macs struck again, this time through Oisín Kiernan who found the back of the net after Buckley won the kickout. Cathal Ryan for the Gaels was unlucky not to score a goal but saw his shot hit the crossbar and go over. Points from Buckley and Croft (free) pushed the Macs out to a 1-16 to 2-7 lead.
Jamie O’Brien drove forward for a Gaels point, and Bagnall added another free before the break, giving the Macs a 4 point lead at half-time.
Half time: Aidan McAnespies 1-16 | Connemara Gaels 2-9
The Gaels began the second half with intent—O’Brien picked out Bagnall for an early point, and although Croft answered with a free, the Macs hit a purple patch. Lynch set up O’Brien for a point, followed by two more from Folan (one free, one from play), and another Bagnall free leveled the game at 1-17 to 2-14.
Cathal Ryan won a vital ball in midfield and found Bagnall, who claimed the mark and converted to edge the Gaels ahead. Macs goalkeeper McElroy kept his side in it with a crucial save as the Gaels pressed for a third goal.
Buckley leveled with a right-footed effort for the Macs before a long-range free from a kickout won by Folan was brought forward and converted by Bagnall for a two-pointer, putting the Gaels up by two. Gormley clawed one back after a high ball in from Devlin, but Bagnall had the final say, pointing off his right to seal the win for the Gaels.
Connemara Gaels captain Adam Fallon was presented with the Pat O’Brien Cup by Northeast GAA Board Chairperson Paddy McDevitt.
Full time: Aidan McAnespies 1-19 | Connemara Gaels 2-18
Teams & Scorers:
Aidan McAnespies:
Rory McElroy, Timmy Gibbons, Darren Gibney, Bobby Walker, Conall Devlin, Owen Ward, Oisín Kiernan (1-0), Eoin Gormley (0-2), Peter O’Connell (0-4, x1 2-pointer), Ronan Buckley (0-3), Rory Brolly, Shane McGinley, Robbie Croft (0-9, x3 2-pointer)
Connemara Gaels:
Stephen Murray, Adam Fallon, Dara Curran, Ryan Coff, Dara Callaghan, Jack Lynch, Dylan Murtagh, Oisín McCann, Eoin Bagnall (0-10, x1 2-pointer), Cian McMahon (1-1), Gavin Horan (1-0), Jamie O’Brien (0-2), Cian Folan (0-4)
Sub: Cathal Ryan (0-1)
Referee: Jonathan Hayes
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