Naomh Padraig 1-13 Cill Mhuire 2-10 (Naomh Padraig advance 3-1 on penalties)
On a crisp winter afternoon in Parnell Park, Naomh Padraig, Uisce Chaoin, etched their names into history with a 3-1 penalty shootout victory over Cill Mhuire, earning a place in their first-ever All-Ireland junior final at Croke Park.
The Donegal side showcased resilience and moments of brilliance, clawing back from the brink of defeat in a game filled with drama and momentum swings.
Cill Mhuire appeared poised for victory when Rory Duggan slotted home their second goal in extra time, giving the Cork men a three-point lead. Yet Naomh Padraig’s determination proved unyielding.
Deep into the second period of extra time and trailing by two points, Caolan McColgan embarked on a dazzling run through the Cork defence, winning a penalty after being hauled down.
Kevin Lynch stepped up and buried the spot-kick into the bottom corner to put Naomh Padraig ahead.
Cill Mhuire, however, struck a late free to level the game for the sixth time, forcing penalties. In the decisive shootout, Naomh Padraig held their nerve.
Lynch, McColgan, and substitute Rory Hirrell all converted their penalties, while only Conor Kelleher found the net for Cill Mhuire.
“I can’t really sum up how I feel right now,” Naomh Padraig manager Daniel McCauley admitted. “The lads defended like dogs to the end, kept their discipline, and saw the game out. It’s just a brilliant day.”
The game started brightly for Cill Mhuire, with Lawrence Aisling palming home an 11th-minute goal after a slick link-up with his brother John.
That goal set the tone for a dominant first half by the Cork side, with Liam Wall’s sharp shooting keeping them ahead. Naomh Padraig, by contrast, struggled with a string of wides.
A black card for Cill Mhuire’s Tomás Collins just before halftime proved pivotal. It allowed Jonathan Toye to slot over a free, reducing the deficit to two at 1-3 to 0-4 heading into the break.
Buoyed by that lifeline, Naomh Padraig came out stronger in the second half. McColgan’s long-range point and Toye’s surging run for the equalizer gave the Donegal men belief. For the first time since the 10th minute, they took the lead.
Cill Mhuire showed their mettle, with Wall and Denis O’Mullane dragging them back into contention. A turnover in defence allowed Lawrence Aisling to edge Cill Mhuire ahead again, but Lynch levelled the game moments later, sending it to extra time.
In extra time, Duggan’s calm finish for Cill Mhuire’s second goal seemed to have settled the contest. However, Lynch’s free kept Naomh Padraig alive before McColgan’s mazy run resulted in the crucial penalty that Lynch converted.
Cill Mhuire’s frustration boiled over with their third black card of the day for dissent over the penalty decision. Yet even with a man down, O’Mullane’s late free pushed the game to penalties.
In the shootout, Naomh Padraig showed composure under pressure, while Cill Mhuire faltered, missing three of their four penalties.
“It means everything to us,” McColgan said. “All week, we’ve been talking about getting to Croke Park. That’s what we wanted, for the supporters and ourselves. It’s every player’s dream to play there, and now we’re going.”
For Naomh Padraig, this victory marked a day of destiny. A small club from Inishowen, they’ve defied the odds to reach the All-Ireland junior final. On January 25, they’ll step onto the hallowed turf of Croke Park, knowing they’ve already made history.
Naomh Padraig Scorers: K Lynch 1-4 (1 ‘45’, 1 free, 1 penalty); J Toye 0-3 (0-1 free); C McColgan 0-3; K Doherty 0-2 (0-1 free); R Hoy 0-1.
Cill Mhuire Scorers: L Aisling 1-1; L Wall 0-4 (0-2 fs); R Duggan 1-0; L Aisling and D O’Mullane (1 free) 0-2 each; D McIntyre 0-1.
Naomh Padraig: O McCauley; C Kelly, C Harkin, D McIntyre; M McCarron, J Toye, J McCallion; E Mullan, C McColgan; O McIntyre, K Doherty, D McKinney; J McCauley, K Lynch, C McColgan.
Subs: R Hirrell and R Hoy for McCarron and Kelly (both half-time); A McCarron for Toye (53); D Keaveney for Doherty (59); C Kelly for McIntyre (65); J McColgan for McCauley (69); J McCauley for Mullan (70).
Cill Mhuire: J McDonnell; A O’Mahony, W Ronan, S O’Leary; B Hinchion, T Collins, A Aisling; K Kelleher, J O’Mullane; L Wall, L Aisling, R Duggan; L Aisling, J O’Mullane, D O’Mullane.
Subs: J O’Mullane for O’Mahony (44); D Linehan for D O’Mullane (62); D O’Mullane for Collins (74).
Referee: D Hickey (Carlow).
