Chill Chartha seal first title in a decade with midfield titans to the fore

Ciarán Mac Fhionnghaile and Eoin Mac Aoidh in the middle of everything as Donegal club take Comórtas Peile Na Gaeltachta honours in Cill na Martra

CHAMPIONS:Chill Chartha secure the Donegal club a first Comórtas Peile Na Gaeltachta title in 10 years and their seventh overall. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Chill Chartha (Donegal) 0-20 Naomh Anna Leitir Móir (Galway) 1-8 

No fairytale for Naomh Anna Leitir Móir. No fuss for Chill Chartha.

The Sunday evening exertions of their extra-time struggle with hosts Cill na Martra had not emptied the Chill Chartha tank. There was enough juice still left in their squeeze on Monday afternoon to secure the Donegal club a first Comórtas Peile Na Gaeltachta title in 10 years and their seventh overall.

Truth be known, the Stiofán Mac Briartaigh and Ciarán Mac Fhionnghaile-steered side more than controlled this contest. They were never led and the closest their opponents came of them was when aided by a slight breeze in the second period was three points.

That arrived after Warren Seoighe dispatched a 38th-minute penalty he had himself won. The deficit halved, 0-12 to 1-6. Game on. The sizable Naomh Anna Leitir Móir contingent daring to dream of a first Comórtas crown.

CAPTAIN : Chill Charta captain Eoin MacAoidh raises the trophy at the Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta 2024 at Cill na Martra. Pic: Eddie O'Hare

Not to be, as it turned out. Chill Chartha’s response was to motor back up the field and reel off three-in-a-row through Stiofán Mac Briartaigh, Ciarán Mac Fhionnghaile, and Maitiú Mac Giolla Aon to restore their six-point lead. The latter pair added another brace entering the final quarter to stretch the gap out to seven.

Rather fittingly it was Mac Fhionnghaile and Eoin Mac Aoidh who threw over their final two scores, the tireless midfield duo contributing seven points from play between them and very much to the fore during a commanding opening half that finished with the winners holding a double-scores 0-10 to 0-5 advantage.

In the junior decider, Naomh Mhuire of Donegal overcame Kerry’s Lios Póil on a 3-13 to 2-10 scoreline, while in the senior women’s final, there was a 3-9 to 1-8 victory for Baile Chláir na Gaillaimhe over An Tearmann of Donegal.

Scorers for Chill Chartha: S Mac Briartaigh (0-5); M Mac Giolla Aon (0-2 frees), C Mac Fhionnghaile (0-4 each); E Mac Aoidh (0-3); M Mac Aoidh, C Ó Domhnaill, C Ó Dochairtaigh, M Mac Suibhne (0-1 each).

Scorers for Naomh Anna Leitir Móir: W Seoighe (1-1, 1-0 pen); O Mac Donnacha (0-4, 0-4 frees); É Ó Loinsigh (0-2); Dylan Seoighe (0-1).

Chill Chartha: E Ó Domhnaill; B Ó Domhnaill, P Mac Giolla Cheara, R Mac Seáin; C Ó Dubhgáin, M Mac Aoidh, O Ó Dubhgáin; E Mac Aoidh, C Mac Fhionnghaile; M Mac Giolla Aon, C Ó Dochairtaigh, É Caomhánach; R Ó Domhnaill, S Mac Briartaigh, G O Ludhog.

Subs: P Mac Seáin for Caomhánach (38 mins); C Ó Domhnaill for C Ó Dubhgáin (41); M Mac Suibhne for R Ó Domhnaill (44); P Mac Seáin for O Ludhog (54); E Mac Cormaic for Mac Giolla Aon (60).

Naomh Anna Leitir Móir: C Ó Flatharta; C Mac Donnacha, SA Ó Ceallaigh, E Mac Donnacha; C Ó Cátháin, C Bairéad, T Ó Curraoin; ME Bairéad, K Ó Ceallaigh; M Mac Donnacha, W Seoighe, É Ó Loinsigh; D Seoighe, O Mac Donnacha, F Mac Donnacha.

Subs: PS Ó Ceallaigh for ME Bairéad (1-4 mins, temporary); PS Ó Ceallaigh for Ó Curraoin (50); I Ó Curraoin for Dylan Seoighe, Darren Seoighe for C Bairéad (both 55); R Mac Donnacha for E Mac Donnacha, C Seoighe for ME Bairéad (both (60).

Referee: C Lane (Cork).