No separating Na Piarsaigh and Whitechurch as McDonnell earns final replay

After a tough afternoon's work, the sides will have to do it all again in the Seandún JAHC decider.

Sat, 18 Oct, 2025 - 18:15

Darragh Leen

City Division JAHC final: Na Piarsaigh 0-11 Whitechurch 0-11

There was wind, rain and grit in abundance, but the only thing the Seandún JAHC final didn’t produce on Saturday was a winner.

Whitechurch looked like they were about to successfully defend their Junior A crown until Na Piarsaigh sub Ian McDonnell hooked a shot over his left shoulder deep into injury-time to ensure a replay for the northside outfit.

Jamie Hegarty produced a shooting masterclass for Whitechurch clocking up nine points and earning the man-of-the-match award. Going into the replay Na Piarsaigh will know discipline is of the utmost importance with Hegarty’s prowess over the deadball - eight of his nine scores were from frees.

Na Piarsaigh started the brighter of the two sides, Dayne Lee clipping one over to open the Piarsaigh account. Full-forward Michael Sheehan scored three from frees before the quarter-hour mark to extend the northsiders' early advantage to two points (0-4 to 0-2).

If it weren’t for a few wayward efforts from scoreable positions, Na Piaraigh’s lead may have been greater early on.

Hegarty started as he meant to go on, scoring three frees of his own and bringing it back to a one-point game with five minutes of the half remaining.

With the interval looming, the game sparked into life with both sides trading scores - as well as some ash and hard shoulders.

Lee pointed for Piarsaigh from distance. Darragh O’Connell matched him 30 seconds later. Then Daniel Scanlon drove from midfield with pace and power, placing over. Whitechurch pulled one back through the customary Hegarty free. (0-7 to 0-6).

Hegarty was on cue once more at the beginning of the second period, drawing Whitechurch level for the first time in the game.

It was always going to be a scrappy contest given the conditions, and the scrappiest period came during a 10-minute period that saw no scores and a couple of injuries.

Shane Galgey eventually broke the scoring duck after 41 minutes, putting Piarsaigh back in front.

Piarsagh’s lack of discipline was playing right into Whitechurch’s hands. Two more fouls, two more scores for Hegarty and Whitechurch retained the lead once more.

And the pattern continued. Piarsaigh score, then a Hegarty free to cancel it out. Hegarty’s final contribution came in the 59th minute, another well-taken free and what looked like the winner.

Ian McDonnell had other plans.

Scorers for Na Piarsaigh: M Sheehan 0-4 (4f), D Lee 0-3, P Lehane, D Scanlon, S Galgey and I McDonnell 0-1 each.

Scorers for Whitechurch: J Hegarty 0-9 (8f), C Egan and D O’Connor 0-1 each.

NA PIARSAIGH: S Fitzgerald; L Murphy, A Higgins, K Galvin; J Scanlon, P Cunningham, J Morrissey; S Cooke, D Scanlon; S Galgey, D Lee, P Lehane; S O’Connell-Aherne, M Sheehan, A Keating.

Subs: I McDonnell for A Keating (42), C O’Leary for J Scanlon (52), S Downey for D Scanlon (59).

WHITECHURCH: C Mulcahy, A Murphy, B O’Sullivan, J Dennehy; K Ryan, M Callanan, R O’Connell; S O’Reilly; R Buckley; D O’Sullivan, J Hegarty, S Keane; D O’Connell, C Egan, C O’Brien.

Subs: C Hennessey for B O’Sullivan (26), A Kelleher for C O’Brien (42), J McGrath for S O’Reilly (48), C Kelleher for J Dennehy (57).

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillons)