St Peters Dunboyne 0-16 St Colmcille's 1-6   

The 2025 U19 FB Div 1 League came to a conclusion under the lights in Ashbourne on Monday night. It was a repeat of the 2023 minor championship final, where extra time was required before St Peters Dunboyne edged past St Colmcille's by the minimum. In perfect conditions for football, another close game was expected by the large crowd that had gathered. PHOTOS

Colmcille's registered their first point right from the throw in with a tidy effort from their midfielder, which was to prove to be the only time they would lead in the game. The Dunboyne men responded well with Sean McNulty levelling matters in the 2nd minute with a well taken point after some excellent work by Jack Doyle. For the next 10 minutes the teams were working each other out and while there was a lot of movement and possession on both sides the next score proved elusive. It came in the 11th minute when Eoin McCrudden found Conor Murphy for a neat strike off the right. One minute later Domo Eaton found Jack Doyle in space and the 2024 County Minor didn't miss. The next 5 minutes were to prove crucial to the end result and gave the Dunboyne lads a cushion that they would never relinquish. In the 17th minute Murphy laid off a pinpoint pass to Harry Healy who was on the overlap, with Healy registering the games first two-pointer. The same two players repeated the move, but in reverse, in the 22nd minute with Murphy getting another two-pointer after a Healy assist. Cilles' got their second point in between but Murphy popped up again when he split the posts from 35 yards, leaving the score on 23 minutes at Dunboyne 0:08 Colmcille's 0:2. 

The new rules were to work in Dunboyne's advantage again in the 17th minute when Cilles were blown up for not having 3 in their own half, resulting in a 21 meter free. Harry Healy backed himself and moved back out to the edge of the Arc, nailed the kick and another two points for his team. This was to be the last score of the first half with Dunboyne leading at the break on a scoreline of 0:10 (incl 3 X 2-pointers) to 0:2.

The second half started as the first half did, with the Cilles midfielder opening the scoring on 2 minutes. The Bettystown team started the half quite well and it was nip and tuck for the first 15 minutes. Harry Healy registered another free after Cian Tobin was fouled in the 6th minute. Colmcille's got the next score before the team captain, Sean McNulty, got his second of the game after a swift move up the field. This was countered again by the team in blue four minutes later before Healy popped over another free on 14 minutes. Jack Mulvey was introduced halfway through the second half and caused problems for the Cilles defence from the off with his tireless running. Mulvey was rewarded with a point after he finished off a searing run and off-load by the excellent Healy. Colmcille's were working the Dunboyne defense extremely hard, but the Black and Amber back line stood resolute. They did break though for a goal though, after a rare mistake in the small square resulted in the ball falling perfectly for a Colmcille's attacker who gave Jamie McCormack no chance in the Dunboyne goal. St Peters held a healthy lead 0:14 to 1:05 18 minutes into the second half.

On 20 minutes Eoin McCrudden registered another point after great work again by Mulvey. Conor Murphy then had a goal disallowed for square ball before the adventurous Andrew Howlin rattled the upright with another effort. Colmcille's were to register one more point in the 26th minute before Healy got the last score of the game one minute into injury time from another free. 60 seconds later the final whistle sounded, and the game finished with a 7-point win for St Peters, on a scoreline of 0:16 to 1:06. After the game, Dunboyne team captain, Sean McNulty accepted the trophy on behalf of his team.

Dunboyne: Jamie McCormack; Briain Comiskey; Daragh Vaughan; Paul Dempsey; Andrew Howlin; Ciaran McCormack; Eoghan Pearl; Sean McNulty (0:02) (C); Eoin McCrudden (0:01); Jack Doyle (0:01); Cian Tobin; Harry Healy (0:07, 4f); Dom Eaton; Conor Murphy (0:4); James Lonergan; 

Subs: Jack Mulvey (0:01) for Eoghan Pearl; Calum Brown for Jack Doyle; Liam Davis; Sean Cregan; Tadgh Brennan; Shea Mooney; Paul Magee; Josh Mahon; Stephen Kiely; Ronan Kelly; 

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