McCarthy's Eastern Army claim Regional Championship

The 2024 decider was not short of drama but Bru na Boinne held on to take the spoils at Donaghmore Ashbourne GAA

Bru na Boinne 2-14

An Tuascairt 1-14

Bru na Boinne claimed the 2024 Regional championship after winning a dramatic final against An Tuascairt on Saturday evening in Donaghmore/Ashbourne.

Following on from his success with Boyne Valley, John McCarthy has now guided a team to glory in the competition for the second year in a row.

Alan Bowden and Diarmuid Moriarty both put in incredible performances at either end for their respective outfits with the two free-takers accounting for 1-19 of the 3-28 scored in total on the night.

The midfield battle turned out to be a crucial factor and both sets of centre fielders influenced the contest massively. At times the workrate of Brian Joyce and the powerful driving runs of Rian McConnell kept An Tuaiscart within touching distance. The eventual winners though were boosted greatly by the incredible performance of the St Patricks pairing, John Curtis and Sean Emmanuel.

An Tuascairt looked the stronger of the two sides in the opening exchanges but Bru na Boinne kept plugging away at the scoreboard and a first-half stunning goal from Sean Emmanuel meant that they held a two-point lead at half-time.

After a lively opening 30 minutes, the third quarter saw the game level out with neither side able to pull away from the other. However, with five minutes left of normal time, a Donal Landy goal brought the clash back to life which made for a very exciting conclusion.

Diarmuid Moriarty secured four of An Tuascairt's first five scores to give them an early a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Matthew Durnin stretched that lead to four. Bru Na Boinne and Sean Emmanuel responded with an absolutely stunning goal. Emmanuel burst through the defence and buried the ball to the top right of the net leaving the Dary Hutchinson with no chance between the sticks.

Rian McConnell secured his second point soon after to push An Tuascairt's lead back out to two.

Bru na Boinne responded and Alan Bowden opened his account before Conor Harford made a provoking run forward, linking up brilliantly with clubmate Gary Tuite and Alan Bowden before eventually being fouled. Alan Bowden made no mistake with the resulting free and soon after put Bru na Boinne ahead for the first time with his third point in succession.

Adam Tuite secured his second with a lovely individual score before Alan Bowden traded frees with Moriarty to leave Bru Na Boinne holding a 1-7 to 0-8 lead at the break.

Alan Bowden picked up where he left off at the start of the second half before Moriarty once more cancelled out Bowden's effort. A long-range point courtesy of McConnell reduced the margin back to the minimum.

The pace of the game dropped significantly between the 35th and 55th minute and during that time there were only four scores registered. Two frees apiece for Alan Bowden and Moriarty.

Rather fittingly, it was one of the new rules which reignited the clash. Conor Harford took a quick 'solo and go' before bursting at the An Tuascairt defence and again linked up with clubmate Gary Tuite. The St Vincent's man then found Landy with a pass and he finished the ball to the back of the net to give Bru na Boinne a four-point lead with less than five minutes remaining of normal time.

Alan Bowden tagged on two more points and at that stage, it looked as if Bru na Boinne had one hand on the cup.

An Tuascairt were not dead and buried yet though. Matthew Durnin secured his second point before Moriarty found the back of the Bru na Boinne net to leave only two points between the sides with three minutes of injury time still to play.

Alan Bowden and Moriarty traded frees one last time before Tom Bowden fisted over to secure the insurance point and see Bru na Boinne over the line.

Bru na Boinne - Ryan Lynch; Adam Byrne, Davy Tallon, Colm Regan; Ryan Hand, Tom Bowden (0-1), Conor Harford; John Curtis, Sean Emmanuel (1-0); John Mannion, Alan Bowden (0-10, six frees), Sam O'Leary; Nigel Hand, Adam Tuite (0-2), Donal Landy (1-1). Subs - Gary Tuite for R Hand 10m, Liam Brennan for Byrne 17m, Killian O'Connor for Regan 41m, Sean Hackett for N Hand 49m, Senan McKeon for Emmanuel 54m.

An Tuascairt - Dary Hutchison; Conor O'Farrell, Killian Russell, Seamus Hogan; Killian Smyth, Brian Cassidy, Killian Markey; Brain Joyce, Rian McConnell (0-3); Daniel Byrne, Darragh Kelly, Adam Matthews; Matthew Durnin (0-2), Diarmuid Moriarty (1-9, seven frees) Ronan Flynn. Subs - Evan Hoey for Hogan, Killian Price for Byrne both halftime, Seamus Doherty for Matthews 48m, Oisin Reilly for Kelly 57m, Eoin Reid for Cassidy 58m, Jamie O'Neill for Farrell 60m.

Referee - Andrew Smith (Dunshaughlin)