Carl Gillespie, Rathvilly, and Kian Moran, St. Mary's Ardee, in AIB Leinster Club SFC action. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile
AIB Leinster Club SFC Quarter-Final
Ardee St Mary's 2-9 Rathvilly 0-8
By Dan Bannon at DEFY Páirc Mhuire
Ardee St Marys advance to a Leinster Club Championship semi final, with seven points to spare over Carlow champions Rathvilly in Pairc Mhuire, Ardee on Sunday.
Two goals in the first 10 minutes paved the way for this win, thanks to majors from Donal McKenny and Tom Jackson for the Deesiders.
Following a Tom Jackson turnover, All star nominee Donal McKenny played a neat one two with Tadgh McDonnell, before firing low to the bottom corner to give the Marys a perfect start.
Rathvilly responded with a well-taken point from Ed Finnegan from range, before a clever move through the hands involving Colin Byrne saw Eric Molloy score from play.
Ardee St Marys were guilty of some poor shooting at times, as well as being caught overcarrying the ball, and conceding turnovers.
The three in-a-row Louth champions converted 2-9 from 24 shots over the hour.
But Andy Murphy calmly scored from close range, before Ardee landed their second green flag through Tom Jackson, following excellent approach play from Donal McKenny, who finished with 29 possessions over the hour.
Eric Molloy and Tadgh McDonnell traded scores, before a Kevin Murphy free left four between the sides at 2-2 to 0-4.
Two late scores from Jonathan Commins and McKenny left Ardee with a six point lead at the break.
In the second half, Ardee St Marys kept their opponents at arm’s length, with Kian Moran, and Tom Jackson scores putting them seven points ahead by the end of the third quarter, as the game began to peter out as a contest.
Rathvilly struggled for fluency up front, and the one time they managed to breach the Ardee defence, keeper Tiernan Markey produced a smart save to deny Brandon Kelly from close range.
Tom Jackson and Donal McKenny points had Ardee nine ahead with seven minutes left, despite the best efforts of Kevin Murphy (f) and Colin Byrne for Rathvilly, who landed fine scores.
Rathvilly went for broke, and kicked directly into the square, as they searched for that goal, but late frees from Liam Gavin and Eric Molloy was all they could muster as Ardee advanced to the semi finals of the Leinster championship.
Scorers for Ardee St Marys: D McKenny and T Jackson 1-2 each T McDonnell 0-2, J Commins 0-1, A Murphy and K Moran 0-1 each.
Scorers for Rathvilly: E Molloy 0-3 (1f), K Murphy 0-2 (2fs), C Byrne, E Finnegan and L Gavin (1f) 0-1 each.
Ardee St Marys: T Markey; T McDonnell, K Faulkner, E Keenan; J Commins, D McKenny, A Murphy; RJ Callaghan, S Callaghan; C Keenan, L Jackson, K Moran; P McKenny, R Carroll, T Jackson.
Subs: T Corrigan for E Keenan (44 mins), R Leavy for R Carroll (46 mins), C Gillespie for A Murphy (57 mins), E Malone for J Commins (58 mins), J Crawley for L Jackson (61 mins).
Rathvilly: R Molloy; C Byrne, D Curran, P Deering; P Bolger, J Moore, E Molloy; B Smith, A Burgess; B Kelly, C Doyle, E Finnegan; D Murphy, K Murphy, K Curran.
Subs: Regan Murphy for R Molloy (25 mins), BJ Molloy for Curran (36 mins), L Gavin for B Smith (40 mins), J Elliot for P Bolger (43 mins), R Murphy for D Murphy (48 mins).
Referee: F Pierce (Co Offaly).
