Louth and Ardee St Mary's player Liam Jackson. Photo by Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile
Louth SFC Final
Adree St Mary's 2-2 Naomh Máirtín 0-4
By Dan Bannon at Haggardstown
Two goals in either half put Ardee St. Mary’s into the history books against Naomh Mairtin in the Louth Senior final. The victory secured the much glorified three-in-a-row of Joe Ward titles.
Ardee themselves were denied in 1957, the year Louth last won Sam Maguire but they now join a marvellous 70’s Cooley Kickhams side, Wolfe Tones team from the roaring 20’s and Newtown Blues who did as recently as 2019 and the four in a row masters from the 60’s.
In a repeat of last season's decider Naomh Mairtin came out on the wrong side of the tight affair, conditions were a factor, but Ardee’s ability to create would prove to be the difference.
The first goal, a shot from nothing from last year's captain Kian Moran in the 11th minute was massively important. Moran took a stab from distance and confused county goalkeeper Craig Lynch and the dip deceived the netminder and gave the holders the chance to impose.
Scores were so hard to come by with the conditions but Ardee would kick seven wides so the advantage wasn’t as it seemed.
Naomh Mairtin were tirelessly trying to run the ball but got very little change out of the McKenny brothers, Pa and Donal.
Rangy inside forward Val Leddy did point from an excellent mark but with all-star nominee Sam Mulroy tied up by fellow nominee Donal McKenny, it would come down to a tense second half.
Two all-star nominees going against each other was a first within the county. Ardee led a goal to a point at half time.
Ardee free taker Carl Gillespie was injured so Jonathan Commins found the target early from a placed ball to set the tone by cancelling out Monasterboice’s sides score of the entire first half in minutes.
Mulroy would bomb over his customary free kicks, nailing two long range frees to bring a point between the sides, but Ardee were about to turn the game on a huge turnover.
Ryan Rooney pressed Lynch in goals and then Tadhg McDonnell and Tom Jackson combined to steal the ball and quick as a flash Dáire McConnon went through to punish.
That late goal would be the final score of the historic final that would end in frustration. Mulroy, Commins and John Clutterbuck all received their marching orders before joint captains Liam Jackson and Robbie Leavy lifted their side into the history books.
Scorers for Ardee St. Mary’s: Daire McConnon 1-0, Kian Moran 1-0, Jonathan Commins 0-2 (2fs)
Scorers for Naomh Mairtin: Sam Mulroy 0-2 (2f) Val Leddy 0-2 (1m),
Ardee St Mary's: Tiernan Markey; Pa McKenny, Karl Faulkner, Tadhg McDonnell; Kian Moran, Donal McKenny, Éimhin Keenan; RJ Callaghan, Liam Jackson; Jonathan Commins, Ciarán Keenan, Shane Matthews, Tom Jackson; Ronan Carroll, Daire McConnon.
Subs: Seán Callaghan for Carroll (ht), Ryan Rooney for Matthews (47), Robbie Leavy for RJ Callaghan (56),
Naomh Máirtín: Craig Lynch; Conor Morgan, Thomas Sullivan, Eoghan Callaghan; Adam Booth, Conor Healy, Evan Whelan; Dara McDonnell, John Clutterbuck; Seán Healy, Sam Mulroy, Stephen Campbell; Bryan McQuillan, Val Leddy, Tom Gray.
Subs: Darragh Dorian for McQuillan (37), Conor Whelan for Campbell (43), Mick Fanning for E Whelan (61), Conor Smyth for Booth (61).
Referee: Cathal Halpenny (Stabannon Parnells).
