St Mary's 1-18 Newtown Blues 1-15
Ardee, St Mary's ended their 27-year wait to lift the Joe Ward Cup after another absorbing contest with Newtown Blues in the Louth Senior Championship final replay in Dowdallshill.
Four points from veteran forward Ronan Carroll got them over the line at the fourth time of asking after final losses in 2003, 2016 and 2020.
Nerves were aplenty in the helter-skelter finale that saw Ardee net-minder James McGillick called in action with a last-gasp save after Emmet Carolan rebounded home a penalty seconds earlier to make it a two-point game.
Carroll would be the totem pole of calm with a relieving catch in the middle of the pitch before finishing off the move with the last score of the game to ensure that there would be no extra-time and thus ending the famine.
The replay etched a familiar picture to the first day with Ardee opening the game with a goal. Last week’s goal-scorer Dáire McConnon this time turned creator. His run along the end line was cleverly spotted by Ciarán Keenan who took the ball at pace off the shoulder and finished a low shot to the net.
Conor Gillespie was Ardee’s only change from the last day out and he pointed quickly after the early goal. Again, similarities a plenty when the Drogheda side came back into to not only lead but take control of the final with five points in a row.
Even four times in the first half, the two sides were inclined to be drawn back alongside each other. With county man Ciarán Downey just nudging Des Lane’s side ahead at the interval, 0-09 to 1-05.
Despite trailing, Ardee kept up their noteworthy trend of starting halves at a rapid pace and that was the case again with four points in quick succession.
That key ability to score at an easier rate would be vital in deciding the outcome with Carl Gillespie and Shane Matthews impressing at this crucial juncture in the final.
The Blues would not relent and kept staying in the contest through the wily Colm Judge, the ex-county man keeping his side just in touch to keep things honest.
However, match winner Carroll was just about to announce himself into the showpiece with a brace.
Ardee's nerves would jangle in the frantic finale but goalkeeper McGillick, who lost his mother at the start of the year, held his to aptly shine on Louth football’s biggest day.
Ardee: James McGillick; Paraic McKenny, Donal McKenny, Conor Keenan; Kian Moran (0-01), Karl Faulkner, Carl Gillespie (0-03, 0-03fs); RJ Callaghan, Liam Jackson; Jonathan Commins, Shane Matthews (0-03), Tom Jackson (0-01); Ciarán Keenan (1-01), Dáire McConnon (0-03), Conor Gillespie (0-01).
Subs: Ronan Carroll (0-04) for Commins (ht), Robert Leavy for Callaghan (48), Dean Matthews (0-01) for S Matthews (50), Ryan Rooney for Conor Gillespie (56), Darren Clarke for Rooney (blood sub, 58).
Newtown Blues: Johnny McDonnell; Ciaran Cluskey Kelly, Alan Connor, Johnny Connolly; Emmet Carolan, Conor Ayson, Fergal Donohoe (0-01); Chris Reid, Andy McDonnell (0-01); Daire Nally (0-02, 0-01 '45, 0-01f), Colm Judge (0-03, 0-01f), Ciarán Downey (0-04, 0-01f); Jamie Kelly (0-03), John Kermode, Rob Carr (0-01).
Subs: Conor Branagan for Kermode (37), Conor Moore for Donohe (41), Ian Connor for Reid (56), Thomas Costello for Ayson (56).
Referee: Kevin Brady (Dundalk Gaels).
