Ardee St Mary's 3-07 Colmcille 1-07
A week on from the Louth final replay success, Ardee St Mary's laboured to a six-point opening-round Leinster club SFC victory over Longford champions Colmcille.
The margin is somewhat misleading as the hosts rattled off 1-02 in the game's dying moments having been pushed to the pin of their collar by the midlanders.
Colmcille captain Jack Macken made it a one-point game with his fourth free with five minutes left on the clock before Ronan Carroll showed his impact off the bench for the Louth champions for the third week running.
The former county man whipped over the final score of the game but his surging run through to set up Shane Matthews for the clinching goal was the moment that allowed Ardee supporters to breathe a huge sign of a relief in the finish.
The Louth champions looked every bit the jaded team at the beginning. Colmcille dictated the lines of engagement from the off.
Sitting back Michael Harkins outfit allowed the home side on their home ground Ardee to come on to them the Longford champions revelled.
Captain and midfielder Jack Macken opened the scoring with a free and a wonderful effort from Philip McKeon had Colmcille comfortable and in complete control, but Ardee were soon to awaken from their slumber.
Jonathan Commins opened the Louth champions' account with nearly a quarter of an hour played. From that resultant kick-out, Colmcille switched off and paid dearly. Macken was swarmed as the Cavan border side tried to work the ball out of defence.
A turnover ensued and Dáire McConnon pounced the first of his two first half goals. The county man's second minutes later was made in similar fashion except it was McConnon himself that pick pocketed Declan Reilly. Commins took the shot but McConnon was on hand to finish.
In between McConnon's brilliance, Cathal Reilly popped up at the back post for Colmcille’s only goal of the game. Double scores at the break 2-04 to 1-02 with Ardee much the better side.
The hosts then showed their achilles heel that blighted them in both county finals when they let Colmcille back into the game. Macken to his credit seized the initiative to land three clutch free’s from his hands.
With Colmcille pushing for an equaliser St Mary’s showed their ability to score in bursts is transferable to the provincial stage.
Carroll’s impact blasted them through to the quarter final where they will play The Downs from Westmeath in Mullingar in a fortnight's time.
Ardee St Mary's: James McGillick; Paraic McKenny, Karl Faulkner, Conor Keenan; Kian Moran, Evan Malone, Carl Gillespie (0-01); RJ Callaghan, Robbie Leavy; Jonathan Commins (0-03, 0-01f), Shane Matthews (1-01), Liam Jackson; Conor Gillespie, Daire McConnon (2-01), Ciarán Keenan
Subs: Ronan Carroll (0-01) for Ciarán Keenan (ht), Dean Matthews for Conor Gillespie (41), Darren Clarke for Commins (52), Tom Jackson for Malone (58)
Colmcille: Noel Farrell; Conor Grant, Enda Macken, Gerard Mulligan; Martin Mulligan, Ruairí Harkin, Declan Reilly; Jack Macken (0-04, 0-04f), Fergal Sheridan (0-01); Rory Hawkins, Vinny Hourican, Philip McKeon (0-01); Cathal McCabe, Cathal Reilly (1-00), Barry McKeon
Subs: Eoin Hawkins (0-01) for P McKeon (37), Ciaran McKeon for R Hawkins (42), Darren Mulligan for C Reilly (53).
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Wicklow)
