Ardee St. Mary's 2-02 Naomh Mairtin 0-04
Ardee St. Mary's made history in McGeough Park in Haggardstown by becoming the fourth team in Louth to win three senior titles in a row.
The four-point victory was hard earned against a dogged Naomh Mairtin side in a repeat of last years final. Ardee were denied the feat in 1957, but they now join Cooley Kickhams, Wolfe Tones and Newtown Blues, who did it on two occasions, in the pantheon of great Louth teams.
Luck can play a big part in these runs and an early goal from Kian Moran was fortunate in its nature as he took a stab from distance with the gale at his back and the ball dipped rapidly and under the Mairtin’s cross bar.
The blustery conditions may have caused the confusion for county goalkeeper Craig Lynch but the deceived shot was crucial with the scores so limited due to the conditions. That allowed Ardee to breath and control the game on their terms with the lead. They would kick seven wides so the advantages wasn’t as it seemed.
At the other end of the field, 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, a novel match-up for Louth football, it came down to a nervy second half.
Those strikes were the only scores of a first half Ardee won 1-00 to 0-01.The search for the lowest-scoring final would occur during the break but Jonathan Commins found the target quickly from a free to cancel out the Monasterboice’s sides only effort of the first half.
Mulroy would have his moment, nailing two long-range frees to bring a point between the sides, but he missed a chance to level and Ardee were soon in the driving seat.
Tadhg McDonnell and Tom Jackson combined for a huge turnover and set up the on-rushing Dáire McConnon to punish.
That late strike was the last score of the final, which got tetchy in the finish, Mulroy, Commins and John Clutterbuck all receiving their marching orders as Ardee were crowned worthy champions.
Ardee St. Mary's: Tiernan Markey; Pa McKenny, Karl Faulkner, Tadhg McDonnell; Kian Moran 1-00, Donal McKenny, Éimhin Keenan; RJ Callaghan, Liam Jackson; Jonathan Commins 0-02 (0-02f), Ciarán Keenan, Shane Matthews, Tom Jackson; Ronan Carroll, Daire McConnon 1-00. SUBS: Seán Callaghan for Carroll (ht), Ryan Rooney for Matthews (47), Robbie Leavy for RJ Callaghan (56),
Naomh Mairtin: Craig Lynch; Conor Morgan, Thomas Sullivan, Eoghan Callaghan; Adam Booth, Conor Healy, Evan Whelan; Dara McDonnell, John Clutterbuck; Seán Healy, Sam Mulroy 0-02 (0-02f), Stephen Campbell; Bryan McQuillan, Val Leddy0-02 (0-01m), 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 Sweeney (Stabannon Parnells)
