Interview with Ardee manager Cathal Murray after the Senior Final

Having guided his team to back to back Joe Ward cup triumphs on Sunday, an understandably elated Ardee St Mary’s manager Cathal Murray was full of praise of his side for the maturity that they showed in holding off the tricky test which was former back to back winners of this competition, Naomh Martin.

Ardee St Marys headed into this final as holders and favourites, but the Deesiders were blown firmly out of the water, when an early Cian Sands goal for the Martins, helped the Monasterboice side take a 1-5 to 0-1 first half lead.

The Marys needed to call on every bit of that experience gained from last year’s success, to claw their way back into the game, in a half which also saw them hit eight points without reply, to take a one point lead into the break, a lead which they would ultimately hang onto on a 0-15 to 1-11 final scoreline.

Despite that early setback, manager Cathal Murray praised his side for maintaining their composure in chipping away at that deficit.

“They put in a mature performance today”, Murray told the Dundalk Democrat. “The Martins came with a burst of scores, but we settled, we dug in & we kept picking up our own scores, clawing it back, and, we didn’t panic”. We showed great maturity in picking off the scores, as we struggled to break them down at times”.

Murray added, “It’s only natural you’re going be worried, when they hit 1-3 or 1-4 on the bounce, but it’s about that maturity which the boys showed, they settled themselves, we got to grips with our kickout, which was a problem, for us at the start. Once we started to win the ball, get possession, work the ball through the lines, and take chances from distance, instead of trying to move it through their defence”.

This championship victory also saw Ardee St Marys make history, as this is the first time that they have won back to back Louth Senior Championships since they the teams of 1956 and 1957.

Cathal Murray did not hide his feelings, when asked about what this victory means to him as manager.

He said, “I enjoy working with this group of players, they’re v special, you saw what’s coming through with the minors, it’s a very special club”.

Elsewhere, Cathal Murray revealed that one very special guest was welcomed with open arms, Patsy Coleman. A key member of those victories in the 1950s, Coleman also formed part of the last Louth team to take home Sam Maguire in 1957.

“I’m delighted for the club, we had Patsy Coleman in with us this week, Patsy was of course part of the 56 and 57 teams. I was delighted to see that”, Murray revealed.