Ardee St Mary's crowned minor champions

Ardee St Marys 1-14

Stabannon Parnells/O’Connells/John Mitchells/Lannleire 0-6

Ardee St Marys’ had one hand on the Fr Larry Cup by the time the first half drew to close, as they stormed their way to a second minor county title in a row, with this facile victory over the Stabannon Parnells/O’Connells/John Mitchells/Lannleire amalgamation in what proved to be part one of another minor and senior championship winning double for the Deesiders.

Apart from the early exchanges, the result of this contest was never in doubt, with Ardee St Marys taking a firm grip on proceedings from the 10 th minute onwards, executing their catch and kicking game perfectly.

That first half saw Ardee St Marys win 10 out of 15 on the amalgamation side’s kickout, as the blues blocked up the middle sector, depriving key St Micheals pair Ryan and Dylan Shevlin of possession as a result.

This dominance saw Ardee in overdrive, with Fionn Coyle, midfielders Flynn Markey and Lorcan Buckley seeing plenty of possession, while Luke Keenan, alongside the two Murphys.

Andy and Darragh ensured that the combination side were in for a torrid afternoon.

A lively opening exchange saw Ardee St Marys lead by 0-4 to 0-2 inside the opening 10 minutes.

With vocal support ranging from several clubs on their side, the Stabannon/O’Connells/John Mitchells/Lannleire side gave supporters something to shout about when Padraig Reynolds grabbed the opening score of the game, when he picke up a loose ball in the square, following a long ball from captain Ryan Shevlin.

However, that was as good as it got if truth be told for the amalgamation, as Ardee soon found their groove, working most of their shots inside the scoring zone, which saw Lorcan Buckley, Darragh Murphy, Josh Taffe and Adam Gillespie (f) profit, as David Woods’ side led by 0-4 to 0-2 in that opening 10 minutes.

A close range Ryan Shevlin free did keep Ardee honest, but the next 20 minutes saw the holders produce a demolition job on their opponents.

Key to this was county man Josh Taffe, one of five players (from the Louth under 17 side who won the Seamus Heaney Cup earlier this year), he finished with 26 possessions, and his boundless energy was a constant thorn in the St Michael’s side throughout.

A further 1-7 from the 10 th minute until half time, made the scoreboard look pleasing from an Ardee perspective, with Taffe’s 25th minute goal making it 1-7 to 0-2, after he got in behind the cover from a Brooklyn Gorman kickpass to fire to the roof of the net.

Some more delightful and precise movement of the ball with foot and through the hands, saw a further 0-2 from Andy Murphy, 0-1 each from Darragh Murphy, Luke Keenan, Josh Taffe, Flynn Markey, and Brooklyn Gorman, give the Marys that commanding first half lead.

What was particularly impressive about this first half Ardee performance was the fact that team captain and ace marksman Adam Gillespie was forced to withdraw in the 19 th minute with injury. They still amassed 1-12 from 17 shots.

Second Half:
Having made a change to personnel in the opening half, Stabannon/O’Connells/Mitchells/Lannleire had made an additional two alterations by the 35th minute, with the lively TJ Molloy certainly a player with a bright future ahead of him.

The teenager showed maturity beyond his years, and was lively in that second half, with his Scoil Uí Mhuirí class mate Brendan Cassidy grabbing the opening point of the second half with a fine strike.

You felt that the combination side needed to take every goal chance they created if they were to cause an upset, and having struck the crossbar with a fisted effort in the first half, Dylan Shevlin collected a long ball, but saw his shot again rattle the woodwork, minutes after Ardee’s Fionn Coyle produced an excellent block to deny Brendan Cassidy, following an
incisive run from Ciaran Titley.

Cassidy also saw a goal bound effort thwarted by Ardee custodian Tiernan Markey, and minutes later, the Mary’s tagged on another score through Flynn Markey, either side of two well-taken strikes from Brooklyn Gorman, concluding the scoring for Ardee.

Credit should go to the combination side, who refused to throw in the towel, arguably kicking the two best scores of the game.

Firstly, Jack O’Connor fired over from long distance, a score which his efforts deserved, while defender Derry Flanagan continued to battle hard in a defence mostly under siege.

A terrific strike from Ryan Shevlin whistled over the bar, but the outcome of this game was decided a long time earlier, as Ardee St Marys made it back to back minor successes, in part of one of what was subsequently another historic day for the club.

Ardee St Marys: Ternan Markey; Bobby Carroll, Evan Keenan, Tadgh Caffrey; Luke
Woods, Keelin Martin, Fionn Coyle; Flynn Markey (0-2), Lorcan Buckley (0-1); Darragh
Murphy (0-2) (1f), Adam Gillespie (0-1) (1f), Luke Keenan (0-1); Brooklyn Gorman (0-2),
Josh Taffe (1-2), Andy Murphy (0-3) (1f), (1 mark).
Subs: Oran Carrie for Carroll (54), DJ Matthews for Darragh Murphy (54), Shane McMahon
for Caffrey (56), Calum Caffrey for Luke Keenan (59), Cian Lane for Gillespie (19)

Stabannon Parnells/O’Connells/John Mitchells/Lannleire: Ciaran Kearney; Calum
Fitzsimons, Derry Flanagan, Patrick Reynolds; Shane Brady, Justin Cooney, Jack O’Connor
(0-1); Conor Clinton (0-1), Mark Grogan; Adam Keenan, Ryan Shevlin (0-2) (1f), Ciaran
Titley; Brendan Cassidy (0-1), Dylan Shevlin, Padraig Reynolds (0-1).
Subs: Harry Kierans for Keenan (24), TJ Molloy for Padraig Reynolds (HT), James Walsh
for Fitzsimons (35), Sean McNiece for Titley (50), Cillian Byrne for Cassidy (56).
Referee: Cathal O’Brien (Geradines).