Senior Championship Group 1 Preview: Jocks keen to make it back to the final

ANCHOR TOURS SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GROUP 1

There is probably two clear front runners in the race for the knockout stages here, as Dundalk Gaels have been paired alongside the in form duo of Naomh Mairtin and St Mochta’s.

NAOMH MAIRTIN

Having finally tasted what it was like to be crowned senior champions back in 2021 and having successfully retained the Joe Ward Cup a year later, Naomh Mairtin will be desperate to get their hands back on the trophy later this year.

The Jocks will be out on a revenge mission this season, as they narrowly missed out on what would’ve been a fifth straight appearance in the final when beaten a round earlier by eventual champions Ardee St Mary’s.

Ardee hit an unanswered seven points to turn that contest around, helped by the dismissals of the Jocks’ Conor Morgan and John Clutterbuck. Yet it was only in the dying moments that they found themselves behind, 0-11 to 0-10. An injury time winner coming from Daire McConnon.

It was a campaign that was much rockier than expected of then champions. Tests in the group stage versus St Fechins and Dreadnots proved much harder than most thought, while they were lucky to escape past St Patrick’s in the Quarters on a day where Sam Mulroy was off his game.

Looking to the league this year and it was plain sailing for the men from Monasterboice. They went undefeated across their 16 games, despite being without the services of anyone training with Mickey Harte and Co.

In the battle for the Cardinal O’Donnell Cup, they faced the men from Louth Village. Mairtin’s were dominant, forceful and played like champions without completing the task at hand, but in the end Declan McCoy’s troops finished on the losing side following a St Mocha’s comeback, 0-12 to 0-11.

Sam Mulroy is of course Naomh Mairtin’s star attraction, but while defenders focus on him it leaves the door open for the likes of Val Leddy or Conor Whelan to fire home scores. You really can’t take your eyes off anyone they put on the field; such is their strength in depth.

DUNDALK GAELS

Their opening round contest should be a relatively simple assignment, as they lock horns with Dundalk Gaels, a team that has struggled to retain their senior status in recent seasons.

Last year they were cast aside in one of the most one sided battles of the championship by Ardee St Mary’s, before a second half flurry blew the Gaels away, forcing them into the relegation play offs for a second year in succession.

They overcame O’Connell’s in the final in 2021 and last year it was Mattock Rangers who stood in their way of preserving their top-flight status. They rode their luck at times, but were more economical on the night and came from behind with four unanswered points down the stretch to secure an 0-11 to 1-7 victory.

Their league has been a mixed bag. While setting the pace early on, they eventually failed to make the top half prior to the split, ending the campaign with seven wins, one draw and eight losses. A far cry from a year earlier when they narrowly missed out on promotion to Division 1.

Dylan McKeown and Jordan Keating are the men the Gaels will hope set the competition alight, but it would be a shock if they were to get a result from either of their group games.

ST MOCHTA'S

Rounding off the group is St Mochta’s, a team who will be eager to replicate their 2021 championship run that saw them making a maiden Senior Final.

Last season was seen as a disappointment, as they failed to make it out of the group, albeit a tough one which also featured the Newtown Blues and St Patrick's. A third straight win over Pats wasn’t enough, as scoring difference ended up costing them dearly having been beaten by the Drogheda men.

But in 2023 they come into the contest in top form, winning 10 of their 16 league games to clinch second place. And with it, another chance to secure senior silverware.

Craig Lennon put on master class in the second half as they hit eight in row to secure the Cardinal O'Donnell Cup.

While the loss of Ciaran Byrne is huge, they still have his brother Declan to call upon. Throw in the likes of Ben Goss Kieran, Jamie Farrell, Conor Garland and of course Craig Lennon and they will be tough to beat if finding their best form.