Ardee St Mary's make their way back to Senior final with victory over St Pat's

ANCHOR TOURS SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINAL

ARDEE ST MARY’S 4-14

ST PATRICK’S 3-10

Holders Ardee St. Mary’s have made their way back to the Louth Senior final with a clinical display against St. Patrick’s in Dowdallshill.

Scoring bursts have become a trademark of the champions and again that proved to be the order of the day in the gung-ho semi final.

Seven goals over the hour and more left behind, this semi final was loose and open but there was always going to be one winner. The link up play of duo Ciarán Keenan and Ryan Rooney had the Lordship men on tenterhooks all afternoon.
Despite the manner of Ardee’s play, the inevitability wasn’t entirely there due to Pats ability to hang in the game and sting Mary’s resolve with timely goals.

The match began with the tale of two marks, as expected Pats would look to bomb high balls in and Eoin O’Connor collected a fine ball in by Cathal Grogan as Ardee missed the other end.

Johnny Magee’s side had a habit of building up an early lead then lagging off. After establishing a 0-3 to 0-1 lead, Ardee revelled in the dip in intensity of their opponent and even left scores behind them.

McConnon pointed and set up Ryan Rooney to expertly finish, by sliding in with his two fists. Rooney could have bagged another but blazed over the bar. A foil no more perhaps.

Jack Murphy’s aggressive score was Pat's response but it wasn’t long before Ardee ramped it up again with sheer movement and joy.

Tom Jackson hit the hit after a snappy move in the corner and while everyone was enjoying watching them play Keenan landed the devastating third.

Kiki Keenan’s willingness to always look and probe the defender of a goal is what sets the champions apart. That constant inclination undoubtedly rubs off on his team mates.

Just when the half time whistle was about to go, Eoin O’Connor smashed home a half volley to make it 3-6 to 1-5 at half time. Pats still lingering.

Substitute Martin Breen thundered over a score upon the resumption after replacing the off-colour Dessie Finnegan but Jonathan Commins then stood up in the second period for Cathal Murray’s side.

A Ciarán Keenan dummy solo bought him the extra half yard of space to create a goal chance he duly took. Ardee purring now but Murphy blasted home goal in direct response.

Commins and Carl Gillespie found the target along with a Liam Jackson free. Kevin Toner was sent off for a high challenge but the peninsula men exited with venom.

The losers will ponder If only Barry Dunner was fully fit, his direct play and battle with Keenan in the past have been nip and tuck.

Dunne forced James McGillick to flick over the bar after Eoin O’Connor found the net. O’Connor hit the crossbar just beforehand.

Ardee closed out the game on the counter thanks to the impressive Rooney. Ardee made up the final pairing everyone will be eager to see. As they take on Naomh Mairtin in a mouthwatering final in two weeks' time. 

ARDEE ST MARY’S: James McGillick; Páraic McKenny, Donal McKenny, Eimhin Keenan;  Kian Moran, Tiernan Corrigan, Carl Gillespie 0-2 (1f); Robbie Leavy, Seán Callaghan; Ciarán Keenan 2-1, Liam Jackson 0-1 (1f), Jonathan Commins 0-2; Ryan Rooney 1-4, Dáire McConnon 0-2, Tom Jackson 1-2. SUBS: Shane Matthews for Callaghan (45), Dean Matthews for Commins (53), Evan Malone  for Leavy (55), Ronan Carroll for Gillespie (58) Conor Gillespie for T Jackson (63).

ST. PATRICK’S: Martin McEneaney 0-2 (1f 1’45); Joe Connor, Eoghan Lafferty, Kevin Toner; Darren Connor, Ciarán Murphy Conor Grogan 0-1; Leonard Grey, Dessie Finnegan; Tadhg O’Connor, Danny O’Connor, Aidan McCann 0-1; Cathal Grogan 0-2 (2f), Eoin O’Connor 2-1 (1m), Jack Murphy 1-2 (1m). SUBS: Martin Breen 0-1 for Finnegan (ht), Adam Finnegan for T O’Connor (ht), Barry Dunne 0-1 for D Connor (47), Jason Woods for McCann (47).

REF: Stephen Fitzpatrick (Clan Na Gael)