Ardee ready for Leinster decider

The AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship final is set to be a thrilling encounter as Louth champions Ardee St. Mary’s take on Dublin’s Cuala this Saturday evening at Croke Park. Throw in at 5.40 pm.

Supporters expect an exciting finale as both teams look to top off an already memorable campaign with provincial glory.

Both sides have had impressive journeys to reach the Leinster final and displayed their resilience and quality football in the earlier rounds.

St. Mary’s have been a revelation in this year’s Leinster Championship and began their journey at home with a 3-14 to 2-8 victory over Longford champions Abbeylara in the first round.

Ardee displayed their scoring power and ability to close out games in the next round when they beat Carlow’s Rathvilly by 2-9 to 0-8 in the quarter-final at DEFY Páirc Mhuire.

Their standout performance came in the semi-final last Saturday when they toppled a fancied St. Loman’s side from Westmeath by one point in Mullingar.

Ardee’s dogged defending and sharp counterattacks were the difference on the day as they became the first Louth side in 22 years to book their place in a Leinster final.

“We’re not going there to make up the numbers,” Ardee manager Cathal Murray told the Dundalk Democrat. “We are going there to climb the steps.

“We are looking for more consistency. Another performance like we had in the semi-final will hopefully be enough to get us over the line.”

Cuala’s journey through Leinster has been equally impressive as they overcame a tough test in their quarter-final against Naas and edged a high-scoring clash 2-15 to 1-15 in St. Conleth’s Park.

They followed this with a gritty 1-10 to 0-10 semi-final victory over Tullamore in Parnell Park last week when their defence stood tall against the Offaly champions.

With a Leinster title on the line, there is no doubt that both teams will leave everything on the pitch at GAA HQ tomorrow evening.

For Ardee St. Mary’s, it is a chance to bring provincial silverware back to Louth for the first time in decades.

For the south Dublin side, it is an opportunity for Cuala to cement their status as one of Dublin’s top clubs with a landmark victory.

Fans can expect a quality contest filled with end-to-end action and drama. As the countdown to Saturday continues both sides will be dreaming of seeing their team lift the Seán McCabe Cup.

Ardee St. Mary’s vs. Cuala – Croke Park – Saturday, 30th November – 5.40 pm

Tickets: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/aib-leinster-gaa-senior-club-finals-dublin-30-11-2024/event/18006179EF0CB457