Louth GAA club | The Blues end St. Marys reign

Newtown Blues dethroned county champions Ardee St. Marys to book their place in the semi-finals of the Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship with a deserved six-point victory on Sunday afternoon in Drogheda.

The quarter-final was a repeat of the epic 2022 final and drew a sizeable crowd to the pristine Integral GAA Grounds, and from the throw-in, it was clear both sides intended to deliver a contest worthy of the billing.

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Champions St. Marys carried their usual swagger, but it was the Blues who found the extra gears when the pressure came on. The scoring began inside the opening minute when captain Ciarán Downey slotted a free to give the Drogheda men the lead.

Moments later, Conor Branigan landed a two-pointer and a statement of intent that underlined the Blues’ willingness to push boundaries.

St. Marys eventually responded through Carl Gillespie and goalkeeper Tiernan Markey, whose booming free showed once again how influential he can be outside the square.

The Blues struck first blood with a 13th-minute goal. Conor Moore was alert to a breaking ball, which he punched to the net to silence the Ardee supporters.

Yet the Cathal Murray's side struck back instantly via Ciarán Keenan, assisted by Tom Jackson, rifled low and to the corner past Johnny McDonnell to level matters.

It was end-to-end football and the scoreboard ticked steadily with points from Shane Matthews, Dáire McConnon, and Blues attackers Jamie Kelly and Conor MacCriosta.

Half time: St. Marys 1-7 Newtown Blues 1-7

St. Marys hit the ground running after the restart. Matthews split the posts inside 20 seconds, and when Jackson drilled over a two-pointer on 42 minutes, followed quickly by a point from Kian Moran, Ardee led 1-11 to 1-9.

Their momentum was building, and for a fleeting spell, it looked as though they would squeeze through again. But Newtown Blues, who had squandered chances earlier, suddenly clicked into gear.

Downey levelled with a two-pointer free, and substitute Niall Devlin made an instant impact by firing over after fine work from Kelly. Then came the defining moment.

On 53 minutes, with Ardee narrowly in front, Fergal Donohoe ghosted in behind the defence and, from Devlin’s clever pass, tucked away the Blues’ second goal. The roar from the Drogheda faithful said it all, and momentum had shifted.

From there, the Blues never looked back. The ever-influential Dáire Nally landed a monstrous two-pointer from the sideline.

Downey added frees with his customary composure, while Moore applied the finishing touch with a neat point as the final whistle loomed.

Ardee were unable to find another breakthrough. Markey, outstanding from placed balls with 0-3 to his name, had earlier pushed them in front with a two-pointer free, but once Donohoe’s goal went in, their challenge visibly wilted.

Missed chances, particularly in the second half, proved costly, and goalkeeper McDonnell also denied Keenan with a crucial save early after the restart.

When referee Cathal Sweeney blew full-time, the scoreboard read Newtown Blues 2-17, St. Marys 1-14. A six-point cushion, hard-earned and thoroughly merited.

For St. Marys, the result marks the end of an era. Their run of three consecutive titles has been a testament to resilience and consistency, but this time they were outgunned by a side hungry to reclaim top spot.

The Blues’ travelling supporters celebrated at the final whistle. For them, this was more than just a quarter-final; it was a statement that the Joe Ward Cup may well be heading back to Drogheda.

Full time: Ardee St. Marys 1-14 Newtown Blues 2-17

Ardee St. Marys: Tiernan Markey (0-4, 4f); Noah Coyle, Éimhín Keenan, Páraic McKenny; Keelin Martin, Karl Faulkner, Carl Gillespie (0-2, 2f); Tommy Durnin (0-1), Seán Callaghan; Kian Moran (0-1), Tom Jackson (0-2), Jonathan Commins (0-1, 1f); Ciarán Keenan (1-0), Dáire McConnon (0-1), Shane Matthews (0-2).

Subs: Adam Gillespie on for Jonathan Commins (40'), Tadhg McDonnell on for Noah Coyle (51'), Ronan Carroll on for Kian Moran (59').

Newtown Blues: Johnny McDonnell; Alan Connor, Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly, Daire Nally (0-2, 2f); Fergal Donohue (1-1), Emmett Carolan, Conor MacCriosta (0-1); Brian Kermode, Andy McDonnell; Ryan Kelly, Ciarán Downey (0-6, 5f), Conor Branigan (0-3); Jamie Kelly (0-2, 1f), Conor Moore (1-1), Eoin McCoy.

Subs: Niall Devlin (0-1) on for Eoin McCoy for (34'), Colm Judge on for Andy McDonnell (46'), Aiden O’Brien on for Brian Kermode (59').

Referee: Cathal Sweeney (Stabannon Parnells).