Louth GAA club | Naomh Máirtín beat the Blues to win Joe Ward Cup

Naomh Máirtín ran out deserved winners after they brushed aside Newtown Blues by seven points in the Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship final at Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, this afternoon.

The Monasterboice men produced a controlled performance to win a third Joe Ward Cup in five years and their seventh final appearance in eight seasons.

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This fixture was a repeat of the 2018 and 2019 finals, which were both won by the Blues. But this time, the pendulum swung firmly in the Jocks' favour.

Mattie Rice's side were measured from the start, and a lively opening few minutes saw Darragh Dorian nudge them ahead with a fisted effort before Eoin McCoy levelled immediately.

The Blues briefly took control through a superb two-pointer from Conor Branigan, followed by a point from Andy McDonnell to push them 0-4 to 0-1 ahead.

With a strong wind behind them, it looked like the Blues men might settle, but Naomh Máirtín’s response was emphatic.

Wayne Campbell and Louth captain Sam Mulroy pulled the strings, the latter combining neatly with Tom Gray to score a fine point.

Soon after, captain Eoghan Callaghan found his range with a sweet left-footed effort, while Dara McDonnell added two points in quick succession, the second after a clever one-two with Val Leddy, to put the Jocks firmly in command.

Then came a crucial moment of the half as Mulroy lost his footing when attempting a point, and the attack ended with Seán Healy being brought down inside the square.

Up stepped All-Star nominee Mulroy to send Blues goalkeeper Johnny McDonnell the wrong way and slot home the penalty low into the left corner to make it 1-7 to 0-5.

A solitary reply from countyman Ciarán Downey was all the Blues could muster before Tom Gray closed the half with a fine point to give his side a five-point lead at the break.

Half time: Newtown Blues 0-6 Naomh Máirtín 1-8.

The Blues needed a strong second-half start, but after Jamie Kelly converted an early free, the Jocks moved up a gear.

Mulroy fired over a magnificent two-pointer from his weaker left foot before Dorian and Gray combined to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

The Blues briefly stirred when Conor Moore found the net in the 38th minute, when he finished off a nice move involving Downey and Branigan. That made it 1-7 to 1-11, and for a moment, it seemed a comeback might be on.

But Mulroy extinguished any hope when he converted a ’45 before Dorian landed another two-pointer to extend the lead to seven points.

Captain Downey kept plugging away for the Blues and scored three second-half points, but the Jocks were relentless.

Tom Gray continued to torment the Blues' defence, while substitute Jack Murphy added a superb two-pointer to underline their dominance. The outcome was long since beyond doubt when Callaghan fisted over the final point to make it 1-18 to 1-11.

As the rain fell in Drogheda, referee Ultan McElroy's final whistle confirmed that Naomh Máirtín were the Louth Senior Football champions once again.

They will now play a home tie against either Old Leighlin (Carlow) or Portarlington  (Laois) in the AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship quarter-final on Sunday, 16^th November.

Full-Time: Newtown Blues 1-11 Naomh Máirtín 1-18

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

Subs: Niall Devlin on for Fergal Donohoe (HT), Colm Judge on for Conor Moore(47'), Iollan Farrell on for Brian Kermode (49'), Joe Harte on for Conor MacCriosta (58'), Aidan O'Brien on for Eoin McCoy (58').

Naomh Máirtín: Darren Morgan; Cian Sands, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; Evan Whelan, Seán Healy, Jack Murphy (0-2, 1tp); Adam Booth, Dara McDonnell (0-2); Darragh Dorian (0-3, 1tp), Sam Mulroy (1-4, 1-0 pen, 1tp, 1 '45), Wayne Campbell (0-1); Eoghan Callaghan (c) (0-2), Tom Gray (0-4), Val Leddy.

Subs: Joe McGrane on for Wayne Campbell (50'), Craig Callanan on for Val Leddy (58').

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).