Louth GAA club | Champions Naomh Mairtin exit SFC after Fechins draw
St Fechins 0-13 Naomh Mairtin 1-10
Current holders Naomh Mairtin saw their defence of the Joe Ward Cup come to an early end after St Fechins held on for a draw in a dramatic finish at DEFY Pairc Mhuire, Ardee, on Sunday afternoon.
Naomh Mairtin needed to win to reach the quarter-finals, while a draw or victory was enough for Fechins to progress from Group One behind St Joseph’s.
The Monasterboice men produced a late fightback to wipe out a six-point half-time deficit, but they could not find the winning score as Fechins advanced to the last eight, and the holders dropped into a relegation play-off.
The Jocks were without several key players, including injured Louth pair Eoghan Callaghan and Sam Mulroy, and it was Fechins who made the stronger start with the aid of a strong wind.
Michael McGlew opened the scoring after six minutes before Ryan Walsh and Colm Hackett quickly followed to put Fechins three ahead.
Ronan Holcroft made it 0-4 to no score before Wayne Campbell finally opened Naomh Mairtin’s account from a close-range free in the 13th minute.
The champions were level three minutes later when Val Leddy found the net, but Fechins responded immediately. Michael McGlew landed a two-pointer to restore their advantage before Ben Callanan replied for the Jocks.
Fechins then made full use of the wind late in the half as James McGlew struck two excellent two-pointers before Evan Dolan added another point. That left Fechins six points ahead at half-time and firmly in control, although Naomh Mairtin had the wind to come.
Half-time: St Fechins 0-11 Naomh Mairtin 1-2.
The Jocks needed a response, but it was Fechins who struck first after the restart, with Holcroft taking his point when a goal opportunity briefly appeared.
Darragh Dorian replied for Naomh Mairtin before Aaron McGlew converted a close-range free to leave Fechins seven points ahead.
From there, the champions began to fight their way back into the contest as Louth star Dara McDonnell landed a superb two-pointer.
But a succession of wides prevented them from cutting the gap further, and with their championship on the line, the Jocks finally found another gear in the closing stages.
Campbell converted a two-point free from distance, repeated the feat from the ground a minute later and suddenly it was only one point that separated the sides.
McDonnell then laid the ball off to Dorian, who fired over with a minute of normal time remaining to bring Naomh Mairtin level. But the champions needed more, and despite pushing for the winning score, they failed to find it.
Fechins also had a late chance which went wide before the final whistle brought an end to Naomh Mairtin’s reign as county champions.
For Fechins, the draw was enough to secure their quarter-final place on score difference, but for Naomh Mairtin it was a bitter end to their group campaign.
Full-time: St Fechins 0-13, Naomh Mairtin 1-10.
St Fechins scorers: James McGlew 0-4 (2tp), Michael McGlew 0-3 (1tp), Ronan Holcroft 0-2, Ryan Walsh 0-1, Colm Hackett 0-1, Evan Dolan 0-1, Aaron McGlew 0-1 (f).
Naomh Mairtin scorers: Wayne Campbell 0-5 (1f, 2tpf), Val Leddy 1-0, Darragh Dorian 0-2, Dara McDonnell 0-2 (1tp), Ben Callanan 0-1.
St Fechins: Niall McDonnell, Rob McCarthy, Ciaran McGinty, Niall McCabe, Paddy Keane, Colm O’Neill, Michael McGlew, Colm Hackett, Harry Haughney, Donal Quinn, Evan Dolan, Aaron McGlew, James McGlew, Ryan Walsh, Ronan Holcroft.
Subs: Evan McCluskey on for Evan Dolan (42’), Adam O’Neill on for Niall McCabe (50’), Jamie McDonnell on for Paddy Keane (56’)
Naomh Mairtin: Craig Lynch, Cian Sands, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy, Evan Whelan (C), Dara McDonnell, Mark Whelan, Adam Booth, Craig Callanan, Sean Healy, John Clutterbuck, Wayne Campbell, Ben Callanan, Val Leddy, Darragh Dorian.
Subs: Joe McGrane on for Adam Booth (HT), Charlie McDonnell on for Ben Callanan (50’), Jack Lynch for Craig Callanan (57’)
Referee: Damien Connor (St. Patrick’s)