Louth GAA club | St Mary’s cruise to Cardinal O’Donnell Cup victory
St Joseph’s 0-7 St Mary’s 2-20
St Mary’s claimed their second Cardinal O’Donnell Cup in three years with a comfortable win over St Joseph’s at Cullen AutoParts Louth GAA Training Centre, Darver on Sunday evening.
The Ardee side led from the opening minute and were nine points clear at half-time before two second-half goals put the game beyond the Joes. Adam Gillespie opened the scoring with a two-pointer before Conall McCaul replied from a free for St Joseph’s.
Goalkeeper Tiernan Markey then landed a two-point free, while Ciaran Keenan and Daire McConnon were also on target as Mary’s began to take control.
Jonathan Commins kicked two two-pointers during a strong first half for Ardee. Keenan and McConnon added further scores, with Sean Callaghan’s point from a mark sending Mary’s in 0-14 to 0-5 ahead at the break.
Ben Collier got the first score of the second half for the Joes, but Mary’s quickly regained control.
Commins and Adam Gillespie added points before the first goal arrived in the 48th minute. Substitute Tom Jackson set up Conor Gillespie, who fisted the ball to the net from close range.
Mary’s added three more points before Ciaran Keenan struck their second goal in the 54th minute after Andy Murphy won possession back.
Rian Devlin replied with St Joseph’s final point, while McConnon completed the scoring as Mary’s ran out convincing 2-20 to 0-7 winners.
It completed a strong performance from the Ardee men as they were crowned Louth GAA Division One League winners for the second time in three years.
St Mary’s: Tiernan Markey (0-2, 1tpf); Paraic McKenny, Donal McKenny (0-1), Fionn Coyle; Flynn Markey, Keelin Martin, Kian Moran; Eimhin Keenan, Sean Callaghan (0-1, 1m); Jonathan Commins (0-5, 2tp), Ciaran Keenan (1-3), Andy Murphy; Adam Gillespie (0-2, 1tp), Daire McConnon (0-4), Conor Gillespie (1-2).
Subs: Tom Jackson for Paraic McKenny (37’), Shane Matthews for Adam Gillespie (48’), Evan Malone for Sean Callaghan (51’), Lorcan Buckley for Donal McKenny (51’), Luke Keenan for Ciaran Keenan (56’).
St Joseph’s: Aaron Gray; Cian Sheridan, Aidan Kieran, Rian Devlin (0-1); David Kieran, Ben McKeown (0-2, 1tpf), Gabriel Bell; Oisin McGuinness, Cormac McKeown; Killian Staunton, Conall McCaul (0-3, 1f), Pearse Grimes-Murphy; Craig Doherty, Ben Collier (0-1), Conal Smyth.
Subs: Alan Quigley for Craig Doherty (HT), Michael O’Brien for David Kieran (HT), Oisin Reidy for Killian Staunton (HT), Jack Mulligan for Pearse Grimes-Murphy (36’), Conor Neary for Conal Smyth (57’).
Referee: Bryan Smith (O’Raghallaighs).