Ardee St Mary’s Claim Division 1 League and Drogheda Independent/Argus U17 Division 1 Titles
Ardee St Mary’s are celebrating a momentous double victory after claiming both the Louth Cardinal O’Donnell Cup and the Drogheda Independent/Argus U17 Division 1 title, solidifying their status as a dominant force in Louth GAA.
Cardinal O’Donnell Cup Triumph
Ardee St Mary’s clinched their 13th Louth Cardinal O’Donnell Cup, and their second in four seasons, with a hard-fought 1-15 to 1-12 victory over 2023 champions St Mochtas in the final at Stabannon. This victory comes as a perfect warm-up for their upcoming Joe Ward Championship defense.
The decisive goal for Ardee came in the first half through a well-taken finish by Daire McConnon. Despite a late resurgence from St Mochtas, including a goal from Declan Byrne, Ardee’s composure and experience saw them through to the final whistle.
With this victory, Ardee St Mary’s now turn their focus to the defense of their Joe Ward title, which begins next week against the Geraldines. St Mochtas, meanwhile, will begin their Championship campaign the following week.
Drogheda Independent/Argus U17 Division 1 Glory
Earlier in the weekend, Ardee St Mary’s also secured the Drogheda Independent/Argus U17 Division 1 title with a commanding win over Geraldines at Páirc Eamoin. The final score of 2-11 to 1-5 reflects St Mary’s dominance, particularly in a first half where they netted twice in quick succession, courtesy of Flynn Markey and Tadhg Rooney.
In contrast to their closely contested U16 final last December, where it took a last-minute goal and extra time for St Mary’s to prevail, this encounter was decided much earlier. Despite Geraldines controlling the early exchanges, their lack of creativity and pedestrian pace allowed St Mary’s to seize control. Standout performances from Fionn Coyle, Shane McMahon, and Markey were crucial in ensuring the title returned to Ardee.
Intermediate Championship Roundup
In other weekend action, the first round of the Intermediate Championship produced two thrilling matches. Hunterstown Rovers edged out Dundalk Young Irelands with a dramatic 66th-minute winner, securing a 1-12 to 2-8 victory. Despite leading by seven points at halftime, Rovers managed only one score in the second half but held on for a narrow win, thanks to Ryan Ward’s decisive fisted point in injury time.
Meanwhile, in the evening game, Mattock Rangers comfortably defeated last year’s Junior champions Glyde Rangers, cruising to a 5-15 to 0-9 victory. The Rangers’ goal-scoring prowess was on full display, with goals from Alan Carragher, Ronan Kilbane, Sean Flynn, James Carragher, and Podge Bannon ensuring an emphatic win.
With these victories, Ardee St Mary’s have set the stage for a strong championship run, while the other clubs now regroup as they look to make their mark in the weeks ahead.