St. Mary’s Ardee Breaks Barriers, Books Historic Spot in Leinster Final
Ardee News and Sport –St. Mary’s Ardee Breaks Barriers, Books Historic Spot in Leinster Final.
Louth football’s remarkable 2024 continued to soar to new heights as St. Mary’s Ardee clinched a historic place in the Leinster Senior Club Football Championship final. In a tense showdown at Lakepoint Park, the Ardee men edged past St. Loman’s Mullingar 0-15 to 0-14, with Sean Callaghan delivering a clutch winning point deep into injury time.
This victory is a landmark moment for the club, marking the first time a Louth team has reached the Leinster senior final since Mattock Rangers in 2002. It’s only the fifth time a Louth side has progressed this far, following Newtown Blues (1970), Cooley Kickhams (1973, 1976), and Mattock Rangers (2002). Yet no Louth club has ever lifted the Leinster title—a record St. Mary’s will look to rewrite.
The Ardee team now take in their final opponents , Dublin’s Cuala at Croke Park on the 30th of November at 05-40pm.
Saturday’s win is yet another milestone in a season that keeps delivering for Louth GAA. St. Mary’s showcased immense resilience against a battle-hardened St. Loman’s side. The Mullingar men, who have tasted Leinster heartbreak before—most notably in a dramatic 2017 final loss to Moorefield—fought back to level the game late on. But Ardee held their nerve, with Callaghan stepping up to fire the decisive point and secure his side’s place in the history books.
St. Mary’s rise reflects the broader resurgence of Louth football. The Ardee club has been knocking on the door of greatness, pushing Kilmacud Crokes to the limit in last year’s Leinster Championship and claiming back-to-back Louth titles. Their success highlights a county where standards are rising rapidly, evident in both club and inter-county achievements.
This year, the Louth seniors made history by reaching their first-ever All-Ireland quarter-final, breaking decades-long droughts against Meath and Cork along the way. Craig Lennon capped off their campaign with an All-Star award, only the second in Louth’s history, following Paddy Keenan in 2010. Donal McKenny, a St. Mary’s star, was also nominated for an All-Star after his pivotal role for the county, alongside Tommy Durnin and Sam Mulroy.
Louth’s under-20s also made waves, defeating Dublin for the first time since 1996 at any underage or senior championship level before reaching the Leinster final.
With St. Mary’s now bridging a 22-year gap to the province’s showpiece event, the stage is set for another potential breakthrough for the Wee County. The Ardee men stand just 60 minutes away from delivering an unprecedented first Leinster title for Louth football.
The good times keep rolling for Louth GAA—and St. Mary’s Ardee is leading the charge.