Ardee minors are the best ever!

Thanks in no small measure to the encouragement given at all times by the De La Salle Brothers, Ardee has produced some outstanding minor football teams—and there are several who feel that the side that won the Fr. Larry Murray Cup for the second year in a row, last November, will eventually.be regarded as the best that has ever donned the Deeside colours in this grade

Ardee, on that winter’s’ day, gave a well nigh faultless display in routing the fancied Dowdallshlll team (3-10, to 2-4) at the Grove Field, Castlebellingham. Making light of the appalling’ conditions, they secured score after score with a power-packed display of football that sent supporters home in a gleeful mood.

On Sunday night next, this team will be feted in the Parochial Hall (6 p.m. start), and as the ceremony also marks the club’s’ Silver Jubilee, the attendance should be the biggest at a celebration by the club, for some time.

As well as Championship medals, it is but fitting that the team should also be recipients of the Tom McKenna Memorial trophies, as the late Mr. McKenna was a real driving force in this area as regards minor football, for several years prior to his lamented death at the County Board Convention (in Ardee) a few seasons back.

Formed in 1941,, Ardee minors won the Championship half a dozen times including the past two years, skipper in ‘64 being Tony Breen, now a leading light with Sean McDermotts; also Louth; and last year, by Turlough McDonnell, who is of Breffni stock. The line out on November 7th was: Tom Rice; Tommy Reilly, Philip McKeever, Michael. Taaffe; Enda Scollard, Larry Steen, Matty Reilly; Martin Whately, Denis Murray; Michael Bennett, Turlough McDonnell, Angus Courtney; Tommy Matthews, ‘Seamus Balfe and Sean Walsh. The subs included Ray Gosling, who would have been an automatic choice but for a road accident a short time beforehand.

The club is headed by chairman, Nicky Roe; vice-chairman, Patsy Leavy, and secretary, Patsy Callan. It is interesting.to recall that no fewer than eight of the Louth 1957 players, played minor football with Ardee—captain, Dermot O’Brien; Patsy Coleman, Kevin Beahan, Ollle Reilly, Jim McDonnell, Jim Roe, Aldan Magennis and Barney McCoy.