Super Saints sink the champs
ST Marys booked their place in the semi-final of the Paddy Sheelan Cup after recording an impressive victory over county champions, Newtown Blues, on Friday night.
Goals either side of the break from Darragh McConnon and Darren Clarke proved decisive as the Ardee men went on to win by eight points.
The Mid Louth men made the trip to Newfoundwell on the back of some good early season performances and they continued in that vein with a display that had them in the ascendancy from the early stages.
The home side also produced some nice passages of play but at the break they found themselves 1-8 to 0-7 in arrears with Darren Clarke firing in the first goal of the game.
The second half saw the Ardee men remain in charge and although Conor Brannigan hit the net for the Blues and Robert Carr chipped in with five points they never looked likely to complete the comeback.
The visitors always appeared to have enough in reserve and Darragh McConnon added a second goal for the Marys to seal victory.
MARYS: Alan McGauley; Brendan Matthews, Philip Trainor, Conor Keenan; Wayne Matthews, Karl Faulkner, Kian Moran; Joe Mulholland, Robert Leavy; Darragh McConnon 1-1, Paudy Clarke 0-3, Dean Matthews; Mark Fay, Cian Commins 0-2, Darren Clarke 1-8. Subs: Conor Gillespie for C Commins, Liam Jackson for W Matthews, Jamie Rooney for D Matthews, RJ Callaghan for M Fay, Robbie Clarke for P Clarke, Craig Keenan for D McConnon.
BLUES: Danny Rothwell; Leigh Synnott, Aidan O’Brien; Ronan Levins; Ian Connor, Paul Kelleher, Jimmy Murray 0-1; Cormac Reynolds 0-1, Kevin Carr; Jamie Kelly 0-1, Conor Brannigan 1-1, Lorcan McQuillan; Colm Judge, Conor Moore, Robert Carr 0-5. Subs: Alan Connor for J Murray, Declan McNamara for J Kelly, Chris Reid for L Synnott, Jamie Doherty for L McQuillan.