Flanagan dusts off the boots as Ardee impress
MUIRHEVNAMOR ARDEE CELTIC 1 1
ARDEE Celtic picked up an unlikely away point on Friday night last as they put an end to Muirhevnamor’s impressive 100 per cent start to the NEFL Premier Division campaign.
And it could even have been better for the Deesiders, who took the lead mid-way through the second half, only for Philip Duffy to draw the hosts level in the closing quarter.
Ardee, who were looking to get back on track after successive defeats to Boyne Harps and Bellurgan United, began the brighter and had Blues keeper Michael Cooney under pressure as Shawni Dowdall and Darren Gaynor both had efforts on goal.
The home side were restricted to longer range efforts for much of the contest, though their strikers Martin Smith and Vinny Smith both looked dangerous when supply was forthcoming.
Ardee eventually broke the deadlock on 66 minutes when Bryan O’Connor’s lofted pass was buried brilliantly beyond Cooney by Dowdall.
A shock looked firmly on the cards at that stage. However, Paudi Hearty was able to introduce the likes of former Drogheda United and Dundalk striker Tiarnan Mulvenna and Micky O’Kane into the fold as the Blues belatedly upped their game.
And with 12 minutes remaining Duffy shot through a mass of bodies and his effort somehow found its way to the net past Ardee goalkeeper Stuart Reynolds.
It was a point which will please Ardee manager John Flanagan, but the Deesiders will reflect that it could have been three.
Flanagan, who had indicated pre-season he only wished to play in an emergency situation, and Ross Gaynor made up an unlikely partnership in the heart of the defence for the mid Louth men and both delivered sublime performances. MUIRHEVNAMOR: