1-17 0-12
however it was the venom behind that strike that hinted that Ardee were about to remove all doubt and punish the audacity of the underdog to put it up to them, never mind actually pose the serious the possibility of a shock.
Despite the Tommy Kirks side starting with seven starters from last years team they left the door a jar with a lacklustre start after Ciarán Keenan opened the game’s account.
Craig Lennon and Ciaran McMahon slammed the contest open combining for seven unanswered scores to blast them 7-1 ahead. Riding on the crest of Louth village wave of momentum, the latter actually made an appearance in the capture of the intermediate crown a week previous, you felt a unique double was on cards at this stage.
Ardee midfielder Tiernan Corrigan ebbed the flow back in the Mary’s favour with a badly needed score. Keenan dinked one over and then set up last years man of the match Jonathon Commins for another before Matthews notched his first of the game.
That flurry provided a glimpse of what was to come once they got over the rattle then McMahon, a fine prospect, scored a free to leave it 8-5.
Leader and captain Liam Jackson replied with a strong run just before Ardee were dealt a cruel blow when Commins had to go off with an arm injury seconds before the half time whistle. Keenan scored the resulting free from the incident to make it 8-7, a solitary one point game.
That narrow margin was a dent in the outsiders hopes of an upset and was enough to convince the champions that their was another title on offer after they showed the required composure to get back into the game.
Matthews shouldered the responsibility with ease upon the resumption, showing a full repertoire of skills, a crisp forty five was the highlight and made certain that he was going home with the man of the match award as well as the title.
While Corrigan and Jackson both added to their tallies, Gavin Kirk too took inspiration from Matthews in a run of nine points to no reply as the combination side simply had no answer. Mochta’s full forward Jamie Farrell saw red and Evan Malone was also found guilty by association also saw the whitewash.
Lennon, McMahon (free) and Philip Tynan reeled off three in a row, but the game was finally put to bed with an excellent Tom Jackson goal sliding it under replacement keeper Adam Plunkett soccer style.
Back to back titles in the bag for the first time in the St.Mary’s history, the future is very much Blue.
ARDEE, St. Mary’s: James McGillick; Jay Crawley, Joe Mulholland, Evan McKenny; Tom Jackson(1-0), Donal McKenny, Gavin Kirk (0-1); Tiernan Corrigan (0-2), Liam Jackson (0-2); Evan Malone, Ciarán Keenan(0-3, 1f), Jonathon Commins (0-1); James McDonald, Luke Matthews (0-8, 4f, 145), Shane Matthews. Subs: Adam Garvey for J Commins (30) Caolin O’Callaghan for J McDonald (37),
ST. MOCHTA’S/ST. BRIDE’S: Diarmuid Murray; Ciarán Browne, Andrew Lennon, Conor Brennan; Ryan Cash, Daniel McArdle, Conor Garland; Ciarán McMahon (0-7, 6f), Philip Tynan (0-1); Neil Thornton, Craig Lennon (0-4), Gavyn Short; Oisín Callan, Jamie Farrell, Ross Murnaghan. Subs: Adam Plunkett for D Murray (47), Cathal McElroy for R Cash (53) Rory Phelan for G Short (54), Michael Belton for N Thornton (59).
REFEREE: Thomas Brennan.