CHAMPIONSHIP2018

A win of any kind will do for Mary’s

ST MARY’S produced one of the greatest MFC Final displays in history when scoring 6-21 against gallant Geraldines 12 months ago - but 2018 manager Noel McGillick would happily take a scrappy onepoint win next Sunday.

The Ardee side have been motoring along nicely this year and already have the Minor League Division 1 trophy under their belts, but McGillick has been guarding against his team taking anything for granted, pointing out that the Mochta’s/Bride’s combination have given them plenty of headaches already this season.

‘We’ve said to them, we’ve played the Mochta’s/Bride’s twice this year and they were two very close games - we beat them by six or seven points in the League Final and there was only three between us in the group match in the league.

‘We know what they bring to the table - it’s going to be physical and competitive again and it’s going to be a very tough game.

‘What happened yesterday happened yesterday and it’s all about tomorrow, so to speak. We have to be full-on and approach it with a positive attitude but not be over-confident.

‘A score like that [last year] puts pressure on lads and it’s a bit of a false dawn. I would be happy if we won by a point or two because you’re in a game.’

Nevertheless, St Mary’s were convincing 3-16 to 0-8 winners over Kilkerley/Naomh Malachi in the semi-final and they are virtually at full strength again, the notable exception being Carl Gillespie who suffered a serious injury playing for Louth against Dublin in the Leinster Minor Championship back in the spring.

‘We’re looking forward to it,’ McGillick continued. ‘There’s a bit of nerves with young lads that age because of all the attention, but I tell them to enjoy it because it’s part of preparing for the Minor final and it’ll all be over soon.’

Syddan native McGillick, who was in charge of St Mary’s U-16s last year, has been involved with the Ardee club since 2009 and leads a strong backroom team comprising of Mark Keenan as well as three members of last year’s Minor management - Tommy Kirk, Mark Rooney and Dermot Gillespie.

They are very familiar at this stage with a group of players who have swept aside all before them in underage football over the years. About a dozen of the 2017 standard-bearers are still in the squad and the word is that the desire to win major trophies is as strong as ever.

‘There’s nothing like winning a Minor championship - it’s a great feeling and it’s that step before moving up to adult football,’ McGillick agreed.

‘There’s something special about this group of lads. They won the Under-14 Championship and League and the Under-16 Championship and League, and they’ve won the Minor League. They take stuff on board and they’re a great bunch.

‘The minute they cross the sideline it’s out of our hands and it’s up to them, but there’s still a hunger there and they know what the want.’ GERALDINES U12 girls came out on top in a tough U12A Louth championship final against Cooley Kickams at a sunny Cluskey Park last week as a 2-4 to 1-4 win secured the League and Championship double.

The Geraldines showed from the start that they meant business with Leah Hughes winning the throw in and putting the Gers on the attack. Within 5 minutes, Keelan Bewley fired and unstoppable shot to the net after a great cross field pass from Grace Rodgers. The ever reliable Sophie McArdle added a point from a well taken free minutes later.

With the midfield duo of Leah Hughes and Tara O’Connor dominating the middle and Nesssa Norton cleaning up every ball that came her way the Gers were in total control but failed to make it count on the scoreboard as the Peninsula gedly.

Cooley got themselves back into the game with a pointed free and a good score from play. In the closing minutes, one of the Cooley forwards latched onto a clearance from the Gers defence and finished well to the net to give the Cooley girls a one point lead at half time.

It was Cooley who began the second half on top and they quickly added another point. The Geraldines defence was coming under a lot of pressure but Eliza Logan held firm at full back, winning several important balls and Nia Halpin gave an exhibition of tight marking and determination. Saorla Sharkey and Rebecca Bewley also put in huge effort in the half back line to prevent further scores. The Geraldines hit back with another great free kick from the nerveless Sophie McArdle. girls defended dog-

With the Gers trailing by a point, Leah Hughes switched into the full forward position to devastating effect, scoring 1-1 in 5 minutes to put the Gers into a 3 point lead. Erin Finnegan came on for the hard working Amy Craven and was immediately in the thick of the action, winning and using the ball well.

At this stage the Geraldines half forward line moved up a gear with Ciara Cunningham running at the Cooley defence repeatedly and scored a great point while Grace Rodgers and Sophie McArdle were constant threats and unlucky not to add more scores, kicking a few wides. Keelan Bewley switched to midfield where she did important work tracking the runs of the Cooley midfielders .

The Kickhams Struck back with another point and went in search of a goal but the Green line held firm, lead superbly by captain Nessa Norton at centre half back and Eliza Logan at full back who made a last minute clearance from the goal line and when the final whistle blew the Geraldines were ahead by three points.

Captain, Nessa Norton was also awarded the player of the match award. Much like the semi final, it was a great team performance with every player playing their part in the win.

GERALDINES: Ruby Green, Eliza Logan, Nia Halpin, Saorla Sharkey, Nessa Norton, Rebecca Baldwin, Tara O’Connor, Leah Hughes, Keelan Bewley, Grace Rodgers, Ciara Cunningham, Sophie McArdle, Amy Crave, Aine Cassidy, Anna Murphy, Claire Stauntom, Clara Egan, Clodagh Corcoran, Dearbla McKenna, Eabha Lawless, Emmy Jeytoo, Erin Finnegan, Katie O’Reilly, KatieOwens, Keira Kenny, Klara Flanagan, Leah Smith, Millie Power, Molly Kellett, Molly Whately,Rachel Cuniffe, Rebecca McConnell, Ruby Nolan, Saidbh Peelo, Sarah Goss, Tara Davi.