AIB Leinster Club SFC First Round

Ardee St Mary’s 3-14 Abbeylard 2-8

By Dan Bannon at DEFY Páirc Mhuire

Louth county champions Ardee St Marys proved to strong for Longford winners Abbeylara, as they advanced to the quarter finals of the Leinster Senior club championship on Sunday afternoon.

While they had plenty to spare at the finish, the Marys were stunned at half time, as a free from Abbeylara’s Ciaran Scanlon found its way to the net to leave the sides level at the break.

Credit Abbeylara, as they made life difficult for the home side early on, with players behind the ball, and double marking dangerous St Marys’ forwards, including county star Ciaran Keenan.

The Longford champions also brought a noticeably strong cohort of supporters, who made themselves heard throughout this clash.

The visitors opened the scoring after the first minute through a fine score from Jason Kelly, before Ciaran Scanlon converted a close range free to give them a 0-2 to no score lead after eight minutes.

The Marys who were guilty of some sloppy passing when in possession, eventually opened their account through Shane Matthews.

Robert Smyth traded efforts with Ardee’s Carl Gillepie to leave the sides level at 0-3 each by the end of the first quarter.

Kian Moran put the Marys ahead, before a fine move saw Liam Jackson dance his way through the Abbeylara defence to fire to the net to give the Marys a 1-4 to 0-3 lead after 20 minutes.

However, Abbeylara soon responded to stun the home support when Cathal Gilligan parried a deflected Robert Smyth shot to the net second after Jackson’s major.

Kian Moran, Carl Gillespie (f) and All Star nominee Donal McKenny soon gave Ardee a three point lead.

However, the Deesiders were also guilty of conceding some cheap free kicks, and they were punished just before the break when a free from Abbeylara’s Ciaran Scanlon found its way to the net to leave the sides deadlocked at the break at 1-6 to 2-3.

However, Abbeylara were dealt a huge blow when they lost Cathal Gilligan to a black card, and Jason Kelly to a straight red card in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

This put pay to their hopes of causing an upset, as the Marys took over, winning five out of 13 on Abbeylara’s kickout in that period, with the Jackson brothers playing a key role.

Ardee St Marys made their advantage count, with Tom Jackson and Karl Faulkner grabbing the goals, while Kian Moran and Carl Gillespie tagged on further scores.

Tom Jackson was particularly influential, with 25 possessions over the hour, with Ciaran Keenan (24) finding more space.

Abbeylara’s Robert Smyth did keep Ardee honest with some excellent scores, to go with a late point from sub Connor Berry.

But the Marys pushed for home, with sub Ronan Carroll and Tom Jackson adding late scores as the Marys advance to the quarter final of the Leinster Senior championship where they host Carlow winners Rathvilly next weekend.

Scorers for Ardee St Marys: K Moran 0-4, T Jackson 1-1, L Jackson 1-1, C Gillespie 0-3 (3fs), K Faulkner 1-0, R Carroll 0-2, D McKenny 0-1, T McDonnell 0-1.

Scorers for Abbeylara: R Smyth 0-5 (3fs), C Scanlon 1-1 (f), C Gilligan 1-0, J Kelly 0-1, C Berry 0-1.

Ardee St Marys: T Markey; T McDonnell, K Faulkner, E Keenan; J Commins, D McKenny, C Gillespie; RJ Callaghan, P McKenny; C Keenan, L Jackson , K Moran, S Matthews, D McConnon, T Jackson.

Subs: R Carroll for Rooney (39), S Callaghan for Matthews (45), C Gillespie for Commins (51), T Corrigan for E Keenan (54), E Malone for Moran (55)

Abbeylara: G Kelly; M McHugh, PJ Masterson, S Mahon; C Brady, B Masterson, C.P Smyth; F Battrim, C Scanlon; P. Berry, J Kelly, C. Lynch; R Smyth, C. Gilligan, C Gilna.

Subs: N Rabitte for Berry (48), R Reilly (0-1) for Padraig Berry (41), Connor Berry for Gilligan (51), M Brady for S Mahon (58).

Referee: B Cawley (Co Kildare).