AIB Leinster Club SFC Semi-Final

St Mary’s, Ardee 0-15 St Loman’s, Mullingar 0-14

By Gerry Buckley at Lakepoint Park

St Mary’s, Ardee have qualified for next Saturday’s Leinster club senior football final after a gripping encounter at Lakepoint Park, Mullingar against the local St Loman’s side.

A well-taken point from Sean Callaghan in the fourth minute of added-time proved to be the decisive score, albeit Sam McCartan was unable to convert a 47-metre free from the ground with just seconds remaining which would have brought the game to extra-time.

All Star nominee Donal McKenny opened the scoring in the third minute at the end of a patient move, but the wind-assisted home team responded very well and they scored four unanswered points by the eighth minute courtesy of Ronan O’Toole, TJ Cox, and one each from the McCartan brothers, Danny and Sam.

Points from Shane Matthews (open play) and goalkeeper Tiernan Markey (a free from the 45-metre line) left the visitors trailing by just the bare minimum (0-4 to 0-3) with 11 minutes elapsed.

The scoring rate dropped during the remainder of the first half. The influential John Heslin opened his account from a free with Tom Jackson cancelling this out in fine style from play. Both sides pointed just once in the time remaining – Cox for St Loman’s and Ciaran Keenan for St Mary’s.

A Heslin free in injury-time came back off the upright and O’Toole was unable to goal from the rebound due to staunch Ardee defending. St Loman’s ‘won’ the first half wide count 4-0, and led on the all-important scoreboard by 0-6 to 0-5 at the break.

Ciaran Keenan pointed twice by the 34thminute to edge his side ahead, but Kelvin Reilly equalised shortly afterwards. Daire McConnon was almost in on goal in the 36thminute before Eimhin Keenan and Cox traded points. Cox nudged St Loman’s ahead from a mark and his withdrawal through injury in the 47th minute was a major blow to the Westmeath champions.

In the 43rd minute, Jonathan Commins was black-carded. After a fisted effort from O’Toole came back off the woodwork, a counterattack by the Louth men ended with Jackson doubling his tally. Further point exchanges ensued between Jack Geoghegan and Ciaran Keenan (free), Sam McCartan and McConnon, sub Kevin Regan and Kian Moran.

Ardee sub Ronan Carroll slotted over a 40-metre free in the 57th minute and the returned Commins soon opened up a useful two-point lead. Fine scores from Sam McCartan and Eoghan Hogan levelled the contest by the third minute of added-time. Callaghan proved to be the Ardee hero and it was tough on the outstanding Sam McCartan that he was unable to equalize.

Scorers for St Mary’s, Ardee: C Keenan 0-4 (1f, 1m), T Jackson 0-2, D McKenny, S Matthews, T Markey (f), E Keenan, D McConnon, K Moran, J Commins, S Callaghan, R Carroll (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Loman’s, Mullingar: TJ Cox 0-4 (1m), S McCartan 0-3, R O’Toole, D McCartan, J Heslin (free), K Reilly, J Geoghegan, K Regan, E Hogan 0-1 each.

St Mary’s, Ardee: T Markey; T McDonnell, K Faulkner, E Keenan; J Commins, D McKenny, P McKenny; RJ Callaghan, S Callaghan; C Keenan, L Jackson, K Moran; S Matthews, D McConnon, T Jackson.

Subs: R Carroll for Matthews (39), R Leavy for RJ Callaghan (56), A Gillespie for McConnon (60+2).

St Loman’s, Mullingar: J Daly; D Whelan, D O’Keeffe, O Hogan; K Reilly, E Hogan, S McCartan; J Geoghegan, F Ayorinde; R Sheahan, R O’Toole, S Flanagan; D McCartan, J Heslin, TJ Cox.

Subs: E Gaffney for O Hogan (35), K Regan for Sheahan (39), P Foy for Cox (inj., 47), S Dempsey for Ayorinde (57).

Referee: B Tiernan (Dublin).