St Marys V Cooley Kickhams (10.30am Sunday 1st March Pairc Mhuire)

It was the last group game in the Paddy Sheelan cup and it was a repeat of the playoff final which was held less than three months ago as Ardee St Marys hosted the Cooley Kickhams in Pairc Mhuire. 

The Marys were dealt an early blow when goal keeper Duane Crosby got injured in the warm up however that didn't stop them as they went in to a three point lead early on.  1 minute into the game Niall Eccles got the first point of the game, 3 minutes later following great work by Darren Clarke, Alan Kirk coolly slotted over the bar.  Robbie Leavy won the ball in the middle and with a defence splitting pass found the great run by Kirk to get his second of the game and the Marys third.

With the Marys playing with a strong breeze the Cooley goal keeper was warned of time wasting and only 6 minutes on the clock.  Cooley got off the mark in the 8th minute with a point from a free and that was followed a minute later by another point from a free.  12 minutes into the game was the first bit of controversy, Fergal diamond found himself bearing down on goal soccer style only to be taken down as he approached the six yard box as he was about to pull the trigger and the ref waved the appeals away, diamond was very hard done by, to make matters worse for the ardee men Cooley took the ball up the field and won a free and brought the game level. 

With high winds making it very hard on both teams we had 10 minutes without a score until Cooley took the lead for the first time with their first point from play, they doubled their lead a minute later with another free as the Marys defensive discipline let them down again.  Darren Clarke pulled one back for the Marys with a free kick from the right.  Cooley then had a player black card in the 26th minute; Fergal Diamond brought the Marys level in the 27th minute only for Cooley to retake the lead a minute later.  The move of the first have brought the tie level when some great work by Clarke and Kirk left Ronan Carroll to slot over and leave the game level at half time.

Half Time Score St Mary 0-6 Cooley Kickhams 0-6

The Marys made three changes at half time and in the 34th minute on of the sub RJ Callaghan got black carded for a challenge, mark Fay replaced him.  Cooley regained the lead on the 37th minute and added another on 42 minutes to give them a 2 point lead.  Niall Eccles got his second of the game with a very well taken point, 2 minutes later Cooley restored their 2 point lead.  Two more quick points from Cooley seen them going 4 points clear, the Marys then started playing better football and mark Fay and john Bingham got a point apiece. 

The Marys were guilty of missing a few chances and Cooley went down the field and quickly got 2 points, with 3 minutes added on the Marys were 4 points down.  The fought hard near the end and Darren Clarke got two points but it wasn't enough as Cooley ran out winners by 2 points. Despite the result the Marys still qualify for the next round.  Best for the Marys were Alan Kirk, Naill Carroll.

Mary's Team:

1. Peter Duffy

2. David Carroll

3. Eamon Callaghan

4. David Rooney

5. Barry Faulkner

6. Conor Keenan

7. Niall Eccles

8. Robert Leavy

9. John Bingham

10. Jamie Rooney

11. Fergal Diamond

12. Ronan Caroll

13. Alan Kirk

14. Darren Clarke

15. Niall Carroll

 

Substitutes

Half time

Kian Moran on for Jamie Rooney

Dean Matthews on for Ronan Carroll

Rj Callaghan on for Eamon Callaghan

 

Second Half

Mark Fay on for Rj Callaghan

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