Ardee Community School 4- 11
St Mary's Diocesan School 0-7

Many young footballers from Ardee and the surrounding clubs came of age on Friday night at Darver when they won the first ever Lennon Cup and Louth Colleges Senior Football Competition for their school in most impressive fashion.

The winners set out their stall from the start by putting their three expert finishers in the full forward line and feeding them with long and quick passes it yielded dividend. They were good throughout the field also with St Mary's getting little change out of their defence and their mid field in control.

The Diocesan School had the first two scores from Darren Heeney and Tomas O hOistin and the exchanges were even enough in a tough and hard fought contest between two eager teams. The first signs of real danger for St Mary's didn't come for eight minutes until the first big attack for Ardee split their defence and Ryan Rooney was at the end of the move to blast to the net. They were back again in sixty seconds and Ryan Rooney had his sides second goal and the Ardee side had got a magnificent start.

Kevin Traynor was in control in mid field and Terry Donegan was getting through an amount of work but the St Mary's defence had recovered and they handled the Ardee danger men well up to half time. St Mary's upped their performance from there to half time and they played some excellent football but they managed just two points from Darren Heeney and Gideon Lugoye against a defence that was growing in confidence and then they were hit with a third and killer goal this time by Martin Duffy which left them trailing by five points at half time but they could have been closer had they converted three scorable frees.

The body language of the teams after the break spoke volumes, the Ardee lads were buoyant while the opposition looked out of sorts. Five unanswered points early in the half put paid to the game as a contest as St Mary's had no reply to the power play of Ardee. Ryan Burns showed his class with the first three, Ryan Rooney added a point and Ryan Burns was on target again as he seemed to have the freedom of the park. Neil Reilly was a colossus in this half at mid field and with Paul Taaffe excelling at corner back and substitute Conor Keenan equally effective in the half back line St Mary's opportunities were limited. Darren Heeny, Kevin Dunne and Tomas O hOistin got three St Mary's points but the run of the ball was now with Ardee and they added six more points against a tiring defence. Martin Duffy got two points and substitute Peter Clarke got another. Their fourth goal came from a penalty by Ryan Burns after he was brought down.

St Mary's were well outplayed by a much stronger side, Tomas OhOistin, Ben Donnelly, Conor Early, James Marry, Gideon Lugoye, Kevin Dunne, Padraig McHugh and Darren Heeney did their best to limit the Ardee dominance.

The Ardee defence, well anchored by captain Emmet Duffy, can take credit for holding the St Mary's attack, Neil Reilly and Kevin Traynor dominated around the middle in turn and the full forward line scored 4 - 10 in an awesome display. A terrific performance and a well earned first win for their school in this competition. There was a big crown there to support both schools.

Colin Heaphey, Chairman Louth Post Primary Schools Committee, presented the Lennon Cup to winning captain Emmet Duffy.

Ardee Community School; Niall Carrie, Hunterstown; David Carroll, St Mary's; Michael Smith, Syddan; Paul Taaffe, Hunterstown; Conor McHugh, Glyde; Emmet Duffy, Sean McDermotts; Alan Matthews, Hunterstown; Neil Reilly, John Mitchells; Kevin Traynor, Syddan; Jake Stewart, Glyde; Terry Donegan, Mattock; Mitchell Keenan, John Mitchells; Ryan Burns, 1 - 06 Hunterstown; Martin Duffy, 1 - 02St Mary's; Ryan Rooney, 2 - 02 St Mary's.

Substitutes; Conor Keenan, St Mary's for C. McCullagh; Pater Clarke, 0 - 01 St Mary's for J. Stewart. Also; T.J. Duffy, Cathal Bradley, Pierce Callan, Andrew Mooney, Ciaran Scriven, Evan Owens, Danny Commons, Aaron Kerley, Donal Forde, Liam Farrell, Stephen Cotter, Conor Kerr.

St Mary's Diocesan School; Mark Farrelly, St Colmcilles; Brian O'Connell, St Fechin's; Ryan Cooney, Duleek/Bellewstown; Fiachra Doherty, Oliver Plunketts; Topmas O hOistin 0 - 02, St Colmcilles; Ben Donnelly, Oliver Plunketts; Ciaran McArdle; Conor early, Oliver Plunkett's; James Marry, Slane; Gideon Lugoye, Wolfe Tones; Kevin Dunne, Slane, Padraig McHugh, Oliver Plunketts; Alan Smith Wilton, Newtown Blues; Darren Heeney, Duleek/Bellewstown; James Burke, Duleek Bellewstown.

Substitutes; Martin Nulty, St Patrick's for F. Doherty, Richie Culhane, St Colmcilles for J. Burke. Also; Jack O'Donnell, Kevin Lally, Darren Arnold, Alan O'Brien, Robin Clarke, Shane Crosby, Jamie Harford, Richie Sullivan, Graham Garland, Roy Moore.

Referee; Brian Brady, Kilkerley Emmets. Tweet

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