“Naomh Mairtin Are Louth Kings Once Again After Dominant Display”

Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Final

From Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda.

Naomh Mairtin 1-18

Newtown Blues 1-11

Naomh Mairtin produced one of their finest displays in recent history to blitz rivals Newtown Blues and earn a third Joe Ward title, in their history and, this decade.

As usual, it was the Jocks’ two most prominent players to the fore with Eoghan Callaghan and Sam Mulroy in the form of their lives, leading the parish to success in front of a bumper crowd in Integral GAA Grounds Drogheda.

The game opened up to a nervy beginning with both sides throwing up handy turnover before Darragh Dorian opted to fist over from close range to open the scoring. Eoin McCoy immediately canceled this out after a storming run from Daire Nally. Conor Branigan landed a huge two-point effort moment after Fergal Donohue seen his goalbound effort thunder off the woodwork. Andy McDonnell and Wayne Campbell then traded scores to leave the Blues 0-2 to 0-4 clear after 10 minutes.

Sam Mulroy played a slick one-two with Tom Gray as the former converted as the Monasterboice side upped the gears. McCoy smartly converted another for the Blues’ as the young inside forward started sharply in the sky blue. Eoghan Callaghan astutely struck over as Dara McDonnell stormed through the centre moments later to knock over another score. Mulroy found Tom Gray with an outrageous pass as the latter converted with McDonnell getting another score for himself to leave the Mairtins leading on 20 minutes by 0-7 to 0-5.

Referee Ultan McElroy awarded a penalty to Naomh Mairtin on 21 minutes in the halves most decisive moment. Alan Connor hauled Sean Healy down in the area as talisman Mulroy steadied himself to calmly convert beyond Johnny McDonnell. Ciaran Downey and Tom Gray traded score before the interval to leave 5 in it at the break. Half Time – Naomh Mairtin 1-8 Newtown Blues 0-6.

Jamie Kelly got the first score of the second half with a close range free. However, score of the game was the next. Sam Mulroy danced his way onto the left foot on the bank side of Integral GAA Grounds to masterfully swing over a left footed two-pointer, greeted by an enormous roar from the Monasterboice faithful. Tom Gray got a stunning effort of his own off the left from a similar angle, although, close to goal – as the sharp inside man was showing off his accuracy. Ciaran Downey laid Conor Moore in for a a Blues’ major to narrow the gap to 1-11 to 1-7 with 20 minutes remaining.

Mulroy converted a 45’ before a move involving Dara McDonnell, Callaghan and Darragh Dorian finished up with a fierce two-pointer from Louth U20 Dorian. Ciaran Downey added 0-2 to leave the sides at 1-14 to 1-9 with 10 minutes to go.

Downey and Gray traded classy efforts as Naomh Mairtin controlled the closing period. Wingback Jack Murphy sailed through the centre of the pitch to swing over a two-pointer just on the arc. Eoghan Callaghan’s late point was class, one fitting of his performance – Downey also got his fifth as a late consolation. Full Time – Naomh Mairtin 1-18 Newtown Blues 1-11.

Naomh Mairtin have now won the U16, U18 and Senior titles in 2025. It is the club’s finest hour. Eoghan Callaghan referenced their chairperson Neil Cooney in his victory speech afterwards and the work he, along with his committee are doing. Well, whatever they are doing – is working. A thriving senior team with solid foundations and, an amount of talent on the way… with championship success at underage levels. Credit to all at Naomh Mairtin, well-deserved and now, Leinster is on the agenda.

Player of the Match:

Eoghan Callaghan (Naomh Mairtin)

Rolls-royce of a player. Captain and controller. Hit 0-2 and is at the fulcrum of almost all the Mairtin’s play.

Notables:

• Sam Mulroy (Naomh Mairtin)
• Dara McDonnell (Naomh Mairtin)

Naomh Mairtin Team:

Darren Morgan; Cian Sands, Thomas Sullivan, Conor Healy; Evan Whelan, Eoghan Callaghan (0-2), Jack Murphy (0-2); Adam Booth, Dara McDonnell (0-2); Wayne Campbell (0-1), Sam Mulroy (1-4, 1-0pen, 1’45’), Sean Healy; Darragh Dorian (0-3), Val Leddy, Tom Gray (0-4).

Subs: Joe McGrane for Wayne Campbell (50 Mins), Craig Callanan for Val Leddy (57 Mins).

Newtown Blues Team;

Johnny McDonnell; Daire Nally, Ciaran Cluskey-Kelly, Alan Connor; Fergal Donohue, Emmett Carolan, Conor MacCriosta; Ryan Kelly, Brian Kermode; Conor Branigan (0-2), Ciaran Downey (0-5, 1f), Andy McDonnell (0-1); Jamie Kelly (0-1, 1f), Conor Moore (1-0), Eoin McCoy (0-2).

Subs: Niall Devlin for Fergal Donohue (Half Time), Colm Judge for Conor Moore (48 Mins), Iollan Farrell for Brian Kermode (49 Mins), Ross Nally for Conor Mac Criosta (57 Mins), Aiden O’Brien for Eoin McCoy (57 Mins).

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets)

Photos thanks to Ciaran Culligan Photography