Ardee St Mary’s flex their muscles to dethrone St Mochta’s in Cardinal O’Donnell Cup final

With the McKenny brothers, Donal and Páraic, as well as Liam Jackson, Evan Malone and Ryan Rooney still to come back fully into the fold, for St Mary’s to have won this in cruise control indicates the great task that is ahead as the rest plot the champions’ downfall. Manager Cathal Murray is essentially playing fantasy football on a weekly basis with a squad that oozes quality.

Meanwhile, the weeks to come could go either way for Mochta’s on the back of this defeat – a painful one given the opportunities they had to be further in front by the time Mary’s rolled out members of their All-Star cast.

Not being able to use Phily Englishby for the full hour meant Steven Poacher’s team lost their most influential player around the middle third and it told during the closing quarter. The Louth Villagers remain totally consumed by working possession to Declan Byrne and while this would seem to be a shrewd ploy, considering their talisman bagged 1-6, when the pressure built and frustration mounted, himself and brother Ciarán were guilty of taking on with several low percentage efforts that didn’t go over, further enthusing an already potent Mary’s.

Spreading out the scoring burden and sticking to whatever gameplan Poacher devises will be of paramount importance for Mochta’s over the remainder of the term, particularly if they’re to force their way into championship contention.

It owed much to the Villagers’ shortcomings that they were only level at the interval having had the better of the opening period. Tiernan Markey was forced to pull off two brave stops to deny teenager Daniel Craven goals, while, with seven minutes left and Mochta’s ahead by 0-5 to 0-3, a harmless attempt by Carl Gillespie was poorly dealt with by the defence and McConnon – who was barely a minute in the action – pounced.

Byrne’s third point of the half restored parity for Mochta’s but given the talent to come off the bench for Mary’s, regaining the initiative was inevitably going to be a struggle and so it proved – especially when Englishby was withdrawn.

They were behind by the minimum when the former Louth player departed the fray, though momentum was already in Marys’ favour as Keenan was on target thrice in a matter of moments.

After 38 minutes, Mochta’s led by 0-9 to 1-4 but nine points in succession followed for the rampant Deesiders with Conor Gillespie typically making an impact having been introduced.

Alas, there was a late kick by Mochta’s that saw them reel off 1-2 with the goal of the scrappy variety as Byrne poked a loose ball past Markey but Carl Gillespie – who was denied a major by Dáire O’Shea as well – put the seal on the spoils.

A familiar feeling of deflation may be settling in county-wise. On this evidence, Mary’s are every bit as irresistible as they have been in recent seasons.

ARDEE ST MARY’S: Tiernan Markey; Noah Coyle, Éimhín Keenan, Conor Keenan; Tadhg McDonnell 0-2, Karl Faulkner, Carl Gillespie 0-1; Seán Callaghan, Kian Moran; TJ Doheny, Tom Jackson 0-2 (1f), Andy Murphy; Ronan Carroll 0-1, Jonathan Commins 0-3 (3f), Josh Taaffe. Subs: Dáire McConnon 1-1 for Taaffe (22), Ciarán Keenan 0-3 (1f) for Doheny (38), Conor Gillespie 0-1 (1m) for Murphy (38), Robbie Leavy for Moran (38), Tiarnan Corrigan 0-1 for Commins (44).

ST MOCHTA’S: Dáire O’Shea; Liam Lawlor, Ben Goss-Kieran 0-1, Andrew English; Oisín Callan, David Lennon, Conor Garland; Darren McMahon, Seán Flynn; Gerry Garland 0-2, Declan Byrne 1-6 (2f, 2 45s), Daniel Craven; Danny Kindlon 0-1, Phily Englishby, Shane Lennon 0-1. Subs: Owen Lennon for Lawlor (HT), Ciarán Byrne 0-1 for Englishby (44), Dylan Farrell for G Garland (56).

REFEREE: Gerard Corrigan (Mattock Rangers)

PHOTO CREDIT: JOEY PHOTOGRAPHY