Commins Leads The Way As Ardee St Marys Book Semi-Final Spot

Anchor Tours SFC Quarter-Final

At Haggardstown

Ardee St Marys 0-21 St Fechins 0-15

Ardee St Marys took another step towards reclaiming the Joe Ward Cup with a hard-fought six-point victory over a determined St Fechins side at Haggardstown on Saturday evening.

Three weeks on from their shock defeat to neighbours Hunterstown Rovers, Fergal Reel rung the changes, with Tadhg McDonnell, Liam Jackson, Carl Gillespie and Luke Keenan all coming into the starting line-up.

Niall McDonnell opened the scoring with a well-struck two-point free, but Jonathan Commins immediately responded with a two-pointer of his own. Commins then added another as Ardee hit a rich vein of form, registering eight unanswered scores.

Ciaran Keenan contributed two points, while Sean Callaghan, Luke Keenan and Daire McConnon also found their range as the Marys established an 0-8 to 0-2 advantage after 15 minutes.

Ryan Walsh finally halted the Ardee surge with a well-taken score before Commins replied once more. Walsh added two further points, while Harry Haughney also found the target as the Termonfeckin side began to work their way back into contention.

Keelin Martin (Ardee St Marys) puts pressure on Ryan Walsh (St Fechins)

Michael McGlew was increasingly influential from deep, particularly in winning a number of McDonnell’s kick-outs, while Ciaran Keenan had the final say of the opening half with his third point of the evening.

Half Time – Ardee St Marys 0-10 St Fechins 0-6

Haughney opened the second-half scoring before Niall McDonnell followed up with a 45’, cutting the deficit to just two points.

McConnon steadied the Marys with a score, before Commins produced another spell of quality finishing. The Ardee forward unleashed an outstanding strike for a two-pointer before adding a single point with a neat outside-of-the-boot effort.

Walsh responded in typically impressive fashion, cutting onto his left boot to land a brilliant two-pointer. He repeated the feat moments later, leaving just two points between the sides with 15 minutes remaining.

Donal McKenny (Ardee St Marys) and Harry Haughney (St Fechins) contest for possession

McConnon and Luke Keenan then restored a four-point cushion for Ardee, only for Walsh to land yet another two-point free with eight minutes remaining, reducing the gap to two once again.

However, the experienced former three-in-a-row champions held their nerve when it mattered most. Commins added two further points, McConnon chipped in with another, before substitute Adam Gillespie contributed two scores to finally put daylight between the sides.

Ardee St Marys are now the first name into the hat for the Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship semi-final.

Full Time – Ardee St Marys 0-21 St Fechins 0-15

Man of the Match – Jonathan Commins (Ardee St Marys)

Ardee St Marys team: Tiernan Markey; Eimhin Keenan, Donal McKenny, Paraic McKenny; Flynn Markey, Keelin Martin, Tadhg McDonnell; Liam Jackson, Sean Callaghan (0-1); Carl Gillespie, Tom Jackson, Jonathan Commins (0-9, 2tp, 1f); Ciaran Keenan (0-3), Daire McConnon (0-4), Luke Keenan (0-2).

Subs: Adam Gillespie (0-2, 1f) for Luke Keenan 52 mins, Kian Moran for Flynn Markey 52 mins, Shane Matthews for Carl Gillespie 58 mins, Fionn Coyle for Tadhg McDonnell 62 mins.

St Fechins team: Niall McDonnell (0-3, 1tpf, 1 ‘45’); Rob McCarthy, Donal Quinn, Ciaran McGinty; Paddy Keane, Danny Burnell, Michael McGlew; Colm Hackett, Jamie McDonnell; Colm O’Neill, Ryan Walsh (0-10, 2tpf, 1tp, 2f), James McGlew; Harry Haughney (0-2), Aaron McGlew, Ronan Holcroft.

Subs: Evan Dolan for Jamie McDonnell 40 mins, Evan McCluskey for Colm O’Neill 52 mins, Garbhan O’Reilly for Danny Burnell 58 mins.

Referee: David Fedigan (Hunterstown Rovers)

Photos: Ciaran Culligan