Naomh Mairtin’s Championship Defence Ends As St Fechins Advance

Anchor Tours Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 3

At DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee

Naomh Mairtin 1-10 St Fechins 0-13

The reigning Louth Senior Football champions Naomh Mairtin have been eliminated from the 2026 Championship after a dramatic draw with St Fechins at DEFY Páirc Mhuire in Ardee on Sunday afternoon.

The Monasterboice side needed a victory to keep their campaign alive, but St Fechins held firm to secure the draw that was enough to see them advance on score difference and bring an unexpected end to Naomh Mairtin’s title defence.

Naomh Mairtin were missing a number of key players, with county stars Sam Mulroy and Eoghan Callaghan sidelined through injury, while Tom Gray, Conor Morgan and Jack Murphy were also unavailable. Those absences proved costly as the reigning champions struggled to reach the levels shown during their 2025 triumph.

Evan Dolan of St Fechins evades the challenge of Cian Sands of Naomh Mairtin

St Fechins made the most of the breeze in the opening half and established an early advantage. Michael McGlew opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Ryan Walsh, Colm Hackett and Ronan Holcroft added further points to put the Fechins four clear.

Wayne Campbell finally got Naomh Mairtin off the mark in the 13th minute, but St Fechins struck the game’s only goal shortly afterwards. Val Leddy found the net with a powerful finish beyond Niall McDonnell, who had returned between the posts for St Fechins.

McGlew then produced an excellent two-pointer before Ben Callanan responded for the champions. James McGlew added two superb two-pointers of his own, while Evan Dolan had the final say before the interval.

St Fechins went into the break in complete control, leading 1-2 to 0-11.

Dara McDonnell of Naomh Mairtin takes on Aaron McGlew of St Fechins

Holcroft opened the second-half scoring before Darragh Dorian responded for Naomh Mairtin. Aaron McGlew added a free as St Fechins continued to hold a comfortable advantage.

With 15 minutes remaining, Dara McDonnell landed a two-pointer to reduce the gap to five and give Naomh Mairtin renewed hope.

However, despite a number of chances, the champions struggled to make further inroads. Wayne Campbell eventually found the target for Naomh Mairtin with a two-point free before adding another two-pointer using all his experience to guide his side back into the game.

Naomh Mairtin refused to surrender, though, and Darragh Dorian brought the sides level heading into injury time.

That left St Fechins needing only to survive the closing moments, and they duly did so to secure the draw that sent them through on score difference.

The final whistle confirmed a remarkable outcome, with St Fechins advancing and the reigning champions Naomh Mairtin eliminated at the group stage, following a 1-10 to 0-13 draw.

Man of the Match – Michael McGlew (St Fechins)

Naomh Mairtin team: Craig Lynch; Cian Sands, Thomas Sullivan, Mark Whelan; Evan Whelan, Dara McDonnell (0-2, 1tp) Conor Healy; Adam Booth, Wayne Campbell (0-5, 1f, 2tpf); Sean Healy, John Clutterbuck, Craig Callanan; Ben Callanan (0-1), Val Leddy (1-0), Darragh Dorian (0-2)

Subs: Joe McGrane for Adam Booth half-time, Charlie McDonnell for Ben Callanan 50 mins, Jack Lynch for Craig Callanan 57 mins

St Fechins team: Niall McDonnell; Rob McCarthy, Niall McCabe, Donal Quinn; Paddy Keane, Ciaran McGinty, Michael McGlew (0-3, 1tp); Colm Hackett (0-1), Ryan Walsh (0-1); Colm O’Neill, Aaron McGlew (0-1, 1f), Harry Haughney; James McGlew (0-4, 2tp), Evan Dolan (0-1), Ronan Holcroft (0-2).

Subs: Evan McCluskey for Evan Dolan 42 mins, Adam O’Neill for Niall McCabe 50 mins, Jamie McDonnell for Paddy Keane 56 mins

Referee – Damien Connor (St Patricks)

Photos – Ciaran Culligan

Colm O’Neill of St Fechins is pressured by Naomh Mairtin’s Craig Callanan and Cian Sands

REACTION FROM ST FECHINS MANAGER JOHN KENNEDY AVAILABLE ON LOUTH GAA INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK PAGE