NH MAIRTIN 2-8

ST JOSEPHS 0-10
 
Nh Mairtin secured the Louth Minor Championship title when they scored a five-point victory over St Josephs in the final at Drogheda on Sunday afternoon.

Two goals from Ben Callanan in the final ten minutes of the first half were crucial as the Monasterboice outfit got their hands on the Fr Larry Murray Cup.

A five point lead at the interval meant that the Mairtins were always in control in the second half and although the Joes battled to bridge that gap, the were unable to produce the goal to give them any real hope.

The Jocks certainly didn’t have it all their own way as it was the Joes who came flying out of the blocks and were three points to the good in the early stages. However, once Callanan found the net after 20 minutes the Mairtins never looked
back.

The Joes were working hard to stay in the game but a second goal from Callanan five minutes before the short whistle had his team firmly in control. In a low-scoring second half the Jocks never looked in any real danger.

Jack Barron made a big impression in the early stages as he fired over three frees to put his side in the clear.

Points from Tom Gray helped the Mairtins find their feet in the game and they landed the first major blow when Callanan found the net to make it 1-3 to 0-4 in his side’s favour after 21 minutes. The sides traded scores before Callanan added his second four minutes later but the Joes cut the gap to 2-5 to 0-6 with scores from Conall McCaul.

The Joes battled gamely in the second half but they just couldn’t build up the head of steam required to put any real pressure on a Mairtins side who never looked likely to allow their lead slip and eventually ran out winners by five points.

A pivotal moment in the game saw the Joes create a rare chance for goal but they were denied by Mairtins goalkeeper, and Man of the Match, Joe Gordon.

At the other end scores from Callanan, Jarlath Jones and Tom Grayt were enough to see the Mairtins over the line.

NH MAIRTIN: Joe Gordon; Finbar Johnson, Jamie Winters, Cathal Dorian; Conor Walsh, Cian Sands, Eoin Cooney; Sean Healy, Jack Lynch 0-1; Dara McDonnell 0-1, Jarlath Jones 0-1, Ryan Boylan 0-1; Gerard Boylan, Ben Callanan 2-1, Tom Gray 0-3. Subs: Oisin Gray for Callanan, Tadhg O’Brien for T Gray.

ST JOSEPHS: Josh Mackin; Aaron Neary, Conor Casey, Harry McQuillan; Josh Todd, Michael Staunton, Dylan McGrory; Gabriel Bell 0-1, Conall McCaul 0-3; Oran McParland, Ben Collier 0-1, Killian McDonnell; Ciaran Johnstone, Jack Barron 0-5, Conor McKnight. Subs: Kevin Campbell for A Neary, Conor Marmion for D McGrory.

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