ST MARYS 1-13
NEWTOWN BLUES 0-13

St Marys are back in the Senior Championship Final after scoring a three-point win over champions Newtown Blues at Darver on Sunday evening.

The Drogheda men were strongly fancied to capture a fourth successive Joe Ward but despite getting on top in the first half, they were unable to match the hunger and quality of the Ardee men in the second half and eventually lost their grip on the title.

In an entertaining game it was ultimately a goal from Liam Jackson just before the interval that proved the difference between the teams as the Marys deservedly set up a meeting with Nh Mairtin in Sunday’s final.

The Pairc Mhuire side were first off the mark through Kian Moran but the Blues hit back soon after in a tight game where the first six points were shared.

However, the Blues began to find their rhythm and scores from Daire Nally, Andy McDonnell and Ross Nally helped them to lead by 0-7 to 0-4 entering the closing ten minutes of the half. It looked as if the Blues would take an advantage into the break but the Marys hit back in style and points from Darren Clarke, Conor Gillespie and Tom Jackson got them back in contention.

Just before the short whistle Liam Jackson struck the only goal of the game to send his team in at half time with a 1-7 to 0-8 lead.

The Marys continued to hold the upper hand in the second period and with the help of points from Conor Keenan and Eimhin Keenan they stretched the gap to six points in the closing minutes.

The Blues refused to give up and kicked the last three points through Colm Judge, Conor Brannigan and Ciaran Downey, the couldn’t get past the determined Marys defence for the goal they needed and the Ardee men held out for an impressive win.

ST MARYS: Alan McGauley; Tom Jackson 0-1, Karl Faulkner, Conor Keenan 0-1; Robbie Leavy, Donal McKenny, Eimhin Keenan 0-1; RJ Callaghan, Liam Jackson 1-0; Conor Gillespie 0-3, Ciaran Keenan 0-2, Kian Moran 0-1; Daire McConnon, Ronan Carroll 0-1, Darren Clarke 0-3.

NEWTOWN BLUES: Jay Lowney; Alan Connor, Fergal Donohoe, Kevin Carr; John Connolly, Emmet Carolan, Ciaran Cluskey Kelly; John Kermode, Andy McDonnell 0-2; Daire Nally 0-2, Colm Judge 0-1, Robert Carr 0-1; Ciaran Downey 0-4, Ross Nally 0-2, Conor Moore. Subs: Conor Brannigan 0-1, Ian Connor, Johnny McDonnell, Jamie Kelly.

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