Ardee Community School secure back-to-back Lennon Cup titles

Ardee Community School 2-8

St Mary’s College 2-3

The village of Ardee rejoiced once again as their local school followed on from the minor and senior club sides, by winning back to back titles, as Ardee Community School won the Brendan Lennon Cup for the second year running on Thursday night in Darver.

A penalty just before the break from Ryan Shevlin seemed to have the Deesiders in control, as they led by seven at halftime. 

However, huge credit should go to the Marist, who fought gamely in that second half, putting their seemingly superior opponents to the pin of their collar, with two second half goals from sub Eoin Kenny and St Kevins’ Robbie Mathews, leaving just a point between the sides in the last quarter.

However, Ardee Community School dusted themselves down and tagged on four scores down the home straight with Sean Flynn hugely influential. Finishing with 30 possessions over the hour, Flynn was in the thick of everything for his side. 0-2 from the Collon man, to go with scores from Stabannon’s Ryan Shevlin and sub Killian Crosbie saw the job through for Ardee in the end. 

Overwhelming favourites heading into this decider, Ardee appeared to justify this tag when midfielder Patrick Balfe powered his way through the middle to slide the ball under Marist keeper Adam Cassidy for the opening major inside the first 20 seconds.

That goal, coupled with playing with a breeze at their backs, the side managed by Anthony Durnin and Declan Finnegan, looked set to romp their way to another Lennon Cup success. 

While the Marist appeared slow and ponderous in their movement of the ball from one side of the pitch to another in attack, Ardee seemed able to turn the ball over and head for the goal at pace, and early frees from the excellent Sean Flynn and Ryan Shevlin gave them a five point cushion inside 6 minutes, and ominous signs for the Marist.

Keelan Martin, Patrick Balfe, and Ciaran Russell all merit a mention here, seeing plenty of possession, with Martin touching the ball 27 times, to go with Russell’s 25 possessions over the hour. 

Sean Flynn, Ardee community School Player of the Final in the Lennon Cup receiving his award from Colin Heapey Chairman Louth schools

Repeating his exploits from their semi final win over the De La Salle, Stabannon clubmate, and first cousin of the Shevlin twins, Jake Corrigan landed a point for the ages from the far right flank at the clubhouse end, to get the Marist off the mark. 

Following some terrific industry from the hardworking Liam Coleman, Cormac Marmion converted a free, before a long, searching ball from Corrigan, saw Kayden Fisher tee up Robbie Mathews to score on the turn, to leave just three between the sides at the end of the first quarter.

Despite the continued brilliance of Flynn inside for Ardee Community School, the holders only managed one point from play in a half, where they had 6 wides.

However, Ardee were awarded a penalty just before the break. Having denied Dylan Shevlin earlier in the half, Marist keeper Adam Cassidy was sent the wrong way by Ryan Shevlin from the spot, leaving it at 2-4 to 0-3 at the break. A huge blow for the Dundalk side.

Second Half: 

The second half saw both sides make half time alterations, including the Darren McMahon/Paul Gallagher managed Marist springing Eoin Kenny on at the break.

Eoin’s father Stephen Kenny, the former Republic of Ireland manager who brought so much success to Dundalk FC in his time at the helm, was in attendance at Darver, watching his son fire to the net 30 seconds after the restart to bring a glimmer of hope to his side. 

That hope was further ignited when Robbie Mathews poked the ball home, after a blocked Adam Dullaghan strike led to a scramble in the square. 

Colin Heaphey Chairman Louth schools presenting the Lennon cup to Ardee Community School Captain Cormack McKeown

With the Dundalk side putting bodies on the line, with Cormac McKeown, James Corcoran and Justin Cooney displaying that fighting spirit in abundance with key turnovers, the Marist brought that fight to Ardee, while defender Taylor Ward still deserves credit for keeping Sean Flynn to two points from play, despite Flynn’s heavy involvement in general play.

However, the Ardee side just had that bit more quality when needed, with those late scores from the excellent Flynn, settling his side down, leading 2-6 to 2-3 with 6 minutes remaining, having also been denied by the crossbar.

Flynn’s Mattock Rangers clubmate Robert Holmes then set up the Westerns’ Killian Crosbie for a fine score to put four between the sides. Ryan Shevlin who was also thwarted by St Josephs’ (Darver & Dromiskin) Cassidy, converted a late free to put the seal on victory for Ardee Community School, who make it back to back Lennon Cup triumphs, and their 6th in the last 11 years, in a match where they did not have it all their own way, thanks to a gallant Marist side.  

Ardee Community School: Tiernan Markey; Ciaran Russell, Michael Reid, Andy Murphy; Josh Taaffe, Keelin Martin, Robert Holmes; Alan Reynolds, Patrick Balfe (1-0); Flynn Markey, Eoghan Dillon, Joe Rogers; Ryan Shevlin (1-2) (1 pen) (2f), Sean Flynn (0-5) (3f), Dylan Shevlin. 

Subs: Killian Crosbie (0-1) for Flynn Markey (HT), Oran Martin for Rogers (HT), Cillian Rafferty for Taaffe (59)

St Mary’s College: Adam Cassidy; Cian Farrell, Taylor Ward, Calum Fitzsimons; Liam Coleman, Justin Cooney, Sean Dawe; James Corcoran, Cormac McKeown; Jake Corrigan (0-1), Cormac Marmion (0-1) (1f), Cillian Lavery; Adam Dullaghan, Robbie Mathews (1-1), Kayden Fisher. 

Subs: Eoin Kenny (1-0) for Fisher (HT), Thomas Kindlon for Lavery (50). 

Referee: Ultan McElroy (Kilkerley Emmets).