Keenan goal the turning point as St Patrick's triumph

LOUTH SFC FINAL: St Patrick's 1-12 Newtown Blues 0-9:THE ST PATRICK'S saviour in a tense drawn game two weeks ago netted the crucial score in another absorbing Louth SFC decider at St Brigid's Park yesterday.

With the sides level at 0-6 approaching half-time, Louth star Paddy Keenan gambled on an attempted point by county colleague and man-of-the-match Ray Finnegan, and after out-jumping Andy McDonnell on the edge of the square, bundled the ball past Stephen McCann.

It would prove a major turning point as it was the Newtown Blues who made the early running again, leading by two points on three separate occasions in the first half. Their top scorer and captain, John Kermode, hit a brace of frees, but despite dominating at midfield, Blues again struggled to make their superiority count.

Eamon Carroll and Daniel O’Connor cancelled out those frees and that pattern continued as every time Blues stretched ahead they were pegged back. Crucially, St Patrick’s converted six of their first seven chances and Keenan’s goal arrived just as they were starting to get on top. And with Eoin O’Connor and Carroll quickly adding a point apiece, the favourites were firmly in the driving seat.

Colm Judge did pull a point back with a free, but after dominating a large spell of the first period, Blues adjourned four points down, 1-8 to 0-7.

Blues reduced the gap to two through Cormac Reynolds and Hugh McGinn inside the first seven minutes. However, that’s where the revival ended and McGinn’s free proved to be the Blues’ final score of the match.

St Patrick’s defended superbly in the final 20 minutes and took their chances as Keenan, O’Connor (twice) and Karl White slowly turned he screw.

Colin Goss accepted the Joe Ward Cup, their fourth title in nine seasons and their first since 2007. The next challenge is a trip to Portlaoise for Fergal Reel’s side in the first round of the Leinster Club Championship on Sunday week.

ST PATRICK'S:S Connor; J O'Hare, D Finnegan, D O'Hanlon; R Finnegan, E Breen, O Zamboglou; C Goss, P Keenan (1-2); P Mallon, S Hynes, A McCann; E Carroll (0-3, 0-2 frees), E O'Connor (0-4), D O'Connor (0-2). Subs: K White (0-1) for A McCann (35 mins), C Grogan for S Hynes (59 mins).

NEWTOWN BLUES:S McCann; T Costello, C Reynolds (0-1), A O'Brien; S Moonan, J Carr, E Judge; B Kermode, K Lynch; J Kermode (0-2, frees), H McGinn (0-2, 0-1 free), C Branagan (0-1); J Murray (0-1), C Judge (0-2, frees), A McDonnell. Subs: I McManus for J Kermode (29 mins), P Moore for T Costello (half-time), B Sharkey for P Moore (48 mins), R Carr for H McGinn (54 mins).

Referee:P Kneel.