Ardagh make Mayo junior football history with first county title

Ardagh 3-14

Eastern Gaels 1-11

ARDAGH are Mayo junior champions for the first time in the club’s history.

Sean Carey’s side beat Eastern Gaels at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park to claim the Pete McDonnell Cup in a final that guaranteed a first-time winner.

The north Mayo side lived dangerously for long spells. They trailed at the break and survived a string of goalmouth scares.

A fortuitous Dylan Murphy goal, a James Carr strike and a late Tom Varkonda goal then sealed the win.

Eastern Gaels made the brighter start. Dean Lyons fisted the opening point after a pass from Jarlath Concannon.

Lyons was in again moments later, but Ardagh keeper Gary Kenny saved his shot at goal. Michael McGarry converted the resulting 45.

Tony Carey got Ardagh’s first score and Dara Flanagan replied for the east Mayo side.

Gaels keeper Ronan Forde saved from Carey in a goal chance, and Carey pointed the free that followed.

Brendan Carr’s monstrous two-pointer put Ardagh in front. Carey and Stephen Rochford added points.

James Carr’s effort at goal came back off the black spot and went over for a point.

Eastern Gaels carved out the better goal chances and Kenny kept Ardagh in it.

He saved from point-blank range when Flanagan ran through the entire defence, and Jason Jennings missed the rebound.

James Carr pushed Ardagh 0-8 to 0-3 clear.

Eastern Gaels hit back with a goal. McGarry played a pinpoint pass into Jack Madden, who buried it low past Kenny.

McGarry then landed a thunderous two-point free from an acute angle. It put the Brickens side a point ahead at the break.

Ardagh came out with the wind against them and had to dig deep. Carey won the breaking ball from a James Carr free, sold a dummy and pointed.

Shane Glynn pushed Eastern Gaels back in front.

Another goalmouth scramble followed in which the ball never crossed the Ardagh line. Lady luck was in their favour throughout the clash.

Ardagh turned the game around in a few minutes.

Brendan Carr pointed from play. Then Murphy’s shot for a point, into the wind, dipped under the bar and into the net. Ardagh led 1-10 to 1-7.

James Carr kicked a two-point free, and Brendan Carr made an interception in his own square to stop a certain Eastern Gaels goal.

James Carr then settled it.

He pulled on the ground with his right boot and drove the ball into the bottom corner from inside the 21.

Ardagh led 2-12 to 1-7 as MacHale Park erupted into a sea of green and yellow.

Eastern Gaels lost captain Jack Ronayne soon after. He pulled down James Carr and was shown a black card.

He already had a yellow, so it became a red and left them with 14 men.

Carey added a free and Flanagan replied with a two-pointer.

Adam Naughton pointed for Ardagh to make it 2-14 to 1-9.

Tom Varkonda sealed it with a late goal.

Full match report and reaction to follow inside Tuesday's edition of the Connaught Telegraph