Carroll impact gets Ardee over line against Colmcille

Ardee St Mary's 3-07 Colmcille 1-07

A week on from the Louth final replay success, Ardee St Mary's laboured to a six-point opening-round Leinster club SFC victory over Longford champions Colmcille.

The margin is somewhat misleading as the hosts rattled off 1-02 in the game's dying moments having been pushed to the pin of their collar by the midlanders.

Colmcille captain Jack Macken made it a one-point game with his fourth free with five minutes left on the clock before Ronan Carroll showed his impact off the bench for the Louth champions for the third week running.

The former county man whipped over the final score of the game but his surging run through to set up Shane Matthews for the clinching goal was the moment that allowed Ardee supporters to breathe a huge sign of a relief in the finish.

The Louth champions looked every bit the jaded team at the beginning. Colmcille dictated the lines of engagement from the off.

Sitting back Michael Harkins outfit allowed the home side on their home ground Ardee to come on to them the Longford champions revelled.

Captain and midfielder Jack Macken opened the scoring with a free and a wonderful effort from Philip McKeon had Colmcille comfortable and in complete control, but Ardee were soon to awaken from their slumber.

Jonathan Commins opened the Louth champions' account with nearly a quarter of an hour played. From that resultant kick-out, Colmcille switched off and paid dearly. Macken was swarmed as the Cavan border side tried to work the ball out of defence.

A turnover ensued and Dáire McConnon pounced the first of his two first half goals. The county man's second minutes later was made in similar fashion except it was McConnon himself that pick pocketed Declan Reilly. Commins took the