LOUTH SFC FINAL: St Patrick's 1-13 Dreadnots 0-7:REIGNING CHAMPIONS St Patrick's marched to their fifth title in 10 seasons with a commanding display against first-time finalists Dreadnots in Drogheda.
Massive underdogs going into the game, the seasiders needed a bright start, but it was the champions who cruised into a five-point lead. It took Dreadnots almost 22 minutes to score but they did close the gap back to two points before disaster struck on the stroke of half-time. Goalkeeper Kenneth Shevlin looked set to deal comfortably with a Paddy Keenan effort that dropped short, but he only succeeded in knocking the ball into the path of Aidan McCann, who stroked home from a yard out to make it 1-7 to 0-4 at the break.
Dreadnots started the second half brightly with a Smith free, but crucially Pat Lynch dragged a goal chance wide of the target, and by the end of the third quarter the sides had only exchanged two points apiece.
Forced to throw caution to the wind in the closing stages, Dreadnots inevitably left gaps at the back and the champions closed the game out ruthlessly, even allowing themselves the luxury of squandering a couple of late goal chances.
ST PATRICK'S:S Connor; J OHare, D Finnegan, D OHanlon; R Finnegan, C Goss, O Zamboglou; P Keenan (0-2), P Mallon; E White (0-1), K White (0-1), A McCann (1-1); E Carroll (0-1 free), E OConnor (0-4), D O'Connor (0-3). Subs: E Breen for A McCann (52 mins), M Breen for E White (57 mins), K Toner for O Zamboglou (59 mins), Barry Corcoran for S Connor (60 mins).
DREADNOTS:K Shevlin; A Williams, D Campbell, B Gargan; R Kirwan, P Rath, C McEvoy (0-1); L Shevlin, J Califf (0-1 free); P Lynch, D O'Brien, C Campbell (0-1); P Kirwan, P Smith (0-4, one free), A Lynch. Subs: L Judge for A Lynch (25 mins), F McGuigan for D O'Brien (54 mins).
