Following Tuesday night’s disappointing 4-2 reverse to Athboy, Johnstown welcomed title-chasers Ardee Celtic to the MDL on Friday night.

Determined to have some say in this season title race, Johnstown were much improved from their last outing and matched the visitors in all aspects in the early exchanges.

A quick corner routine between Sean Challenger, captain in the absence through injury of Darren McQuillan, and Arnold Luco led to the former seeing his fierce shot whistle narrowly wide with a quarter of an hour played.

10 minutes later, Johnstown opened the scoring. An Ardee Celtic corner produced a chance which Dylan Byrne gathered comfortably before his quick clearance found Challenger in midfield. His chipped pass, weighted perfectly over the retreating backline as Johnstown broke at speed, fell perfectly for top scorer Luco who blasted the ball past the keeper giving the home side the lead.

Shortly after, Luco should have doubled his tally for the evening. Vinny Murphy, tricky as ever crossed along the ground to Luco at the back post. Unfortunately, he could not keep his shot under the bar.

Ardee’s best chance of the half came just shy of the interval as they beat Johnstown’s offside line. Bearing down on Byrne in the Johnstown net, all in attendance could only watch as the attacker drilled his shot well wide.

The second half was played out in an increasingly tense fashion with few chances falling to either side until the mid way point. A long ball out by Ardee led to both home centre backs slipping, freeing the way forward for the Louth men. Only a last ditch tackle by Jake McDermott prevented the visitors getting their shot away.

Ardee continued to exert pressure as the second half wore on and on 72 minutes would have equalised but for Jay Colton’s goal-line clearance.

Unfortunately for Johnstown, that equaliser did arrive just 6 minutes later. A long free kick from Ardee was allowed to bounce in the area, before the visiting forward tucked the ball passed Byrne, drawing his side level.

With eyes firmly on the upcoming semi final against Navan Cosmos, Johnstown will be pleased with the improved level of performance and hope to have a fully fit side back in time for their cup tie.

Johnstown FC Team: D. Byrne, D. Bollard, J. Colton, J. Connolly, J. McDermott, D. Grumley, S. Challenger (c), V. Murphy, C. O’Sullivan, A. Ivers, A. Luco