Danny Magill, Down, and Conor Grimes, Louth, in All-Ireland SFC action. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile
All-Ireland SFC Group Three
Down 0-25 (0-4-17) Louth 0-24 (0-6-12)
By Dan Bannon at Páirc Esler
Adam Crimmins' block will live long in the memory of all that attended the nail biting derby win over Louth on Saturday.
After the hooter had sounded, with one point between the sides, Louth midfielder Tommy Durnin in the final play pulled the trigger only to be spectacularly denied by Crimmins.
Durnin did not see the Mayobridge clubman coming, and with that, Down held off Louth’s brave rally to go top of the group.
Odhran Murdock lifted the atmosphere with the first kick of the thriller. The orange flag was raised.
Leinster Champions Louth, were again slow in their attacks and gifted an opener into the contest with a ninth minute free from captain Sam Mulroy. An infringement from the hosts was their only blot in the immaculate start.
A quarter of an hour played Louth were really struggling while Down were really enjoying themselves. Ceilum Doherty, the Mourne man maker, even defied his role to slot over a point.
Conor Laverty’s side were 0-11 to 0-1 up and more than comfortable. Down could soak up Louth’s rudderless attack and counter with venom.
With a lack of penetration and no chance of creating goals they are accustomed to, Ger Brennan’s men had to look for other avenues into the game.
A combination of the brilliance of Niall McDonnell in the goal and Down’s wayward patch helped but a break in the play due an injury to David Gough did provide the visitors some light reprieve.
Noel Mooney from Cavan took over refereeing duties and Louth landed four points in a row. Conall McKeever and Conor Grimes rallying.
Under huge kick out pressure, Louth did not judge their own ball and Pat Havern eased the pressure valve and exploded into the game.
The Saval sharpshooter Havern, hit four points in a shooting purple patch. Burns at the other end also handed Louth a lifeline with some fine shooting to make it 0-16 to 0-7 at the break.
More direct play from Louth in the second half saw them come back into the affair. Shot shy in the opening half, Louth needed a new approach.
With the new enhancements, the two pointers allowed Louth to grab momentum quickly. Three in a row from Mulroy, Craig Lennon and Durnin had the hosts rattled with 10 to play.
Danny Magill had a terrific second period, his father Micheal manages on the club scene in Louth with Geraldines and he kept the Louth fightback at bay before the dam fully burst.
Points from Mulroy and Ciaran Downey had Down on the ropes outscoring the winners six to three in a frantic finale, but held their nerve with the glorious Crimmins block.
Scorers for Down: Danny Magill 0-6 (1tp), Pat Havern 0-6 (1f, 1tp), Odhran Murdock 0-5, (1f, tpf,tp), Adam Crimmins 0-2, Ceilum Doherty 0-1, Ryan Magill 0-1 John McGeough 0-1, Miceal Rooney 0-1, Caolan Mooney 0-1, Shay Millar 0-1.
Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-12 (3f, 2tp, 2tpf) Ryan Burns 0-3, Craig Lennon 0-3 (1tp), Tommy Durnin 0-2 (1tp) Ciaran Downey 0-2, Conor Grimes 0-1, and Conall McKeever 0-1.
Down: Ronan Burns; Pierce Laverty, Patrick McCarthy, Finn McElroy; Ryan Magill, Peter Fagan, Miceal Rooney; Odhran Murdock, Danny Magill; James Guinness, Pat Havern, Ceilum Doherty; John McGeough, Ryan McEvoy; Adam Crimmins.
Subs: Caolan Mooney for Guinness (47), Shay Millar for McEvoy (48), Eugene Branagan for McElroy (51), Finn Murdock for R Magill (62), Conor McCrickard for McGeough (68).
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Daire Nally, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Craig Lennon, Peter Lynch, Conall McKeever; Bevan Duffy, Tommy Durnin, Ciaran Downey, Sam Mulroy, Conor Grimes; Ciaran Keenan, Ciaran Byrne, Ryan Burns.
Subs: Dara McDonnell for Duffy (HT), Anthony Williams for Lynch (41), Kieran McArdle for Grimes (57), Paul Mathews for Byrne (57), Dylan McKeown for Keenan (69).
Referee: David Gough (Meath).
