Allianz FL D2: Louth defeat Derry

Allianz Football League Division Two

Louth 1-19 Derry 0-18

By Dan Bannon at DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee

Louth have turned Ardee into somewhat of a fortress with another victory, this time against favourites Derry.

A tale of three McDonnell’s tells the story of their victory, goalkeeper Niall McDonnell denied Shane McGuigan from a penalty at a crucial second half juncture, Tadhg helped his side over the line from the bench with three points.

Dara McDonnell with a Derry mother looking on, opened the scoring. A looping two pointer to give the home side an early pep in their step.

Derry's disjointed start wasn’t helped by Louth’s counter attacking game. The hosts were accurate. Ironically, the game’s next moment came from a wayward free from Sam Mulroy.

Drifting wide, Kieran McArdle did ever so well to keep the ball in play, then run along the end line past two Derry defenders, to win his side a penalty.

Mulroy finished the job, to go ahead of McGuigan on the scoring charts, too.

Louth defended stoutly as a result, scrambled well, and goalkeeper Niall McDonnell enhanced his reputation with some timely interventions. McDonnell was also helped by Emmett Carolan taking one off the line.

Soaking up all that pressure, Conall McCaul and Mulroy pressed the relief valve to leave it 1-8 to 0-4 at the interval.

Top scorer for Derry, Niall Loughlin, was doing his best against the odds, his two point free at the start of the second half cut the gap to four. With Derry mounting a charge, the McDonnell’s sprang to action.

With substitute Matthew Downey nailing a two pointer, McGuigan won a penalty. McDonnell saved it and Dara McDonnell went up the other end to score his second point. That inspired Louth and their home crowd.

Promotion is now on the cards for the winners versus Kildare, while Derry will still be in the hunt too, against Cavan.

Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 1-6 (1tp, 1f, 1-0pen), Tadhg McDonnell (1tp) Dara McDonnell (1tp) 0-3 each, Paul Mathews (1tp), Kieran McArdle 0-2 each, Conall McCaul, Conall McKeever, and Sean Reynolds 0-1 each.

Scorers for Derry: Niall Loughlin 0-7 (1tpf, 1f), Conor Glass 0-3 (1tp), Paul Cassidy (1tp) and Matthew Downey (1tp) 0-2 each, Lachlan Murray, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty and Eoin McEvoy 0-1 each.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Emmett Carolan, Dermot Campbell, Daire Nally; Conall McKeever, Dara McDonnell, Eoghan Callaghan; Tommy Durnin, Conor Early; Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy, James Maguire; Ciaran Keenan, Conall McCaul, Kieran McArdle.

Subs: Tadhg McDonnell for Maguire (43), Donal McKenny for E Callaghan (58), Sean Callaghan for Durnin (62), Conor Branigan for D McDonnell (63), Sean Reynolds for McCaul (65).

Derry: Shea McGuckin, Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Shea Downey, Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty, Shane McGuigan, Dan Higgins; Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Lachlan Murray.

Subs: Niall Toner for S Downey (47), Matthew Downey for Higgins (53), Eoin McEvoy for Forbes (57), Sean Young for E Doherty (62).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare).