Louth make two changes for Clare clash

Louth have made two changes to the side who lost to Fermanagh in Brewster Park last Saturday night for this Sunday’s Allianz National League Division Three clash with Clare at the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda.

Dessie Finnegan and Conor Grimes have both come into the side in place of Brian Donnelly and Derek Maguire, with a number of other positional changes.

Manager Colin Kelly will be hoping to bounce back from last week’s 0-16 to 0-7 defeat as he continues his search for a first victory.

The team in full is: N Gallagher; K Toner, P Reilly, P Rath; D Crilly, D Finnegan, D O’Hanlon; B Duffy, E O’Connor; A Reid, D O’Connor, D Byrne; R Burns, C Grimes, C Judge.

Throw-in on Sunday is at 2pm.

Disappointing start to league campaign for Louth

Louth made a disappointing start to their National League Division Three campaign in Enniskillen on Saturday night after losing out to Fermanagh on a 0-16 to 0-7 scoreline.

Either side of a small spell in the first half when Declan Byrne kicked three wonder points, the Wee County were second best all over the park.

Fermanagh’s Seamus Quigley top scored with eight points, all coming from dead balls as Louth ended with barely a whimper as the home side built up a strong lead in the closing stages.

Byrne’s burst brought Louth back to within a point shortly before the break, but the Wee County were missing the presence of midfielder Eoin O’Connor, who was black carded after just 15 minutes.

Fermanagh hit the last four points of the first half as their switch of game-plan to a more direct running style started to pay dividends.

Ryan Jones and Barry Mulrone swung over neat scores and Paul McCusker was fouled for frees which Quigley duly converted.

The second half saw more of the same from Fermanagh as they started to tighten their grip around the middle of the field through the hard work of Eoin Donnelly and Richard O’Callaghan.

Louth never really got going and although Byrne and Colm Judge tried hard, they were never a threat in attack. Indeed it took a brilliant save from Craig Lynch to deny Quigley a goal after another Fermanagh move had cut the Louth defence to ribbons.

Louth boss Colin Kelly will need his players to produce much better if they are to maintain their status in the third tier with a first home fixture against Clare pencilled in for Drogheda this Sunday.

SCORERS – Fermanagh: S Quigley 0-8 (6fs, 2 ’45s’), R Jones 0-3, B Mulrone, R Corrigan 0-2 each, P McCusker 0-1. Louth: D Byrne 0-5 (1f), E O’Connor, R Burns 0-1 each.

FERMANAGH – T Treacy 7, N Cassidy 8, J Allen 6, M O’Brien 8, D McCusker 7, R McCluskey 8, J McMahon 8, E Donnelly 7, R O’Callaghan 7, B Mulrone 7, R Jones 7, P McCusker 9, R Corrigan 7, S Quigley 8, E McManus 6. Subs: T Corrigan 6 for McManus (50), A Breen 6 for McMahon (64), D McQuade 6 for O’Callaghan (68).

LOUTH – N Gallagher 7, K Toner 7, P Reilly 7, D O’Hanlon 7, D Crilly 6, P Rath 6, A Reid 7, B Donnelly 6, E O’Connor, 6 B Duffy 6, C Judge 7, D Byrne 8, R Burns 7, D O’Connor 6, D Maguire 6.

Subs: R Moore 6 for O’Connor (15 BC), C Grimes 7 for Donnelly (h-t), C Lynch 7 for Gallagher (h-t), J Stewart 6 for Reid (42), P Kirwan 6 for Maguire (52), M Jones 6 for Allen (55), T Durnin 6 for O’Connor (60).

Ref – S Hurson (Tyrone)

Louth name side for league opener against Fermanagh

Louth have named their team for Saturday night’s National Football League Division Three opener against Fermanagh in Brewster Park (throw-in 7pm).

Five players – Paddy Reilly, Adrian Reid, Eoin O’Connor, Brian Donnelly and Colm Judge – will all be featuring for the first time this season.

Colin Kelly will be hoping for a first victory since taking over from Aidan O’Rourke when he brings his side to Enniskillen.

The team in full is: Neil Gallagher; Kevin Toner, Patrick Reilly, Darren O’Hanlon; Derek Crilly, Padraig Rath, Adrian Reid; Brian Donnelly, Eoin O’Connor; Bevan Duffy, Colm Judge, Declan Byrne; Ryan Burns, Daniel O’Connor, Derek Maguire.

Meanwhile, The Louth GAA Supporters’ Club are running a bus to Louth’s National Football League Division Three opener against Fermanagh in Brewster Park, Enniskillen on Saturday.

The bus leaves Drogheda at 3.30pm, Dunleer at 3.45pm and from McKeown’s Bar in Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk at 4pm.

For booking contact Brian Matthews on 087 2830308 or Gerry McGee on 087 7500414.

Louth GAA Supporters’ Club running bus to Enniskillen on Saturday

The Louth GAA Supporters’ Club are running a bus to Louth’s National Football League Division Three opener against Fermanagh in Brewster Park, Enniskillen on Saturday.

The bus leaves Drogheda at 3.30pm, Dunleer at 3.45pm and from McKeown’s Bar in Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk at 4pm.

For booking contact Brian Matthews on 087 2830308 or Gerry McGee on 087 7500414.

New Louth boss Colin Kelly will be hoping for his first victory since taking over from Aidan O’Rourke against the Ulster men.

Arrowsmith invites Obama for a pint

Dean Arrowsmith

A well-known Dundalk FC fan has earned worldwide attention after inviting US president Barack Obama for a pint when he visits Ireland next month for the G8 summit in the Lough Erne Resort in Fermanagh.

Cavan-native Dean Arrowsmith – who is community coach at Oriel Park – has also invited Obama to the Ulster SFC quarter-final in Enniskillen on Sunday June 16^th when the Breffni County will be taking on Fermanagh.

In a letter to Obama, Arrowsmith said: “If you have time in your hectic schedule I would like to invite you to attend the game with myself and a few friends, I will even pay in to the game for you (it’s only €15), and let you experience the national game of our country for the first time.”

Dean – who is known as Pingu to his friends – told Obama he would “buy you a pint of Guinness and discuss the trials and tribulations of what occurred on the field.”

He added: “I know you probably won’t want to offend your native Offaly folk but we will also give you a Cavan jersey as a memento for the occasion.”

There has been no response from the White House just yet, according to the BBC.

But Arrowsmith says that if he knew his way around county stereotypes, he would hotfoot it to Brewster Park.

“Cavan people are known for being a little bit tight”, he said. “So if a Cavan man offers to buy you a pint and a ticket, you take him up on it.”

His email to the White House finished with: “You may think this is a joke email, but I assure you, we would love for you to come cheer on the Boys in Blue with us.”