Richie steers Monaghan to famous win

Richie Ford

Monaghan are currently basking in the glory of a first Ulster Championship win in 25 years but little do most people know that it was a Louth man who played a pivotal role in their victory over Donegal on Sunday.

Richie Ford from the Dundalk Gaels club is the statistician and video analyst with the Farney men and it was therefore his role to try and pick holes in the All-Ireland winners.

That appeared to work to good effect as Monaghan ran out impressive 0-13 to 0-7 winners over Jim McGuinness’s men in Clones.

Richie, a teacher in Bay Estate National School, has now got the better of the Tir Chonaill men twice, having also filled the same role when Louth beat Donegal in a replay to land the Division Two league title in Cavan in 2006.

Meanwhile, there will be another Louth person celebrating Monaghan’s win tonight with local singer/songwriter Sinead McNally invited to The Diamond in Monaghan town to sing her song ‘The Farney Army’ during the team’s homecoming celebrations.

Previously: Sinead’s anthem becoming a major hit after Monaghan win

Louth juniors lose out to Cavan

Louth’s Patrick Sheelan in action against Cavan last night. Picture credit: Ciaran Culligan Photography

Louth’s junior team lost out to Cavan by the narrowest of margins on a 1-10 to 1-9 scoreline in last night’s Leinster JFC quarter-final tie in Dowdallshill.

Cavan, who won the Leinster title last year, got off to a dream start with Chris Conroy’s goal after just 30 seconds helping them into a 1-3 to 0-4 lead at the break.

The Wee County fought back on the restart though with a goal form Cathal Bellew helping them into a 1-8 to 1-6 lead with 20 minutes remaining.

The Breffni men finished the strongest, however, with four unanswered points from Barry Reilly (2), Paul Gorham and Ross Sheridan helping to turn a two point deficit into a two point lead.

A James Califf free did manage the cut the deficit back to the minimum but it was too little, too late for Louth at that stage.

The Wee County side on the night was: J Flanagan; P Nixon, B Mulligan, K McLoughlin; G O’Hare, R Brennan, P Sheelan; S McCann (0-1, f), B Duffy; J Califf (0-3, 2f), S O’Hanlon (0-2), C Bellew (1-0); S Hand (0-1), E O’Connor (0-2), P Carrie. Subs: N Conlon for P Carrie, G Connolly for G O’Hare.