Louth U-21s have Leinster dream ended by Meath

Meath’s Neil Shortall gets away from Sean Thornton of Louth in their replayed Leinster U21FC quarter-final clash at Pairc Tailteann

Louth U-21’s Leinster title ambitions came to an end at Pairc Tailteann last night after they went down to old foes Meath on a 1-13 to 0-10 scoreline.

After the two sides proved inseparable after 80 minutes in Clan na Gael Park the previous week, they were forced to meet again last night to determine who advanced to face Offaly in the semi-finals next week.

In the end five unanswered points late on proved the difference for the Royals as they booked their place in the last four at Louth’s expense.

The Wee County had managed to claw the deficit back to the minimum by the 51^st minute when Cian Doyle’s point left it 1-8 to 0-10 but in the end the Royals had enough in the tank to run out somewhat flattering winners in the end.

A Joey Wallace goal before the break ensured that David Reilly’s side were always playing catch-up despite the best efforts of Hunterstown’s Ryan Burns, who once again contributed six points.

Unfortunately for Louth, so too did Meath’s Bryan McMahon as the visitors paid the price for not taking two goal chances that fell their way in the third quarter.

Equally the loss of Robert Brodigan to a black card when there was just a point in it after 43 minutes proved decisive.

Doyle’s late point had just a point between the sides for the seventh time but five unanswered scores meant that Meath claimed a six point win that didn’t really tell the whole story of how the game transpired.

Meath – Andy Colgan; Simon Carty, Conor McGill, David McQuillan; Brian Power, Shane Melia, Shane McEntee; Conor Sheridan, Adam Flanagan; Neil Shortall (0-1), Bobby O’Brien, Padraic Harnan; Eamon Wallace, Bryan McMahon (0-6, 4fs), Joey Wallace (1-0). Subs – Seamus Mattimoe (0-5, 2fs) for Eamon Wallace (9), Harry Rooney for Sheridan (42), Cathal Finn for Power (52), Barry Dardis (0-1) for J Wallace (60).

Louth – Nathaniel Cooney; Eoghan Lafferty, Dermot Campbell, Kieran Lenaghan; Darren McMahon, Robert Brodigan, Sean Thornton; Patrick Reilly, Wayne Campbell; Robert Quigley, James Stewart, Conall McKeever; Cian Doyle (0-1), Conor Grimes (0-3), Ryan Burns (0-6, 5fs). Subs – Robert Curran for Thornton (18), Ciaran Ward for Brodigan (44, black card), Robert Carr for McKeever (49), Kevin Hearty for Doyle (60).

Referee – Garreth Whelan (Wicklow)

No separating Louth and Meath U-21s

There was no separating Louth and Meath U-21s at Clan na Gael Park last night after the sides played out a 3-11 to 2-14 draw after extra-time in the quarter-finals of the Cadbury’s Leinster U-21 Football Championship.

That means the two sides must meet again next Wednesday in Navan to decide who advances to the last four to meet Offaly.

After an even enough opening, David Reilly’s side found themselves in the driving seat after 24 minutes when Hunterstown Rovers youngster Ryan Burns followed up two points in quick succession with a well-taken goal that left it 1-6 to 0-4 in the Wee County’s favour.

Meath would responded with two goals and two points before the break, however, to take a shock 2-6 to 1-6 lead off at the break.

Louth started the second half incredibly brightly with two goals inside a minute from Cian Doyle and Burns seeing them turn things around to lead by 3-8 to 1-7 after 37 minutes.

Crucially, the home side would fail to add to that advantage as Meath clawed their way back level courtesy of a number of frees from leading scorer Bryan McMahon.  Right on the hour mark, a sideline kick from Neil Shortall that bounced over the crossbar looked to have ensured the win for the Royals but with the last kick of the game the impressive Burns held his nerve with a free on the left to take the game to extra-time.

Twice the Wee County would lead in extra-time, with Doyle contributing the only score of the first half.

McMahon levelled matters on the restart before a Conor Grimes point edged Louth in front again. Once again, that man McMahon restored parity for the visitors though as the two sides were forced to settle for a draw after 80 pulsating minutes.

Louth: J Mulholland; E Lafferty, D Campbell, K Lenaghan; D McMahon, R Brodigan, S Thornton; P Reilly, W Campbell; R Quigley (0-2), J Stewart, C McKeever; C Doyle (1-2, 1f), C Grimes (0-1), R Burns (2-6, 5f). Sub: D Marks for W Campbell, 48 mins; R Curran for R Quigley, 49 mins; K Hearty for P Reilly, 73 mins (black card); R Carr for C McKeever, 78 mins.

Louth U-21 team named for Meath clash tomorrow

Patrick Reilly (left) in action for the Louth senior team against Armagh earlier this season. He will feature for the U-21s in Clan na Gael Park on Wednesday at midfield

The Louth U-21 team to face Meath in the opening round of the Leinster U-21 Football Championship tomorrow night has been named.

Included in the side are Patrick Reilly, Cian Doyle, Robert Brodigan and James Stewart, who have all featured on the county’s senior panel this season.

The team in full is: Jamie Mulholland (Naomh Mairtin); Eoghan Lafferty (St Patrick’s), Dermot Campbell (Dreadnots), Kieran Lenaghan (Naomh Fionnbarra); Darren McMahon (St Mochta’s), Robert Brodigan (Oliver Plunketts), Sean Thornton (Geraldines); Patrick Reilly (St Brides), Wayne Campbell (Naomh Mairtin); Robert Quigley (O’Connells), James Stewart (Dundalk Gaels), Conall McKeever (Clan na Gael); Cian Doyle (O’Connells), Conor Grimes (Glen Emmets), Ryan Byrns (Hunterstown Rovers).

Throw-in at Clan na Gael Park tomorrow night is at 7.30pm.

Lennon named Louth Player of the Year by supporters

Shane Lennon fists past Laois goalkeeper Eoin Culleton in the Leinster Championship last May

Shane Lennon has been named the Louth GAA Supporters’ Club Senior Footballer of the Year for 2013.

The Kilkerley Emmets clubman, who is currently sidelined through injury, will collect the award for the first time exactly 10 years on from collecting the minor prize.

During a promising league campaign last year, Lennon scored 1-4 in a victory over Longford that secured Louth’s status in Division Two. He was also on target in the 1-16 to 1-6 Leinster Championship win over Laois in Portlaoise last May, scoring 1-3 on the day.

Meanwhile, the Minor Player of the Year award will go to Cian Doyle of the O’Connells, who has since worked his way into the senior setup.

Shane Callan will also collect the Senior Hurler of the Year award following an impressive campaign that saw him named on the Nicky Rackard Cup team of the year.

Dundalk IT through to Trench Cup semi-final

Derek Crilly, Hugh Morgan and Oisin McConville with the new Morgan Fuels-sponsored Dundalk IT jersey recently. McConville this afternoon led his side into the last four of the Trench Cup – a competition the college has never won

Dundalk IT booked their place in the last four of the Trench Cup this afternoon with a hard fought 1-13 to 1-11 victory over Marino College of Further Education.

The O’Connells duo of Robert Quigley and Cian Doyle proved crucial in securing the win with Quigley’s goal and a series of points from either of them helped Oisin McConville’s side into an eight point lead.

Marino did manage to push their way back into contention late on but DkIT held out to reach the semi-finals in difficult conditions.

Dundalk now advance to the finals weekend in Queen’s University Belfast, with the semi-finals down for Friday February 21st and the finals on Saturday February 22nd.

Five new faces added to Louth panel

John Kermode of the Newtown Blues, who was influential in his side’s County Title success this year

Louth boss Aidan O’Rourke has added five new faces to his panel for the 2014 campaign.

John Kermode (Newtown Blues), Keith McLoughlin (Sean O’Mahony’s), Cian Doyle (O’Connells), Patrick Reilly (St Brides) and Stephen Campbell (Naomh Mairtin) have all been added to the squad for the forthcoming O’Byrne Cup and National League campaigns after impressing in recent weeks.

While four of the newcomers will be hoping for game time in the O’Byrne Cup, Knockbridge man Reilly will be unavailable as he will line out in the competition for UCD.

The quintet made the cut after O’Rourke cut his panel down to 30. However, despite admitting to LMFM that the decision was “difficult”, he added that the panel wouldn’t be a closed shop.

Related articles

• Back-to-back defeats for Louth in O Fiaich Cup (talkofthetown.ie)
• Louth forward Byrne pens two year deal with AFL side Carlton (talkofthetown.ie)