Two changes for Louth ahead of Kildare clash

Louth have made two changes to their team for this Sunday’s Leinster Championship quarter-final clash with Kildare at Croke Park.

The big surprise is the absence of Shane Lennon, who has been overlooked for Cooley Kickhams player Brian Donnelly who will line out at midfield with Mick Fanning playing further forward.

That setup seems to suggest that manager Aidan O’Rourke will play with a two man full forward line.

The other change sees Patrick Reilly come in for Gary O’Hare.

The team in full is: Neil Gallagher; Padraig Rath, Dessie Finnegan, John O’Brien; Patrick Reilly, Derek Crilly, Adrian Reid; Paddy Keenan, Brian Donnelly; Andy McDonnell, Brian White, Derek Maguire; Declan Byrne, Conor Grimes, Mick Fanning.

Throw-in at Croke Park on Sunday is at 2pm with Laois taking on Dublin afterwards.

Louth make four changes for Meath clash

Louth have made four changes to their side for Sunday’s final Allianz Football League Division Two clash with neighbours Meath in Drogheda.

Mick Fanning, Darren O’Hanlon, Bevan Duffy and Kevin Rogers all come into the side for the clash with the Royal County with Dessie Finnegan, Gary O’Hare, Stephen Campbell and Eoin O’Connor missing out after starting the defeat to Donegal last weekend.

Shane Lennon will also start again having been a late addition to the side last weekend in Ballyshannon.

Aidan O’Rourke’s side have little but pride to play for having already been relegated to Division Three next season after taking just two points from draws with Armagh and Galway to date in the campaign.

A win over old rivals Meath would no doubt boost morale ahead of the start of the Leinster Championship next month though.

The team in full is: Neil Gallagher; Padraig Rath, Mick Fanning, John O’Brien; Darren O’Hanlon, Derek Crilly, Adrian Reid; Paddy Keenan, Brian Donnelly; Patrick Reilly, Brian White, Bevan Duffy; Andy McDonnell, Shane Lennon, Kevin Rogers.

Louth suffer another setback after losing out to Meath

Meath’s Andy Tormey is challenged by Louth’s Conor Rafferty during the senior football challenge at St Lomans Park, Trim

Louth’s preparations for their forthcoming Leinster Championship clash with Laois on Sunday May 26^th suffered yet another setback on Sunday when they went down to neighbours Meath on a 1-13 to 1-10 scoreline in St Loman’s Park in Trim.

Just 24 hours after a defeat to Wicklow, the Wee County trailed by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

Aidan O’Rourke’s men did manage to go in front when Derek Maguire fisted to the net shortly after the restart but a period midway through the first half in which they conceded 1-4 without reply proved their undoing, with late points from Patrick Sheelan, Ronan Carroll and Brian White only managing to put a brighter look on the scoreline.

The Louth team and scorers was as follows: Neil Gallagher, Padraig Rath, Dessie Finnegan, Gary O’Hare, Liam Shevlin, Derek Crilly (0-1), Adrian Reid (0-1), Paddy Keenan, Conor Rafferty (0-1), Padraig Smith, Colm Judge, David Reid (0-1), Brian White (0-1), Cathal Bellew, Derek Maguire (1-2)
Subs used: Eoin O’Connor, Mick Fanning, Kevin Rogers, Gary Connolly, Joe Flanagan, Patrick Sheelan (0-1), Ronan Carroll (0-2).

Previously: Louth go down to Wicklow