Reds’ promotion sealed with a game to spare

LEITRIM dished up a reality check to Louth in the NFL with a 0-16 to 2-9 victory in Carrick-on-Shannon. However, despite the disappointment of a first defeat it didn’t change much on the promotion front, as a win over Carlow next time out would set up a winner-takes-all clash with Wexford. The Reds duly obliged in Netwatch Cullen Park when blowing the home side away by 2-17 to 2-9, with Conor Grimes netting both goals.

Louth had home advantage for the promotion showdown with Wexford and grafted out a hard-earned 0-13 to 0-11 victory. The win edged the Reds two points ahead of the visitors, but a crucial head-to-head advantage over the Yellow Bellies ensured the final round of games were irrelevant as Colin Kelly’s men joined Antrim in Division 3 and booked their place in the league final.

Elsewhere, Dee McCarthy’s hurlers suffered a 2-19 to 1-2 defeat to Monaghan. However, they bounced back with a 2-19 to 2-16 win over Tyrone and then hammered Fingal, almost qualifying for the league final.

After opening with two wins Louth ladies slipped out of top-four contention following a 4-11 to 0-2 defeat to Wicklow.

In the NEFL, Newfoundwell lost the Kilmessan Shield Final, but they had better fortunes in the league, beating Bellurgan United 10-2 and Abbey Celtic 11-1. The honour for ‘comeback of the month’ surely went to Drogheda Boys Under-15s who trailed hosts Stella Maris 3-0 with nine minutes left, only to end up 4-3 winners.

In the Leinster Senior League, Drogheda Town ended a 13-month spell without a home win when fighting back from 2-0 down to beat Kilnamanagh at Marian Park.

Meath football boss Mick O’Dowd was left stunned after his charges surrendered an eight-point lead early in the second half to lose by seven against Cavan in the NFL Division 2. Two draws and a defeat followed and the county Under-21s exited Leinster.

The proposed re-structuring of the Meath club championships was revisited after the Slane club won support for a special meeting to be convened to discuss the issue. And in a dramatic u-turn, a Slane motion which would see the championship structure left unchanged achieved the required two-thirds majority. St Patrick’s, Rathkenny, Syddan, Curraha and St Vincent’s all won league matches, while St Colmcille’s made it two wins from three.

In athletics, Dunleer AC clubman Garry Campbell contested the National Senior Indoor 1500m final, finishing sixth. Boyne AC’s Karlis Kaugars set a new Leinster Indoor record for the shot and went on to win silver at the National Indoors. Brothers Oisin and Ruarcan O’Gibne of Boyne AC won three silvers between them at the Nationals, and it was silver for their clubmate Tara Meier. Drogheda & District AC’s Kieran McGrath won gold in the 800m. Cushinstown AC’s Elizabeth Morland bagged three golds and two Under-19 records.

The inaugural Leinster Rugby Future Stars awards took place, an initiative designed to recognise the talent of young rugby players in the North East, with Ardee CS, St Joseph’s CBS and Drogheda Grammar pupils all represented in the chosen XV.

Meanwhile, Boyne’s month in rugby’s All-Ireland League ended in disappointment. The irony of losing to Wanderers by a 19-16 scoreline on the weekend when the whole country celebrated the centenary of the Easter Rising wasn’t lost on supporters.

Drogheda cage fighter Nathan Kenna captured the MMA Battle Arena European 61kg title at Oxford’s Kassan Stadium.

In water polo, Drogheda’s hopes of landing the National League Division 2 title ended with defeat by Clontarf.

Slane native Ian Richardson was selected to represent Ireland in cycling’s four-day International Ràs Mumhan.

Cuchulainn Archers hosted the Irish Indoor Championships and finished with two gold and six silver medals.

Two Our Lady’s College Greenhills teams went head-to-head in the first-ever SSA basketball decider involving two teams from the same school.

Mickey Dogget settled the Fosters Duleek & District Dart League Tom Grimes Cup Final with a 110 finish as Punt Bar edged out Morning Star. Damien Geraghty and Tommy Hogan (Whytes) defeated Dalys duo Mark Clinton and Derek Cooney in the League Doubles.