Reds rattled in Roscommon
Roscommon Louth 3-18 1-6
LOUTH’S quest for survival in an ultra-competitive Divsion 3A suffered an early setback on Sunday as Roscommon cruised to a comfortable victor at Dr Hyde Park.
Playing with a strong breeze in the opening half, the Reds failed to make any real impact as Roscommon adjourned with a 1-6 0-6 lead.
And it got a whole lot worse after the break as the home side piled on the pain.
Paul Matthews second-half goal was the only score the visitors registered in the second period.
The breeze was obviously a major factor, but Louth looked competitive and dangerous in the opening stages.
Midfielder Mark Molloy opened the scoring for Louth and Ronan Geoghegan added a couple of frees.
A Gearoid Keenan goal undid all of the good early work and the sides were still level 10 minutes before the break.
Once Roscommon adjourned with the noses in front there was only going to be one winner, with Naos Connaughton and Daniel Glynn posing the primary threat to the Louth defence all afternoon.
Roscommon scored at will after the break and Louth had to wait until the 64th minute for Matthews to break a long scoreless spell with a well-taken goal.
Like the footballers Louth face a must-win clash this weekend when they face Tyrone in Darver on Sunday afternoon. ROSCOMMON: Joe Keane; Alan Moore, Peter Kellehan, Pat Nolan; Darragh Heavey, Paul Kenny, Sean Melia; Cormac Kelly 0-2, Kerrill Hardiman; Daniel Glynn 0-13 (12f), Eamon Flanagan 0-1, Gearóid Keenan 1-0; John Murray, Naos Connaughton 1-0, Joe Brennan. Subs: Micheál Beirne for Heavey (ht), Robbie Fallon 0-1 for Brennan (43), Cillian Egan 0-1 for Murray (48), Warren Boyle 1-0 for Keenan (52), Dylan Keaveney for Flanagan (59).
LOUTH: Stephen Hackett; Mark Wallace, Mike Lyons, Conor Matthews; Paddy McCormack, Ronan Byrne, Stephen Kettle; Mark Molloy 0-1, Donal Ryan; John Crosbie, Shane Callan, Gerard Smyth; Ronan Geoghegan 0-4 (2f, 2 ‘65’), Paddy Lynch 0-1, Michael Ryan. Subs: Paul Matthews 1-0 for Smyth (26), John Martin for Geoghegan (45), Colin Griffin for Wallace (65).
Referee: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)