Last-gasp defeat for the hurlers in Darver
DEEP in the fifth minute of additional time, Louth hurlers looked on course for their first win in Division 3A of the national hurling league.
However, Donegal midfielder Danny Cullen had other ideas when he snatched the victory right from the jaws of defeat for visiting Tír Conaill men, at a now accustomed wintry Darver.
Having lead for the duration and 1-10 to 1-9 and the clock running out, the visitors held their nerve to pounce for the winner when a mistake in the Louth defence allowed Cullen to ruthlessly secure the points for Mickey McCann’s men.
The result was understandably harsh on Louth, who turned in an excellent performance despite the loss. The hosts went five nil ahead at the early stages thanks to Robert Grace landing all five from free’s. Grace’s selection ahead of top scorer Darren Geoghegan was justified for manager Paul McCormack.
However Louth would regret the fact they didn’t press on with the wind at their backs to make it count further as Donegal showed what was to come in the second half, with a late rally to make it 0-6 to 0-4 at half time. A two point lead that would never be enough.
Influential Donegal full forward Declan Coulter lead the charge in the second half with a 56th minute goal but was quickly cancelled out by Noamh Moninne’s Andrew Mackin. The corner man also came into the side was thought to be fouled for a penalty but took the decision out of the referee’s hands by burying to the net.
Two Andrews, Smyth and McCrave, defended heroically against Donegal and the conditions and collectively Louth looked to have done enough to hang on, but Cullen showed no mercy as the men in red crushingly collapsed to their knee’s at the sound of the final whistle.
LOUTH: Ger Smyth; Andrew Smyth, Liam Molloy, Jamie McDonnell; Conor Mathews, Andrew McCrave 0-1, Conor Deane; Darren O’Hanrahan 0-1, Donal Ryan; Feidhlm Joyce, Shane Callan 0-1, Robert Grace 0-6 (6f); David Kettle, Seaghan Conneely, Andrew Mackin 1-0. Subs: Stephen Kettle for Deane (h-t), Darren Geoghegan 0-1(1f) for Grace (50) Ryan Walsh for Conneely (55).
DONEGAL: Luke White; M Callaghan, S Gillespie, P Doherty; J O’Loughlin, S McVeigh, N Cleary 0-1; J Boyle, D Cullen 1-0; PJ McCarron, L Henderson, R McDermott 0-1; G Gilmore, D Coulter 1-6 (2f), S Doherty. Subs: M Donoghue for O’Loughlin (20), C O’Grady for S Doherty (41), C Flood 0-1 for Callaghan (43), R Hifferty for Cleary (61).
REFEREE: Gearoid McGrath (Wexford).