Louth and Meath beaten again in the league
PERHAPS all the fans who stayed away knew better after all.
Ireland’s drubbing in Twickenham didn’t turn out to be much of an alternative in the end, but the fare served up at a muddy, and near-empty, Celtic Park was every bit as forgettable.
In their first season back from the Division 4 wilderness, Derry all but consigned Louth to the same fate next spring, and after Sunday’s clash, neither side can claim with any degree of certainty that the bottom tier is beneath them.
To avoid relegation, Wayne Kierans’ side realistically need three wins from their remaining three games, which includes Down at home and high-flying Cork down in Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
But in this kind of form they may struggle to even account for fellow relegation candidates Leitrim in Dowdallshill next weekend.
A poor start by Louth, followed by a frustrating inability to launch cohesive attacks, ensured the hosts eased their own relegation fears without ever playing particularly well.
After storming into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead inside eight minutes, Rory Gallagher’s team reverted to type, and their ugly tactical approach often saw 14 Derry players stationed in their own half.
But it worked a treat as Louth managed just 1-2 from play over the course of the 76 minutes of action.
But even more worryingly for Kierans, none of those three scores from play came in the second-half, when his team dominated both the possession and territory stats.
A sluggish start certainly didn’t help the cause of a team already low on confidence, but it was that lack of penetration in the second period that triggered a fourth straight defeat.
In the first few minutes Derry, surprisingly, had three men in their full forward line. Perhaps that caught Louth off guard a bit, but either way the home side quickly racked up a chunky lead, 1-4 to 0-1.
The goal was sloppy from Louth’s point of view as Derry won a Craig Lynch kick-out uncontested. Three passes later the excellent Shane McGuigan was palming the ball to an empty net.
To Louth’s credit, a 1-4 to 0-1 deficit didn’t create any panic and some superb marksmanship from Declan Byrne and Ryan Burns soon had the gap whittled back to three.
The duo then combined to level matters with a goal that would have been equally at home in the nearby Brandywell.
A mistake by Odhran Lynch allowed Burns to square along the deck to Byrne, who was left with a simple tap-in from the edge of the square.
Louth were playing well enough to push on and take the lead at that stage, but Shane McGuigan ensured Derry adjourned with a narrow cushion, his brace sandwiching a fine effort by Bevan Duffy to make it 1-6 to 1-5 to the hosts at the turn.
But Louth kept the bit between their teeth throughout the half-time break and hit the front for the first time with a brace of Ryan Burns frees.
From almost the first whistle of the second period the men in red were on top in virtually every sector, but just couldn’t find a way through Derry’s blanket defence.
In fact it was a further 30 minutes before Louth scored again and that too was from a Burns free.
Derry patiently soaked up the pressure and when the game grew a little more stretched in the final quarter they were able to slowly pick Louth off.
They edged back in front through McGuigan and Shea Downey and when the big Salughtneil full forward put two between the sides with five minutes remaining, Louth were in real trouble.
And soon after their fate was sealed as Niall Loughlin finished a goal very similar to their firsthalf strike, slapping to the net from close range.
Only then did Louth manage a couple of frees through the dead-eyed Burns, but Derry were home and hosed by that stage.
Referee Barry Judge did nothing to endear himself to either camp throughout the game and he needlessly ensured it all ended on a sour note, dishing out black and red cards in the final few minutes. Few if any of them were even merited.
Fortunately for Louth Ger McSorley and James Craven will still be available next Sunday as both departed on two yellows and Kierans should also welcome back the suspended Sam Mulroy.
Victory over Leitrim may not save the Reds from relegation, but it would certainly be a welcome boost to a team badly in need of a shot in the arm at the moment.
DERRY: Odhran Lynch; Conor McCluskey, Brendan Rogers, Carlus McWilliams; Shea Downey 0-1, Padraig Downey, Niall Keenan; Chrissy McKeigue, Ciaran McFaul; Emmett Brady, Padraig Cassidy, Danny Tallon; Benny Heron 0-2, Shane McGuigan 1-7 (3f), Niall Toner. Subs: Niall Loughlin 1-0 for E Bradley (44), Patrick Kearney for D Tallon (53), Declan Cassidy for P Cassidy (61), Conor McAtamney for McFaul (70+3).
LOUTH: Craig Lynch, Fergal Donohoe, Dermot Campbell, James Craven; Eoghan Callaghan, Bevan Duffy 0-1, John Clutterbuck; Conor Early, Tommy Durnin; Gerry Garland, Ciaran Downey, Conall McKeever; Ryan Burn 0-6 (5f), Declan Byrne 1-2f, Conor Grimes. Subs: Oisin Murray for Garland (ht), E Duffy for C Downey (53), Dan Corcoran for Donohoe (56), Ger McSorley for Grimes (60), Ronan Holcroft for C Early (67).
REFEREE; Barry Judge (Sligo).