Late Gaffney free is a bitter pill for hurlers
ARMAGH LOUTH
LOUTH hurlers once again fell victim to a score in the fifth minute of injury time to deny them vital league points. This time they succumbed to a Dean Gaffney free to snatch the win for neighbours Armagh in the Athletic Grounds on Sunday.
The free leading to the dramatic winner was a conscientious one, a disputed sideline which the Louth contingent felt was theirs, was overturned by referee Thomas Gleeson and then he decided to award Armagh the chance to win the game. Which Gaffney in his ninth placed ball of the day duly did.
The win for the Orchard men sees them top of the 3A table outright while Louth are still rooted at the bottom with fellow neighbours Monaghan who they will face this Sunday in Inniskeen.
Another excellent performance will help soften the blow for Louth manager Paul McCormack, especially against his native County. However, the encouraging displays have yet to yield points but you sense the dam will soon break in Louth’s favour.
Against Armagh, the visitors rallied back after a slow start to the game going four down before Gavin Kerrigan got Louth up and running after 17 minutes of action played. Robert Grace continued his fine form with a brace to keep Louth in contention midway through the half.
The hosts then reeled off the last six scores of the first half through Gaffney frees, his brother Ryan and Nathan Curry to go in seven ahead, 0-12 to 0-5, at the interval.
Louth rallied after the break and set about their business early with four Ryan Walsh efforts in a row. Three from played balls two frees and a 65, and his last point from play highlighting the Termonfechin youngsters incremental improvement with every passing week.
Feildhelm Joyce was the quickest to the react to the sliotar hitting the upright, to pounce for goal and with 17 minutes gone in the second half Louth were level 1-11 to 0-14. Joyce would give Louth the lead shortly after, but Armagh defyingly showed why they are table toppers to get back into proceedings.
Gaffney cancelled out all Louth’s endeavour with a penalty after Paddy McBride was dragged down. Gaffney landed two more frees although Louth took the lead again through Walsh and Darren Geoghegan.
Louth looked to have done enough to get a share of the spoils when Geoghegan levelled with a 65’ in injury time but Gaffney held his nerve to have the final say with the 75th minute winner.
LOUTH: Ger Smyth; Conor Mathews, Liam Molloy, Jack Murray; Mathew Fee, Jamie McDonnell 0-1, Donal Ryan; Darren O’Hanrahan, Shane Callan; Robert Grace 0-2 David Kettle, Feidhelm Joyce 1-3, Gavin Kerrigan 0-1, Andrew Mackin 0-1, Ryan Walsh 0-6 (3f 165’). Subs: Niall Keenan for Grace (HT), Pádraig Fallon for O’Hanrahan (45), Darren Geoghegan 0-4 (1f, 265’) for Kerrigan (47), Stephen Kettle for Mathews (55), Seaghan Conneely for Mackin (59)
ARMAGH: Fintan Woods, Paddy Quinn, Tiarnan Nevin, Ciaran Clifford; Oisin Keenan, Artie McGuinness, Connor Devlin; Paddy McBride 0-1, Odhrán Curry 0-1; Dean Gaffney 1-9 (1-0pen, 9f), Eoin McGuinness, Ryan Gaffney 0-2; David Grant, Nathan Curry 0-4(1f), Danny Magee 0-2. Subs: Marty Moan for David Grant (h-t), Liam McElroy for E McGuinness (62), Paddy Kelly for C Devlin (62).
REFEREE: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin).