Juniors book Croker date with Royals
Louth 2-11 Wicklow 0-10
LOUTH and Meath will clash for provincial honours for the first time since 2010 after the northeast neighbours negotiated Leinster Junior semi-final clashes against Wicklow and Wexford last Wednesday night.
And in a big boost for both sets of players and supporters, the decider will be played at Croke Park - the scene of that fateful clash seven years ago.
With Louth only permitted to field players from intermediate and junior clubs this season, the final venue is a huge bonus for Ollie McDonnell and his players and with the game acting as a curtain-raiser to Dublin’s Leinster semi-final with Westmeath or Offaly, there should be a big crowd at HQ, even it’s just for the closing stages of the derby showdown.
After snatching a dramatic victory in Longford with a last-gasp Dan O’Connell goal, the Reds welcomed Wicklow to Drogheda last Wednesday night for the lastfour clash.
With only five teams taking part in the competition, the Garden County received a bye in the quarter-finals, so Louth did have the advantage of playing a game together prior to the semi-final joust.
That certainly seemed to stand to the home side in the opening stages as the in-form William Woods inspired them to a dream start.
The Finbarr’s sharpshooter helped himself to 2-4 over the hour and he was off the mark inside two minutes with his first goal.
It was a scrappy one from Longford’s point of view as the corner forward nudged a loose ball past Peter Dignam and flicked to an empty net.
Unfortunately, the strike was a bit of a false dawn and a Woods free was the only other score registered in the opening quarter.
Eddie Doyle eventually got Wicklow off the mark, but Louth rediscovered their scoring touch and with Woods and Conall O’Hanlon wreaking havoc in the full forward line they pushed on to lead by 1-6 to 0-2 at the interval.
The pacey Dean Maguire ensured Louth picked up where they left off after the break and Woods ensured it was all over bar the shouting with his second goal after just five minutes, making it 2-8 to 0-3.
Again the Wicklow defending left a bit to be desired, but when the ball fell to Woods on the deck, the Ardee Celtic striker composed himself before firing low past the ‘keeper.
A combination of Louth idling a bit in front and Wicklow finally finding some traction, saw the visitors kick four points without reply to close the gap to seven points by the end of the third quarter.
But Louth didn’t let them get any closer as Colm Giggins, Ciaran Sheridan and Conal O’Hanlon put double digits between the sides once again, 2-11 to 0-7.
Wicklow managed another purple patch, kicking the last three points of the match, but the issue was well decided by that stage as word filtered through from Pairc Tailteann had turned on the style in the second-half to dispatch Wexford.
The final will take place at 2pm on Sunday week, with Dublin taking on Westmeath or Offaly at 4pm.
LOUTH: Robert Sansom (St Josephs), Barry Reynolds (Oliver Plunketts), Kieran Lenehan (Naomh Fionnbarra), Cillian Kirk (St Brides), Niall Sharkey (Glyde Rangers), David Quigley (Roche Emmets), Michael McDonald (Clan Na Gael), Robert Brodigan (Oliver Plunketts), Daniel O’Connell (Roche Emmets), Ciaran Sheridan (Glyde Rangers) 0-1, Dean Maguire (Dundalk Young Irelands) 0-1, Colm Giggins (Stabannon Parnells) 0-1, Cian Callan (St Kevins), Conal O’Hanlon (St Josephs) 0-4, William Woods (Naomh Fionnbarra) 2-4 (2f). Subs: Mark Hoey (St Brides) for K Lenehan, Peter Nixon (Dundalk Young Irelands) for C Giggins, Aaron O’Brien (Mattock Rangers) for D Maguire, Barry O’Hare (Roche Emmets) for W Woods, Andrew Mooney (Glen Emmets) for M McDonald, Conor Early (Oliver Plunketts) for C Callan.
WICKLOW: Peter Dignam, Padraig Higgins, Chris O’Brien, John Hanley, Martin Cullen 0-2, Eoin Murtagh, Chris Healy (Rathnew), Theo Smith, Paul Murtagh, Eddie Doyle 0-5 (4f), Padraig Byrne, Cathal Fitzgearld, Stephen Duffy, Mark Doyle 0-2f, Josh O’Callaghan. Subs: Sean McGraynor 0-1 for S Duffy (BC), Alan Daly for J O’Callaghan, Paul O’Brien for P Murtagh), Liam Kinsella for C Healy, Simon Boucher for C Fitzgearld.
REFEREE: Fergal Smyth (Offaly).