SHIELD SUCCESS FOR YOUNG
Louth Wicklow 0-21 3-8
LOUTH shaded a thrilling contest with Wicklow in Millbrook on Saturday to retain the Gerry Reilly Shield, collecting the county’s second piece of silverware since the tournament was established 28 years ago.
Although Louth went into the game short of several key players due to holidays and with a number of late fitness tests required before finalising selection, the management team are blessed to have a squad of 37 players all fighting for starting places.
While Cooley goalkeeper Cian Rogan was selected to start, he had to pull out at the final moment to be replaced by Pat’s man Martin McEneaney, who made several key saves over the hour.
Louth played in to a stiff wind in the first half and were struggling to contain the Wicklow full forward line early on, falling 1-1 behind inside four minutes, the goal coming from a penalty after a turnover of Louth possession.
Gabriel Bell pointed Louth’s first score on seven minutes after Ryan Walsh fielded a Wicklow kickout.
McEneaney pulled off a wonder save in the 11th minute to keep Wicklow at bay and the teams then exchanged points, with Jonathan Commins on target from a free for Louth after a foul on Bell.
Louth were then in for a goal chance but the Wicklow keeper got down well to prevent a shot from Patrick Johnston finding the corner of the net in the 18th minute.
Wicklow then pointed a free before Louth scored three unanswered points from Commins, two frees and the third from play after a fine pass from Johnston, to leave it 0-5 to 1-4 in the 22nd minute.
A Wicklow point in the 28th minute was cancelled out by another Commins free after a foul on Ryan Walsh to leave it Louth 0-6 Wicklow 1-5 at the break.
With a strong wind advantage to come and a Gabriel Bell point inside two minutes reducing the deficit to a single point, neutral observers may have been worried for Wicklow at the start of needed and they hit a purple patch, the second half, but they weren’t inspired in no small measure by going down lightly and their full Cathal Fleming in the half-forward forward finished to the net after a line and substitute Sean Healy long untracked run from their left who added real movement and a half back. touch of class when introduced as
Louth were soon five points substitute. adrift following a Wicklow free and Louth hit 10 unanswered points it could have been game over in between the 10th to the 24th minute the ninth minute when McEneaney with three scores from Fleming, and and his defenders did well to prevent two each from Walsh, Commins and what looked a certain goal for Healy, with the tenth coming from the That Garden missed County. chance provided big as Joe team Mee captainwho set froma fineexample midfield the wake-up call the Wee County throughout.
That left the scoreline 0-17 to 2-7, with just over five minutes to go.
However, Wicklow enjoyed a late spell of dominance and a goal in the 27th minute and a pointed free in the 29th minute had the teams level, 0-17 to 3-8.
With the game in the balance the Wee County now re-exerted their supremacy as Commins landed a point and Mee added another after great play by James Harper. Fleming landed another monster point before Walsh converted a free after a foul on substitute Eoghan Ryan.
Jubilant scenes greeted the referee’s final whistle. Cathal Fleming was presented with the Man of the Match award before captain Joe Mee held aloft the Shield trophy.
The Louth squad will meet this coming Thursday for their final session to end this phase of their season before they are released back to their clubs for a busy schedule of U16 and Minor league and championship fixtures.
They will re-con-