Louth’s hopes in balance
Longford Louth 0-19 0-12
LOUTH’S Nicky Rackard Cup hopes suffered another big blow in Longford on Saturday - and this one could be fatal.
After reaching the Allianz League Division 3A final the Reds embarked on their championship campaign full of hope and expectation, but the controversy surrounding the eligibility of Niall and Gerry Arthur has thrown their season into disarray.
The Clare brothers were again missing-in-action as Philip O’Brien’s charges fell to a seven-point defeat in the midlands, and it’s still not clear whether they will be available to face Mongahan on Saturday week.
After this defeat Louth will have to beat the Farney men by 14 points or more and hope that competition favourites Warwickshire keep their 100 per cent run intact by beating Longford.
Even with Niall and Gerry Arthur back in the mix that would be a big ask for the Reds, who now also have the added complication of relegation to contend with.
Defeat to Monaghan on Saturday week would send Louth into relegation play-off against the bottom team in Group 2, Tyrone or Leitrim.
They will rue some poor finishing in Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, with several goal chances going a begging.
A poor start also cost them dearly as Joe O’Brien inspired the home side to a 0-7 to 0-1 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Louth rallied to close the gap to four, but another burst of scoring from the home side left them nine ahead at the interval, 0-13 to 0-4.
Louth had wind advantage to look forward to after the break, but they fell 10 points ahead moments before being reduced to 14 men when David Kettle received his marching orders on foot of a second yellow card.
His colleagues made a good first of reeling in their hosts in the second period, but the extra man and 10-point deficit proved too big a mountain to climb for O’Brien’s troops.
They now face Monaghan on Saturday week at home needing a near miracle to advance to the semi-finals, whie in the meantime they should discover once and for all if the Arthur brothers have a future with the Wee County.
LONGFORD: Eanna Daly; Aidan Sheridan, Gerard Moore, Johnny Casey; Bart Hanley, Dáire Duggan, Seamus Hannon; Cian Kavanagh 0-1, Daniel Connell 0-1; Patrick Walsh 0-5, Paul Barden, Jody Leonard; Karl Murray 0-2, Cathal Mullane 0-1, Joe O’Brien 0-9 (5f). Subs: PJ Masterson for Leonard (54), Paul Hession for Moore (55), Shane O’Brien for Kavanagh (68)
LOUTH: Stephen Hackett; Mark Wallace, Mike Lyons, Stephen Kettle; Andrew McCrave 0-2, Ronan Byrne, Brian Minogue; Donal Ryan 0-1, Mark Molloy 0-2; Paddy Lynch 0-4 (3f, 1‘65’), Shane Callan, Seaghan Conneely 0-2; Gerard Smyth 0-1, David Kettle, John Crosbie. Subs: Feidhelm Joyce for Minogue (16), Diarmuid Murphy for Crosbie (32), Darren O’Hanrahan for Smyth (ht), Liam Molloy for O’Hanrahan (55)
REFEREE: Thomas Gleeson (Dublin)