Liam Leech the master as Louth beat Rossies

FOR the most part, Louth/ Roscommon National League matches have been close affairs, and Sunday’s meeting, in very cold weather at Pairc Mhuire, Ardee, confirmed to the general pattern, with the “Wee” County (they went under by a point at Kiltoom last year), winning by a goal margin (0-10, 1-4), to keep alive their chances in Division III of the competition.

Better Louth - Roscommon contests there have been, but the weekend tie, though devoid of excitement for much of the early play, provided a hectic enough finish, with the visitors, who had trailed by a seven points’ margin at the interval, throwing everything they had into the attack in the closing stages.

Louth, twice in this second half, had their lead cut to two points, but just before the long whistle Newtown Blues’ footballer, Liam Leech, rounded off a fine forward movement by booting the leather, first time, over.the lath, to leave the result:— Louth, 0-10, Roscommon, 1-4.

One of the top scorers in intercounty football, Leech, who operated in turn at left corner and left wing on Sunday, landed half a dozen of his team’s total, five of them from well taken frees in the opening half.

That the game was finally won by Louth was a tribute to the tenacity of players such as McKenna, Toal, Lynch, Sherlock, Leech and Mohan.

Louth had a splendid ‘ keeper in Andy Kieran. He had a number of testing shots to deal with, none stiffer than in the first quarter when he saved a rasper from Kevin Carney. When the forty yards’ man regained possession, he let go again, and this time the Mhuire custodian parried the shot away also.

Hugh Byrne worked hard in midfield.

Louth — L. Leech (0-6, five frees), H. Byrne (0-2, 1 free). J. Clifford and M. McKeown (0-1 each).