Meagher glory ‘vindication’ for Louth and McCormack
LOUTH managed a revenge mission of sorts on Saturday in capturing the Lory Meagher Cup for the second time.
In the opening game of the competition, Louth were in full control until the Ernesiders pulled off a smash-and-grab victory at the death.
With that in mind, Louth manager Paul McCormack had the adequate motivation required for the big night in Croke Park.
“The first day out against Fermanagh we were five up and just didn’t close it out,” McCormack explained.
“I’m sure there were some doubts in the players’ mind, ‘Were we ever going to finish the job off?’ But we got the heads down after that Fermanagh defeat and tore into Cavan and we got a bounce out of that and I knew there was a big performance coming.”
That big performance was a slow burner with Fermanagh ahead going into the first-half water break.
Joe Baldwin’s side were more than edging the opening exchanges, leading 1-3 to 0-3, and they should have been more ahead. Captain John Duffy got the final’s opening goal with a well-taken penalty.
With McCormack able to make changes and settle his troops, Louth stormed out of the first-half water break and never looked back.
Andrew Mackin found the net for his first goal and Fermanagh didn’t respond until the second half after trailing 1-6 to 1-3 at half-time.
Fermanagh dual star Ciarán Corrigan found the net directly from the throw-in and Conor McShea gave the Ulster side a shortlived lead in the contest.
Once Mackin got his second, however, Louth’s top scorer Darren Geoghegan found his flow and eased the Wee County over the line by 11 points at the finish.
After a difficult first year, McCormack, in his second season, said he felt vindicated when captain
Liam Molloy raised the cup.
“I always believed the lads can compete at that level and hopefully this is the springboard that they need. Coming together this evening and getting the performance, yes, it does justify what we’re about.” SCORERS - Louth: D Geoghegan 0-9 (9f); A Mackin 2-1; D Kettle, P Mathews 0-2 each; C Deane, N Keenan, R Walsh, P Fallon, F Joyce 0-1 each. Fermanagh: J Duffy 1-3 (1-0pen, 3f); C Corrigan 1-1; C Duffy, S Corrigan (f), T Keenan, C Shea 0-1 each LOUTH – D Connolly; M Fee, R Byrne, L Molloy; C Deane, J McDonnell, A McCrave; N Keenan, J Costelloe; D Geoghegan, F Joyce, S Crosbie; P Mathews, A Mackin, D Kettle. Subs: D O’Hanrahan for Costelloe (39), R Walsh for Kettle (43), P Fallon for Joyce (58), G Kerrigan for P Mathews (54), S Callan for Keenan (68). FERMANAGH – M Curry; C Duffy, A Breslin, A Flanagan; R Porteous, D Teague, F McBrien; C McShea, D Bannon; C Duffy, M Slevin, J Duffy; T Keenan, S Corrigan, C Corrigan. Subs: B McPhillips for S Corrigan (24) JP McGarry for Bannon (h-t), L McCusker for Slevin (45), S Curran for Flanagan (54), A McShea for T Keenan (69). REF – G McGrath (Wexford)