Promoted Louth beaten by neighbours Meath

March 1988

AFTER securing promotion to Division 2, Louth come up short against All-Ireland champions Meath in the National League quarter-finals in Croke Park.

It finishes 1-9 to 0-8 in favour of the Royal County.

Louth have the advantage of the wind first, and the game develops into a personal scoring duel between Kevin Dawe and Brian Stafford.

They match each other until the 22nd minute – four points each, three from placed balls, the other from play.

After points from Richie Culhane and Jimmy McDonnell, the Reds go in leading 0-6 to 0-4.

Six minutes into the second half, Meath pounce for a soft goal.

Dessie Callaghan breaks up an attack, but instead of clearing, passes the ball into the centre, where two Meath players are waiting.

Quick as a flash, Bernard Flynn finds the net, to leave it 1-5 to 0-6.

A great Cathal O’Hanlon point gives Louth some hope, as Meath turn up the pressure.

After points are swapped, Kevin Dawe squanders a chance to equalise from a free.

Meath punish that error, with three points in a two-minute spell to seal victory, two of them from Flynn.

Meath: Mickey McQuillan; Bob O’Malley, Mick Lyons, Terry Ferguson; Kevin Foley, Liam Harnan, Martin O’Connell; Gerry McEntee, Liam Hayes; David Beggy, PJ Gillic (0-1), Brendan Reilly; Colm O’Rourke (0-1), Brian Stafford (05), Bernard Flynn (1-2). Subs., Frank Foley for Harnan, Mattie McCabe for Beggy.

Louth: Niall O’Donnell; Pat Matthews, David Mulligan, Stephen Melia; Dessie Callaghan, Martin McCann, Peter Fitzpatrick; Seamus O’Hanlon, Gerry Curran; Eugene Judge, Paul Renaghan, Davy McDonnell (0-1); Jimmy McDonnell (0-1), Richie Culhane (0-1), Kevin Dawe (0-4). Subs., Cathal O’Hanlon (0-1) for Judge.

Referee, Seamus Aldridge (Kildare).