Huge credit to Louth for back-to-back vistories
FOR the second week in a row Wayne Kieran’s Louth team defied the odds (and many match predictions) and somehow departed Bord na Mona O Connor Park with both points in the bag.
The smash and grab raid which took place deep into the fifth and final minute of injury time saw Offaly corner back Declan Hogan kick the ball into his own net while trying to clear his lines.
Aided by a gale force wind the home side led by 2-5 to 1-3 at the break.
It was back to the wall stuff for John Maughan’s men in the second half but they looked to have done enough to just about hold off the visitors before Hogan’s calamitous late error.
All the more remarkable was the result was achieved with just 14 men after Plunketts midfielder Conor Early saw red for the second time in three games.
In addition to Early’s straight red, James Craven and Declan Byrne also spent 10 minutes each in the sin bin.
After enduring such a long painful losing streak of National League defests, Louth supporters are almost in shock following these two back-to-back victories.
When leaving the Gaelic Grounds just a fortnight ago, I feared we were in for another torrid season such was our performance against what I deemed an average Longford outfit.
But what the hell to I know?! Following their five point victory in Carlow, that same ‘average’ Longford team sit proudly at the top of Division 3 with five points from a possible six.
They’re followed closely by three teams on four points; Down, Laois and ourselves. Bottom of the table and pointless Sligo make the visit to Drogheda next weekend where we will be favourites to make it three wins on the trot.
Huge credit must go to Kierans and the players for turning it around after that poor opening performance in Round 1. IF you didn’t get a chance to watch Kerry and Dublin on the TV on Saturday night then it’s well worth tuning in during the week to capture some of the highlights. Rob Kearney came back with a bang.
This Division 1 encounter under lights in Tralee was a fantastic advertisement for the way the game can be played within the current rules structure. In front of a capacity 12,000 crowd, a youthful Kingdom XV tore into the Dubs right from the off playing a wonderful counterattacking gameplan that had the Dublin rearguard in all sorts of bother.
Goals from Con O Callaghan and Paul Mannion kept the All Ireland champions in touch but Kerry kept piling on the pressure and led by four points as the contest entered the closing stages.
Dublin almost stole a share of the spoils with a terrific finish to the game but Peter Crowley’s late fisted score sealed a deserved victory.
Many Young Irelands fans I’m sure watched out for the result of Saturday’s All Ireland Junior Club Final where their semi-final conquerors Beaufort from Kerry took on Sligo side Easkey. And it was a real case of what might have been as the Kerry champions romped home on a scoreline of 3-17 to 0-05 at Croke Park. COOLEY’S Robert Kearney returned to the Irish Rugby line-up in Murray- field at the weekend with a masterful performance in his customary full back position. He carried the ball and drove at the heart of the Scottish rearguard at will, breaking tackle after tackle in one of his finest displays in a green jersey.
Those who questioned his recent form were left eating their words as the Carlingford native produced his very best and was a major contributor to Ireland’s 22-13 victory.
Following last week’s defeat to England it was important to get the show back on the road with a positive result but just how costly at the end of the campaign will it prove not getting that fourth try and the bonus point?
Elsewhere Wales overcame a stubborn Italian side in Rome by 26-15 and England steamrolled a shambolic France 44-8 at Twickenham. Johnny May ran in a hatrick of tries as Eddie Jones men continued their excellent start to the season.
The Six Nations takes a break next weekend with Ireland visiting the Eternal City on Sunday the 24th to take on the Italians at the Stadio Olimpico.