Mulroy a doubt as Louth host Sligo
ALLIANZ LEAGUE
A BANG-IN-FORM Sam Murloy is Louth’s main injury concern as the Reds bid to banish the threat of relegation when they host basement side Sligo in Drogheda on Sunday (2.30).
With two wins on the board from their first three outings, one more victory should secure Division 3 status and leave Wayne Kierans’ side in the unexpected position of targeting promotion.
The Reds were widely tipped for a second successive relegation before the campaign kicked off and an opening round defeat to Longford did nothing to sway the doubters.
However, morale-boosting wins over Laois and Offaly have propelled the Wee County into joint second spot, one adrift of leaders Longford.
With Sligo still pointless after three games, Louth could put six points between the sides with a win on Sunday and if Carlow also defeated Offaly, they would be five clear of the relegation zone with three games to play.
But while he will welcome the new-found confidence his players have been displaying in recent weeks, Kierans will be keen to avoid any complacency against the Yeats county.
After two superb displays against Loais and Offaly, Mulroy sustained a foot injury in DkIT’s Trench Cup final defeat to Letterkenny IT on Saturday.
The local college booked their place in the decider with a battling semi-final win over Waterford IT on Friday, but a Michael Murphy inspired Letterkenny denied Dundalk a third title in four seasons.
With Ryan Burns also on the mend from an ankle injury sustained against Laois and William Woods, Ciaran Byrne and Conor Grimes on the long-term list, Kierans will be hoping Mulroy makes a speedy recovery.
Woods may be in line for a return against Sligo, but Conor Early is definitely out of the clash through suspension. Longford Laois Louth Down Carlow Westmeath Offaly Sligo 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 3 7 9 5 -3 2 0 -3 -17 5 4 4 4 3 3 1 0