Another early exit for Louth’s young guns
EIRGRID LEINSTER U20 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
LOUTH bowed out of the Leinster U20 championship without a win, for the third consecutive year.
The worrying trend since the competition dropped its age back a year, is perhaps revealing that Louth are becoming the province’s underage also rans, as Offaly advance to play Kildare in the quarter final next weekend.
Coming into the game, furore over the availability of two senior players Liam Jackson and Dan Corcoran didn’t help matters but the competition’s meant timing it was always going to be the case that the U20 side would not get priority on the duo.
The postponement of the senior clash against Offaly less than 24 hours later compounded the misery for all concerned, but the real lament will come from the home side’s first half display. Louth simply didn’t manage the significant wind factor in defence or attack.
Offaly proved more adept at mastering the conditions than Aidan Shevlin’s side, be it their movement, basic skills or game management. The Faithful county stayed in the game against the wind and made the gale count when it came to picking off scores.
Seán Courtney would be Offaly’s hero over the hour with two crucial goals in either half. Courtney was in fact a late addition to the team for full forward Jack Bryant, who was forced out through an injury picked up playing with his school Coláiste Choilm during the week. Ardee St. Mary’s youngster Carl Gillespie played inside with his club mate Luke Matthews in a two man full forward line. Both players are eligible for a two further years at this level. Despite an over eagerness from the hosts, they each got on the scoresheet to settle Louth into a 3-0 lead.
However, that margin would crucially be wiped out by Courtney’s first goal on 15 minutes. With a rare attack Mikey Cunningham fielded a terrific high ball to feed Courtney to supply an excellent finish. Gillespie and Mathews added to their tally to make it 0-6 to 1-1 at half time but you could sense even then, that the youngsters in red didn’t do enough.
Gillespie pointed the opening score of the second half but again, Courtney showed his predatory instincts to out jump Donal McKenny and flick to the net for the all important goal. With only four minutes played, Offaly had gained parity.
Aaron Kellaghan, a son of former Offaly player Pascal opened his account soon after, as the visitors took the lead for the first time and one they would manage expertly until the finish.
The impressive duo of Cathal Flynn and Cunningham would be rewarded with points either side of another Gillespie effort. Louth emptied the bench and one of these players Naomh Mairtin’s Seán Healy tried to force the matter somewhat when he came in.
Louth owned the ball for long periods, but couldn’t work the ball close enough to score.
All they could muster was a Ciarán Keenan free to get the deficit down to one. Keenan, who, it goes without saying, has a big future be it in red or Ardee blue, really fought when leading the line for his side all afternoon.
Kellaghan would pick off Louth on the counter attack with a brace to crushingly close out the game with the kind of ruthless efficiency Louth could only dream of.
LOUTH: Martin McEnaney; Donal McKenny, Peter Lynch, Bobby Butterly; Tom Jackson, Ciaran Murphy, Alan Connor; Conor Quigley, Evan Whelan; Dáire Nally, Ciarán Keenan 0-1 (1f), Conall McCaul; Luke Matthews 0-2, Glen Stewart, Carl Gillespie 0-6 (4f, 1m). Subs: Seán Healy for Quigley (h-t), Ben Collier for Whelan (39), Craig Lennon for Gillespie (56), Craig Shevlin for Lynch (58) Darragh Malone for McCaul (61), Conor Garland for Stewart (64).
OFFALY: Sean O’Toole; Fionn Dempsey, Adam Bolger, Clive Keena; Lee Pearson, Aidan Bracken, Aaron Brazil; Bill Carroll, Cathal Donoghue; Cathal Flynn 0-1, Cormac Delaney 0-1, Kevin McDermott; Mikey Cunningham 0-1, Aaron Kellaghan 0-3 (1f), Seán Courtney 2-0. Subs: Seán Flynn for Delaney (49).
REFEREE: Barry Tiernan (Dublin)
Pictures: Ken Finegan/Newspics