NFL Division Two final replay/Louth 1-12 Donegal 1-9: There was a touch of championship fever around Cavan town yesterday as Louth deservedly claimed the Division Two league title after bossing the day.
Once again, they travelled from the east in great numbers - an estimated 11,000 paid in yesterday - to see Eamonn McEneaney's team conclude what was a highly impressive league programme with a deserved win over a disappointing Donegal.
Louth showed enough muscle, skill and confidence in this stubborn victory to suggest that they will worry their lofty neighbours from Meath in a fortnight's time.
"We are thrilled to win today," smiled McEneaney amid euphoric scenes in the narrow, crowded corridor underneath the stand in Breffni Park. "The important thing today was the performance and I think we proved today we can play football. We didn't give the ball away as much and tackled much better and our support play was pretty good. We still have a lot to do, we know it is only Division Two of the national league but it is a start."
It was not the most beautiful of performances but a damp and slippery afternoon across mid-Ulster put paid to that and the game was dominated by a censorious afternoon of refereeing by Marty Duffy, who flashed eight yellow cards at the victors and four at the Donegal men.
With that kind of administration, a red seemed inevitable and the smoking gun belonged to Donegal's Paddy Campbell, sent off for striking on 51 minutes.
Donegal trailed by three points at that stage but, over an aimless and untidy closing period, both teams could manage just another point each and Louth rightly celebrated the end of a very encouraging season.
"Most of the newspapers said we blew it and that was our chance gone," said McEneaney. "But the Louth supporters still have faith in us and turned up in their thousands and we were delighted to give them something to cheer about."
McEneaney has managed to get Louth playing simple and direct football and their straightforward ploy of getting the ball into the front three as often and quickly as possible worked. In the first half, he dropped JP Rooney in front of Aaron Hoey and Darren Clarke as a kind of a lone half forward.
Donegal were in trouble early on with the athleticism of midfielder Martin Farrelly forcing an early substitution. And as has been their trademark, Louth started brightly, flashing three quick points before Donegal had even woken up.
The pendulum swung after 20 minutes when Louth's burly full back Colin Goss dragged down James Gallagher and Michael Doherty executed the penalty with some flair. That seemed to settle the team briefly and they went into a 1-5 to 0-6 lead after a convincing 10 minutes of play illuminated by a majestic point from Christy Toye.
In the tradition of this brief series, Louth struck back with a killer goal, Mark Brennan ghosting through the Donegal defence and dropping a shot short which Mark Stanfield read cleverly and fisted into the goal.
The second half was all Louth and they banged over three swift points, with Clarke racing on to a great ball from Paddy Keenan before firing home first time.
Up 1-9 to 1-5, Louth lacked the swagger to finish it and instead had to steady themselves as Donegal reeled them back in courtesy of Doherty's boot. The Four Masters man was the top scorer in Division Two this year with 3-45 and his marksmanship was dearly needed here, with Adrian Sweeney unable to ignite the other forwards around him.
It was a game Donegal never looked likely to win and a series of errors on a difficult day, along with a slightly panicked disposition in the last 10 minutes, finished them. Toye flashed the usual signs of greatness but did not dominate.
The recalled Damien Diver tried, with his customary honesty, but ran the ball too much. It was a match which seemed tailor made for the sniping, tricky style of Brian Roper but the flame-haired veteran stayed seated.
What was most disconcerting was that Donegal lacked leadership and they face into the championship with plenty to work upon.
Louth showed signs of vulnerability under the high, direct ball, with Sweeney almost sneaking in for a goal at the death and, but for two missed frees from Doherty late on, they might have been robbed here. Stanfield showed loads of nerve to land the 62nd-minute free that gave Louth a clear-goal lead and the team was understandably happy to hang on til the death from that point.
They did live slightly dangerously but can still prepare for what is now an intriguing championship game against Meath in high spirits.
LOUTH: S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, J Carr; J O'Brien (0-1), P McGinnity, J Neary; M Farrelly (0-1), P Keenan (0-1); C Grimes (0-1, free), M Brennan, M Stansfield (1-2, 0-1 free); JP Rooney, A Hoey (0-2), D Clarke (0-4, one free). Sub: R Carroll for C Grimes (67 mins).
DONEGAL: P Durcan; R Sweeney, P Campbell, K Lacey; D Diver, B Monaghan (0-1), B Dunnion (0-1); B Boyle, N Gallagher; C Toye (0-1), C Bonner, R Kavanagh; A Sweeney (0-2, one free), J Gallagher, M Doherty (1-4, 1-0 penalty, 0-1 50, 0-1 free). Subs: S McDermott for B Boyle (23 mins), M Hegarty for J Gallagher (40 mins), F McGlynn for C Bonner (55 mins).
Referee: M Duffy (Sligo).
