NFL DIVISION TWO Louth 2-14 Meath 1-8:LOUTH'S HANGOVER from the 2010 Leinster football final was considerably eased when a sparkling performance at Páirc Tailteann enabled them to survive in the second tier, while Meath suffered the ignominy of relegation to Division Three of the league.
Meath, who were without injured duo Kevin Reilly and Paddy Gilsenan, were virtually played off the pitch in the first half when allowing the visitors build up a 1-12 to 0-3 interval advantage.
An amazing comeback looked a possibility when the deficit was reduced to eight points six minutes after the restart. But then Derek Maguire’s second goal got Louth back on the right road and to add to Meath’s dismal day, they finished with 13 men, midfielders Brian Meade and Mark Ward picking up second yellow cards in the last quarter.
“The most important thing was to stay in Division Two, this was by far our best display of the league. We played fantastic football, we were great in the middle of the field and our forwards were first to the ball,” said a delighted Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick.
Louth pair Paddy Keenan and Ronan Carroll dominated the midfield exchanges and Carroll scored three points too in a man-of-the- match performance.
“After losing the 2010 Leinster final, people were saying that Louth couldn’t beat Meath and there’s no better place to beat them than in their own back yard,” added Fitzpatrick.
Darren Clarke was Louth’s main playmaker in attack and after 25 minutes a knock-down by him following a long delivery from Declan Byrne set up Maguire’s first goal after 25 minutes.
Stephen Bray reduced the arrears for Meath after the restart and although substitute Tom Walsh added a goal, that was the extent of the revival. Nine minutes into the second period Maguire took another assist from Clarke and the corner-forward’s second goal effectively wrapped up the survival package.
LOUTH: N Gallagher; P Rath, D Finnegan, G Hoey; D Byrne (0-1), J Carr, R Finnegan; P Keenan (0-1), R Carroll (0-3) ; D Crilly, M Brennan, A Reid (0-1); D Maguire (2-2), J McEneaney, D Clarke (0-6, 0-3 frees, 0-2 45s). Subs: A McDonnell for Brennan (57 mins), L Shevlin for Hoey (63 mins), B White for Carroll (70 mins).
MEATH: D Gallagher; M Burke (0-1), C King, C O'Connor; S McAnarney, B Menton (0-1), D Tobin; B Meade, M Ward; S Kenny, G Reilly (0-1), J Queeney; C Ward (0-3, 0-2 frees), S Bray (0-2), B Farrell. Subs: T Walsh (1-0) for Farrell, C Lenehan for O'Connor (28 mins), A Forde for Queeney (57 mins).
Referee: M Collins(Cork).
