Spirited Louth fall short against Monaghan in All-Ireland SFC opener

Louth fell to a well-drilled Monaghan side in the opening round of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship at a wet Newbridge this evening.

Despite hitting the net four times, the Wee County simply couldn’t match Monaghan’s relentless scoring over the seventy minutes. Monaghan hit the ground running, with Stephen O’Hanlon rattling the net inside two minutes.

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Louth responded brilliantly, and when captain Sam Mulroy finished from close range minutes later, they were back on level terms before Tommy Durnin added a goal of his own soon after.

But while Louth found goals, Monaghan kept the scoreboard ticking over with points from all angles.

Dessie Ward, Stephen Mooney and Mícheál Bannigan led the charge, and goalkeeper Rory Beggan chipped in with two monster two-pointers from placed balls.

The sides went in at the break with Monaghan three points ahead, 1-11 to 2-5.

Half time

Louth had their moments in the second half, most notably a well-taken penalty from Mulroy and a late goal by Durnin, but Monaghan always seemed to have an answer.

The Farney men controlled possession and kept punishing Louth’s defensive slips.

Mulroy did his best to drag his side back into the game, finishing with 2-2, while Ryan Burns stood out with two superb long-range efforts and substitute Ciarán Byrne also chipped in with a point.

But it was the blue and white of Monaghan who finished stronger. Bannigan, McCarron, and McCarthy were busy throughout, and Beggan’s presence underlined the quality difference on the day.

Louth will take positives from their goal threat but know they’ll need to be tighter and sharper when they face Down in Newry next Saturday.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Dan Corcoran, Emmett Carolan, Donal McKenny; Conall McKeever, Daire Nally, Craig Lennon; Bevan Duffy, Tommy Durnin (2-0), Ciarán Downey, Sam Mulroy (2-2, 1-0pen, 0-1f), Conor Grimes; Ciarán Keenan, Kieran McArdle, Ryan Burns (0-5, 2tp, 0-1f).

Subs: Ciarán Byrne (0-1) on for Ciarán Downey (HT), Dara McDonnell on for Kieran McArdle (HT), Liam Jackson on for Dan Corcoran (40'), Andy McDonnell on for Bevan Duffy (42'), Conor Branigan on for Andy McDonnell (55').

Monaghan: Rory Beggan (0-4, 2tpf); Ryan Wylie, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Dessie Ward (0-3), Ryan O’Toole, Kieran Duffy (0-1); Mícheál McCarville, Gary Mohan; Ryan McAnespie, Stephen O’Hanlon (1-3), Conor McCarthy (0-1); Micheál Bannigan (0-6, 1tp 1f), Andrew Woods, Stephen Mooney (0-3).

Subs: Jack McCarron (0-2, 0-1f), on for Ryan McAnespie (45'), Ciarán McNulty on for Andrew Woods (49'), Davy Garland on for Stephen Mooney (59'), Darren Hughes on for Mícheál McCarville (64'), Karl O’Connell on for Dessie Ward (69'), Jason Irwin on for Stephen O’Hanlon (70').