A disappointing week for Louth continued last night when the county’s juniors lost out to Cavan in the Leinster JFC semi-final at Dowdallshill on a 0-17 to 0-8 scoreline.
Following on from the defeat in the senior championship against Kildare at the weekend, the juniors were equally second best with any chance they had of staying in the game marred by some poor shooting.
The game did start in encouraging fashion for Louth as Sean McCann opened the scoring with a pointed free, and although Philip Tinnelly levelled, Tommy Durnin had Louth back in front.
However, that was as good as it got for the hosts as Cavan started to dominate and kicked three points in succession to lead on 17 minutes. Louth did have a clear sight of goal during that spell but Gerard McSorley’s effort from close range was blocked, while his side also recorded a number of disappointing wides.
They were to suffer a further blow in the 22nd minute when James Califf went down injured and after a lengthy delay had to be taken away by ambulance.
That incident didn’t help Louth’s cause as in the remaining minutes before the break a Cavan blitz saw them add seven points without reply. Among the scorers were David Hyland, Paul O’Connor, Liam Buchanan, Packie Leddy and Enda Reilly as their side went into the break with a 0-11 to 0-2 lead.
The Wee County put up an improved showing in the third quarter with points from Eoin O’Connor and Anthony Williams, but at the other end Cavan were still able to pick off easy points and effort from Buchanan, James Morris and Reilly had them 0-14 to 0-4 ahead on 40 minutes.
Two fine efforts from Sean McCann along with another from O’Connor, helped Louth reduce the gap to 0-15 to 0-7 with 13 minutes to play. The goals the hosts badly needed never looked like coming and after Thomas Moore and Niall Conlon exchanged points, it was fitting that David Hyland should have the final say with a pointed free to complete a very comfortable win.
CAVAN: James Farrelly; Fergal Reilly, James Morris 0-1, Damien Barkey; Niall Smith, Barry Doyle, Conor Moynagh; Packie Leddy 0-1, Liam Buchanan 0-3; Philip Tinnelly 0-4, Chris Conroy, Michael Lyng, Paul O’Connor 0-1, David Hyland 0-2, Enda Reilly 0-4. Subs: Thomas Moore 0-1 for P O’Connor, Paul Smith for N Smith, Brian Sankey for L Buchanan, Niall Clerkin for D Barkey, Enda Hession for E Reilly, G Smith for J Morris.
LOUTH: Robert Samson; Anthony Williams 0-1, Bernard Mulligan, Peter Nixon; Conall O’Hanlon, Gary Connolly, Richard Brennan; Sean McCann 0-3, James Califf; Tommy Durnin 0-1, John Kermode, Peter Kirwan; Niall Conlon 0-1, Eoin O’Connor 0-2, Gerard McSorley. Subs: Bevan Duffy for J Kermode, Jackie Agnew for J Califf, Darren O’Hanlon for G Connolly, Daniel O’Connell for P Kirwan.
