LOUTH continued their impressive start to the year by getting their National League campaign off to a flyer against Wexford in Drogheda where they ran out 0-13 to 1-8 winners.
The Wee County have started 2010 in determined fashion by booking their place in the O'Byrne Cup final for a second straight year. Peter Fitzpatrick has insisted, however, that promotion from Division Three is the priority this season and his side go
t off to a good start by seeing out a game that they led from start to finish.
Louth looked to be coasting to a comfortable victory when they built up a five point advantage on the hour mark but a point from substitute Paul Bradley was followed by a goal from Paddy Byrne, who rose above goalkeeper Neil Gallagher to fist to the net to leave just the minimum between the sides after 67 minutes.
The hosts kept their composure, however, with Colm Judge firing over the vital insurance point that ensured his side made a winning start to their league campaign.
It was Judge who had done most of the damage to Jason Ryan's men prior to that with his four second half points proving crucial to the outcome.
Louth were on top from the word go but despite racing into a three point lead in the opening quarter courtesy of points from JP Rooney, Andy McDonnell and Brian White, nine first half wides meant that Wexford were still in touch at the break with two points each from Redmond Barry and Ben Brosnan helping them to go off at the break only trailing by a point on a 0-6 to 0-5 scoreline.
Ronan Carroll briefly gave the home side a two point cushion on the restart but Adrian Flynn replied almost immediately for Wexford after Byrne had crashed a shot off the crossbar.
That let-off appeared to spring Louth into life as they hit five of the next six points to pull clear of their opponents. The visitors goal three minute from time ensured a tenser finish than there perhaps should have been but the Wee County kept their composure to see out the game and maintain their new manager's 100% start in the job ahead of next Sunday's trip to Sligo.
Louth: N Gallagher; D Byrne, D Finnegan, R Greene; R Finnegan, A Hoey, J O'Brien; P Keenan, R Carroll (0-3); D Crilly, A McDonnell (0-2), M Brennan; C Judge (0-4), JP Rooney (0-1), B White (0-3, 3f). Subs: D Maguire for M Brennan, 27 mins; S Lennon for D Crilly, 42 mins.
Wexford: A Masterson; J Wadding, D Walsh, N Murphy; B Malone, D Murphy, A Doyle; D Waters, B Doyle; P Naughter, C Byrne, A Flynn (0-2); B Brosnan (0-2, 1f), R Barry (0-2), P Byrne (1-0). Subs: C Lyng (0-1, f) for P Naughter, 48 mins; E Bradley (0-1) for B Doyle, 55 mins; C Morris for B Malone, 57 mins; S Roche for A Flynn, 65 mins; C Kennedy for N Murphy, 69 mins.
Referee: D Gough (Dublin).
