Louth minors suffer an agonising one point defeat at the hands of Dublin

A dramatic end to this Leinster Minor Championship clash saw Louth suffer an agonising one point defeat in Parnell Park as a late two pointer sent Dublin through to a provincial semi final as group winners, in what was a marvellous advertisement for both football at this grade and arguably the much-debated new rules.

Dublin’s wrecking ball presence at the edge of the square, Mobarack Salami ultimately won the game for his side, with that late two pointer, to steal a win that Louth will feel was there’s for the taking, having led by four points with eight minutes remaining, following a wonderful second half performance from the Wee County.

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However, two late goals from Dublin, thanks to captain Finn McGinnis, and the marauding Caoilinn O’Connell, saw the home side lead by two points in stoppage time.

Moments after O’Connell’s major, Louth won the next kickout, which led to Michael McGlew setting up Andrew O’Reilly, who crashed the ball to the Dublin net to regain the lead for Johnny Clerkin’s side, and a place in the last four looked in the bag.

But there was another twist, and following a barnstorming run from Ciaran Clifford, Dublin’s Mobarack Salami took responsibility, and fired over the two pointer which won it for Dublin, meaning that Louth will have to make do with a Leinster championship quarter final, as they finish in second place in the group.

In a tentative opening quarter, Dublin were quicker to settle, edging their opponents on breaking ball, with Ciaran Clifford, Caoilinn O’Connell and Finn McGinnis effective here for the Dubs.

Following a Jack Heavey free, Finn McGinnis landed Dublin’s second score. Moments later, Mobarack Salami bulldozed his way through the Louth defence to fire home their first major, to make it 1-2 to no score in their favour after nine minutes.

To their credit, Louth felt their way into the game, and two pinpoint accurate placed kicks from Conell Kelly including a 45, narrowed the gap to three points by the end of that first quarter.

Despite edging proceedings, Dublin only amassed 0-3 from 10 shots in open play in that first half, but the lively Ryan Ennis and Jack Heavey (f) did stretch their lead to five again.

Despite failing to score from play in that first half, the place kicking of Conell Kelly continued to keep Louth in touch, and a tasty two pointer free from the Dreadnots man once again left three between the sides after 22 minutes.

As both sides struggled for consistency in front of the posts in open play, another two pointer free from Kelly left just a point between the sides approaching added time at 1-4 to 0-6.

Dublin had the final say, thanks to a two pointer free from Jack Heavey which left it all to play for at half time, with Dublin ahead by 1-6 to 0-6.

Second Half:

The third quarter saw Louth make hay while the sun shone when it came to the two point arc, with two pointers from Conell Kelly (f) and the towering Tom Maguire key to the visitors putting their noses ahead, with Maguire and Conal Mannion also landing single points, as Louth led by 0-13 to 1-9 by the end of the third quarter.

Despite the best efforts of Finn McGinnis, Ryan Ennis and Jack Heavey, who all converted in that period for Dublin, Louth went on to have a purple patch which saw them land three further scores to take a 0-16 to 1-9 lead, thanks to a clipped effort from Jack Martin which was deflected over by keeper Finn Byrne, while back to back scores from the excellent Tadgh Devanney who has felt right at home at centre half, put his side in charge in the final ten minutes.

Devanney was outstanding for Louth, driving the team on from number 6, finishing with 29 possessions over the hour, with Tom Maguire having 20 possessions, as Louth largely dominated the second half, winning 50% of Dublin’s kickouts, thanks to Maguire, Devanney, as well as captain Andrew O’Reilly, who had 24 possessions.

Despite this, Dublin, possessed that ability to punch wholes in the Louth defence when they moved the ball through the hands, and keeper Senan Connolly was called into action to deny Jack Heavey and Tom Ó’Ceallaigh from close range, while Rian Hickey produced heroics to block a goal bound effort from Finn McGinnis.

However, with five minutes remaining, Dublin set the cat amongst the pigeons, when Finn McGinnis fired the ball to the roof of the net following a turnover in the Louth defence to leave just one between the sides at 0-16 to 2-9.

Finn McGinnis, whose father Terry McGinnis currently coaches Louth club side St Kevins, turned provider to set up the marauding Caoilinn O’Connell who crashed the ball to the Louth net, to give Dublin a two point lead in stoppage time, in a chaotic finish to this game.

Louth to their credit picked themselves up, and won the next kickout, which led to the athletic Michael McGlew setting up Andrew O’Reilly who fired the ball to the Dublin net, to spark jubilant celebrations from the Louth supporters.

But in a game full of drama, there was time for one more twist, and Mobarack Salami fired over a two pointer to break Louth hearts and send Dublin in the Leinster MFC semi finals.

But all is not lost for the Wee County, who face into a quarter final in a few week’s time, with this performance surely adding further cause for optimism in the camp.

Louth: Senon Connolly; Rian Hickey, Ciaran Titley, Finn McEneaney; Michael McGlew, Tadgh Devanney (0-2), Conor Marron; Tom Maguire (0-3) (1 tp), Cillian McQuillan; Oisin Reidy, Andrew O’Reilly (1-0), Conal Mannion (0-1); Cian Rooney, Jack Martin (0-1), Conell Kelly (0-9) (6f) (3 tpf).

Subs: Senan Hoey for Mannion (43), Niall McCreesh for Rooney (50).

Dublin: Finn Byrne; Gareth Hayes, Jack O’Keefe, Harry Warnes; Caoilinn O’Connell (1-0), Jack Heffernan, Zach Donegan; Matthew Farrell, Finn McGinnis (1-2); Tom Ó’Ceallaigh, Ciaran Clifford, Ryan Ennis (0-2); Cillian McCabe, Mobarack Salami (1-2) (1 tp), Jack Heavey (0-5) (3f) (1 tpf).

Subs: Ernesto Tennant for Donegan (48), Tadgh Coyle for Heavey (49), Conor McKenna for McCabe (58).

Referee: Kieran Olwell (Co Westmeath).