Poor second quarter Louth's undoing as Armagh account for the Wee County

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 3A ROUND 1 

ARMAGH 3-18 LOUTH 1-16

Having just avoided relegation in 2022, the Louth hurlers opened up this season’s NHL Division 3A campaign with defeat at the hands of neighbours Armagh in windy conditions in Darver on Saturday afternoon. 

Few will argue that the elements played a significant part in how this game played out, with the visitors building up a match winning lead of 17 points at the changeover. 

With the final margin of defeat cut down to just eight points Louth will reflect on their own periods of dominance, especially in the second half, and take these positives into the remainder of a what will be a difficult campaign. 

These two sides also clashed in the league opener twelve months ago but even in that time a lot has changed, with both counties beginning the tie with just five players who started last year's clash.

The home side could not have asked for a better start when facing into the wind as the experienced Andrew Mackin fired over the opening score from a tight angle inside 60 seconds, added to shortly after by another from team captain Feidhelm Joyce. 

The Orchard county's response was swift as full forward Eoin McGuinness struck over the visitors opening point from 50 metres out before being set up by namesake Sean Og to tap into the net from close range on three minutes. 

That lead soon became four points with successive points from play from Shea Harvey and goal creator Sean Og McGuinness. 
Louth struck back with a goal on eight minutes when Seaghan Conneely made a terrific high catch from Danny Morgan's long delivery, before firing past the keeper in style.

Defender Paudie Lappin became his side’s fourth different scorer when he fired over from distance before another brace of points had his side in front again by four on the quarter hour, 1-6 to 1-2.

The sides shared the next four points with the home side’s efforts coming courtesy of debutant Conall Shaw and top scorer Mark Gahan.

Wexford native Gahan was joined in the Louth starting 15 by another Wexford man, with Drogheda based teacher Stephen Stafford featuring at centre half forward.

Despite being well in this contest, after 20 minutes the home side’s hopes of overturning last year's result were dashed in the next 15 minutes. A quick-fire brace of points was followed by Armagh's second goal, scored from close range by Danny Magee on 24 minutes. 

They wasted opportunities to extend their lead before Magee again found the net on 33 minutes, despite the best efforts of keeper Ricky McKeown. 

Another four unanswered points, including one from long range from corner back Barry Shortt, had Armagh leading by 3-15 to 1-4 at the break.

They extended their lead with early points from the sticks of Thomas Galvin and Fionntan Donnelly and the final result was now inevitable. Or so we thought. 

With the wind now in their favour Louth set about an exercise of damage limitation and the way they went about this will have pleased the home supporters, as well as manager Paul McCormack.

Midfielder Feidhelm Joyce once again showed how important he is to this team when firing over a good brace of points, the second from the halfway line, in between which Conall Shaw struck over a long range free.

They continued to restrict the visitors to limited opportunities while keeping the scoreboard ticking over with three unanswered points from the hard working Mark Gahan. 

Joyce took his own tally to four before Naomh Moninne club mate Gahan added three more to his side’s tally. He was denied a goal by a good save from keeper Fintan Woods, as the scoreboard now made much better reading at 3-17 to 1-14 on 65 minutes.

Louth managed to reduce the deficit to seven points with late scores from substitute Sean Kerrisk and Shaw from a 65 metre free. 

Having failed to score for the previous 30 minutes, it was Armagh who sealed the victory with the last score of this encounter from Thomas Galvin, his side’s fourteenth point from open play as the Ulster side ended the contest with an eight point winning margin.

The Boys in Red will now have to regroup and take positives from their second half performance as they make the trip to Dr Hyde Park next Sunday afternoon (2pm) to take on favourites for promotion Roscommon, who opened their campaign on Saturday with a draw away to Connacht rivals Mayo.

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ARMAGH: Fintan Woods; Barry Shortt (0-1), Odhran Curry, Odhran McCann; Niall Lennon, Tiarnan Nevin, Paudie Lappin (0-1); Peadar McBride, Connor Renaghan; Fionntan Donnelly (0-6, 0-4 frees), Shea Harvey (0-3), Tiarnan O Hare; Sean Og McGuinness (1-1), Eoin McGuinness (1-3), Danny Magee (2-0). Subs: Thomas Galvin (0-3) for T O Hare (33), Nathan Curry for E McGuinness (44), Oisin O Hare for P McBride (51), Stefan McParland for D Magee (61).

LOUTH: Ricky McKeown; Adam Plunkett, Danny Morgan, Ronan Mulholland; Conall Shaw (0-3, 0-2 frees), Sean Hodgins, Jamie McDonnell; Peter Fortune, Feidhelm Joyce (0-4); Liam Molloy, Stephen Stafford, Mark Gahan (0-7, 0-3 frees); Andrew Mackin (0-1), Padraig Fallon, Seaghan Conneely (1-0). Subs - Ryan Walsh for S Conneely (39), Sean Kerrisk (0-1) for S Hodgins (39), Conor Murphy for P Fallon (61), Ben Goss Kieran for R Mulholland (70).

REFEREE: Conor Daly (Kildare).