Louth take on top of the table Monaghan in crucial NFL clash

Louth senior footballers will be hoping to build on last weekend’s dramatic victory over Down when they welcome table-toppers Monaghan to Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, in Round 5 of the Allianz National Football League Division 2 today. Throw-in is at 2.00pm.

Ger Brennan’s men have had a mixed run in the league so far, sitting in fifth place with two wins and two defeats from their four outings.

Their victories over Westmeath and Down were spirited, while narrow losses to Roscommon and Cavan showed they are more than capable of competing at this level.

Louth’s scoring has been impressive, racking up 79 points across their four games. However, with 84 points conceded, tightening up defensively will be a key focus if they are to get the better of Monaghan.

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The visitors come into this game in flying form, topping the Division 2 table with three wins from four.

Victories over Cavan, Westmeath, and Cork have underlined their credentials, while their only loss came in a tight affair against Roscommon.

Gabriel Bannigan’s side have been free-scoring, hitting 2-22 against Cavan and 3-16 in their most recent outing against Cork.

(Allianz National Football League, Division 2 table)

The Wee County make two changes from the side that edged past Down last weekend. Conall McKeever comes into the starting lineup in place of Andy McDonnell, while Daire McConnon replaces the injured Ciarán Keenan.

The 26-man Louth panel has been named as: 1. Niall McDonnell; 2. Dan Corcoran. 3. Dermot Campbell, 4. Donal McKenny; 5. Daire Nally, 6. Peter Lynch, 7. Liam Jackson; 8. Tommy Durnin, 9. Ciaran Byrne; 10. Conall McKeever, 11. Kieran McArdle, 12. Conor Grimes; Daire McConnan, 14. Sam Mulroy (c), 15. Ryan Burns. 

Substitutes: 16. Tiernan Markey, 17. Pearse Grimes-Murphy, 18. Ciaran Murphy, 19. Emmet Carolan, 20. Fearghal Malone, 21. Paul Mathews, 22. Conor Brannigan, 23. Sean Reynolds, 24. Leonard Gray, 25. Tadhg McDonnell, 26. Tom Jackson. 

(The Louth team named to take on Monaghan. Louth GAA)

Monaghan senior football manager Gabriel Bannigan has named his team to take on the Reds. The side has been named as follows: 

Rory Began; Ryan Wylie, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Ryan O’Toole, Kieran Duffy, Conor McCarthy; Gavin McPhillips, Micheal McCarvill; Stephen O’Hanlon, Micheal Bannigan, Ciaran McNulty; David Garland, Jack McCarron, Sean Jones. 

Substitutes: Darragh Croarkin, Kevin Loughran, Gary Mohan, Darren Hughes, Barry McBennett, Fergal Hanratty, Stephen Mooney, Jason Irwin, Bobby McCaul, Andrew Woods, Darragh Treanor. 

 Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).