Louth hurlers conclude Nicky Rackard Cup with defeat

A campaign that started brightly with a narrow defeat in Sligo, followed by a victory over Fermanagh, concluded for the Louth hurlers when Roscommon were made to work for this important victory in the Nicky Rackard Cup in glorious sunshine at Dowdallshill on Saturday afternoon.

The Wee County have retained their status in this tier of the championship courtesy of the victory over the Erne men in Round Two and they can also look forward to operating in Division 3 of the NHL in 2026.

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The home side were the better side for long periods of this game and were good value for their four point lead at half time. This was against a team that they don't have a good record against in clashes over recent years.

Roscommon came to the Dundalk venue on this occasion with a match winner in the form of hat-trick hero Sean Canning, and with a surname like that, it was no surprise that he effectively proved the difference between the teams on the day.

Louth were quick into their stride as Aaron McGuinness Smith pointed from the right wing after just 10 seconds.

Brendan Mulry responded with the westerners opening point also from play before Mark Gahan and Darren Geoghegan added successive points from play again from the right wing.

The sides shared the next four points before the hard-working Conor Murphy cut in from the left to fire over a good point on 11 minutes 0-6 to 0-3.

Finn Killion reduced the deficit for the visitors with a point from 30 metres out on the right wing and they went in front on 15 minutes when Sean Canning netted his first goal giving keeper Conor Clancy no chance front a tight angle right of the post. 

Midfielder Jack Dowling doubled their lead from the left wing before the lively Gahan added his second of the half. 

Roscommon struck for three quick points in between, which Darren Geoghegan kept the home side in touch with another point from play 0-8 to 1-8 with a quarter hour remaining in the half. 

Louth dominated the exchanges at that time as they fired over seven points in a row.

Geoghegan accounted for the first of these from a free before Canning forced a terrific save out of the home keeper Clancy. Play quickly switched to the other end, and Conor Murphy forced an equally good save from Enda Lawless. 

Trevor Hilliard's charges added points from substitute Thomas McCreesh, Geoghegan (2 frees) and Mark Gahan to move in front on 31 minutes 0-12 to 1-8.

There was still time for Paddy Lynch and Ricky McKeown to fire over good points from play to leave the home side deservedly in front by 0-15 to 1-8 at the break.

Roscommon made two changes for the start of the second half, and they were forced into a third early on when keeper Lawless was forced off with an injury that later necessitated the arrival of an ambulance.

Canning and Ricky McKeown exchanged points from play, and when Paddy Lynch pointed from the left on 45 minutes, the home side led by five, 0-17 to 1-9.

That lead was wiped out over the next three minutes when points from substitute Liam Og Coyle and Conor Mulry were followed by a second goal scored by Brendan Mulry when he picked up an initial defensive block to solo in and fire past the keeper.

The visitors continued to turn the screw with another brace of points before Sean Canning netted their third goal from close range on 52 minutes, 3-13 to 0-17.

To their credit Louth kept in touch with a good brace of points from the reliable stick of Darren Geoghegan the second from a free earned by Conor Murphy. 

The eventual winners added two-pointed frees before Canning completed his hat-trick in added time when he soloed through to score from close range. 

Murphy took Louth's tally to twenty points, either side of which Roscommon secured their victory and place in the Nicky Rackard final against Mayo with late points from Adam Donnelly and Ben McGahon.

Others deserving mention in this brave Louth performance were Leon Fox, John Casey, Stephen Kettle, Seaghan Conneely, Sean Hodgins and Sean Flynn.

Louth: Conor Clancy; John Casey, Conor Quigley, Stephen Kettle; Mark Gahan (0-3), Leon Fox, Aaron McGuinness Smith (0-1); Ben Goss Kieran, Conor Murphy (0-2); Paddy Lynch (0-2), Sean Hodgins, Seaghan Conneely; Ricky McKeown (0-2), Sean Flynn, Darren Geoghegan (0-9, 5f).

Subs: Thomas McCreesh (0-1) for C Quigley (18), Adam Plunkett for A McGuinness Smith (52), Sam Phelan for R McKeown 55), Brian Corcoran for S Conneely (68), James Costello for S Flynn (70).

Roscommon: Enda Lawless; Mark Ward, James Dillon, Darragh Finn; Adam Donnelly (0-2), Conor Cosgrove (0-2, 2f), Micheál Hussey; Eoin Fitzgerald (0-2) Jack Dowling (0-1); Finn Killion (0-1), Brendan Mulry (1-1), Cian Murray; Sean Canning (3-2), Conor Mulry (0-2), Robbie Fallon.

Subs: Jack Donnelly for E Fitzgerald (35), Liam Og Coyle (0-1) for C Murray (HT), Ryan Conlon for J Dowling (HT), Ben McGahon (0-3, 3f) for E Lawless (BS 41), Eoin Kieran for F Killion (70), Keelan Ryan for C Cosgrove (70).

Referee: Matthew Redmond (Kildare).