Louth produce solid display to claim victory over Tyrone

Louth produced their most complete display of their Allianz National Football League campaign so far to see off Tyrone in front of a sold-out crowd at DEFY Páirc Mhuire, Ardee, this afternoon.

The heavy downpour before throw-in left a slippery pitch, and with a stiff breeze blowing, the elements were always going to play a big part in the outcome of the Division Two clash.

READ NEXT: Dundalk FC and Drogheda issue joint statement condemning damage to Oriel Park pitch

Coming into this tie, Gavin Devlin’s men needed a response after an opening win over Offaly had been followed by defeats to Cork and Meath, the latter in Croke Park.

Against Devlin’s native county, there was steel in the Wee County from the outset. They were four minutes settling, shooting wide first, but the breakthrough arrived quickly.

Conor Grimes slipped a clever pass into Kieran McArdle, who opened the scoring with a neat point on five minutes.

Seconds later, McArdle turned provider to release Ciarán Downey, who lofted exquisitely over the advancing Niall Morgan and into the net to the roar of the home support.

Tyrone steadied through Darragh Canavan, who clipped over two fine scores, but Louth’s response was emphatic.

Grimes, influential throughout, struck a superb two-pointer to stretch the margin before Dara McDonnell followed with another from range.

Captain Sam Mulroy underlined his leadership with a towering two-point effort of his own, a shimmy one way, a swerve the other, and a strike that sailed between the posts.

Tyrone, though, would not drift as Morgan landed a long-range free, D. Canavan remained clinical, and Ronan Cassidy trimmed the gap before the break. All-star Mulroy’s late free ensured Louth led by three points at the half-time break.

Half time: Louth 1-8 Tyrone 0-8

With the second half breeze now in Tyrone’s favour, the visitors emerged with intent. Morgan converted a ’45, Canavan punished a soft free, and Seánie O’Neill nudged them within a point.

When Darren McCurry edged Tyrone ahead, the contest hung in the balance. Even the loss of substitute Tommy Durnin to a black card within a minute after his introduction failed to derail Louth’s composure.

Instead, Mulroy assumed control as he calmly slotted a few frees, Craig Lennon added a pair of points from play to effectively seal matters with just over five minutes left on the clock.

Louth climb to fourth place in the table and travel to Kingspan Breffni next weekend to face Cavan with renewed confidence.

Full time: Louth 1-15 Tyrone 0-13

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Padraic Tinnelly, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Tadhg McDonnell, Emmet Carolan, Craig Lennon (0-2); Dara McDonnell (0-2, 1tp), Conor Early; Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy (c) (0-7, 5f, 1tp), Conor Grimes (0-3, 1tp); Kieran McArdle (0-1), Ciarán Downey (1-0), Ryan Burns.

Subs: Conall McKeever on for Paul Mathews (45'), Tommy Durnin on for Dara McDonnell (48'), Eoghan Callaghan on for Dermot Campbell (56').

Tyrone: Niall Morgan (0-2, 1f, 1'45); Cormac Quinn, Aidan Clarke, Michael Rafferty; Ronan Cassidy (0-1), Michael McKernan (0-1), Ben Cullen; Brian Kennedy (c), Ciaran Daly (0-1); Eoin McElholm, Conn Kilpatrick, Frank Burns; Darragh Canavan (0-6, 3f), Mattie Donnelly, Seanie McDonnell (0-1).

Subs: Darren McCurry (0-1) on for Eoin McElholm (45'), Rory Brennan on for Frank Burns (47'), Ruari Canavan on for Ben Cullen (53'), Ethan Jordan on for Darragh Canavan (56'), Ruairi McCullagh on for Mattie Donnelly (63').

Referee: David Murnane (Cork)