Louth conclude NHL campaign with defeat away to Wicklow

Louth’s Allianz National Hurling League Division Three campaign ended in disappointing fashion as Wicklow ran out heavy winners at a sunny Echelon Park in Aughrim, this afternoon.

The Wee County have retained their Division Three status for next season despite the defeat on what was a difficult afternoon from the first whistle.

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Wicklow struck after just 13 seconds through James Boland, and within two minutes, Fionn Darcy had the sliotar in the Louth net before Padraig Doran followed with a free moments later to put the Garden County five points clear.

Louth struggled to settle, and Wicklow continued to pick off scores with alarming ease as scores from Darcy, Brandon Ryan and Jack Phelan stretched the margin to ten.

The visitors opened their account on 13 minutes when Seán Flynn landed an excellent long-range effort. Any hope of a Louth revival was short-lived as a second goal from Eoin McCormack effectively ended the contest as a competitive one.

Further scores from James Boland, Padraig Doyle and the impressive Darcy ensured Wicklow led 14 points at the break, with Louth facing a daunting task in the second half.

Half time: Wicklow 2-13 Louth 0-5

The pattern continued after the restart as Wicklow remained dominant with Doyle, Ryan and McCormack all adding to the tally.

Louth found scores hard to come by, though points from Fionn Cumiskey, Andrew La Touche Cosgrave and John Casey showed some resistance.

Fionn Darcy struck his second goal of the afternoon with a brilliant individual effort to push the lead beyond twenty points and underlining Wicklow’s superiority.

To their credit, Louth kept battling, and late scores from Seán Flynn and La Touche Cosgrave reduced the margin slightly but Wicklow had the final say through a point from Padraig Doyle.

It was a tough end to the league for Louth, although attention now turns to the Nicky Rackard Cup, where they will welcome Fermanagh on the weekend of 11th - 12th April.

Full time: Wicklow 3-27 Louth 0-11.

Louth: Conor Clancy (c); Stephen Kettle, Aaron McGuinness, John Casey (0-1); Seán Magill, Peter Fortune (0-1), Michael O’Shea; Darren Geoghegan (0-2, 1f), Seán Flynn (0-3); Andrew La Touche Cosgrave (0-3, 1'65), Seaghan Conneely, Kyle Rafferty, Ronan Hackett, Ricky McKeown, Paddy Lynch.

Subs: James Murphy on for Seán Magill (25'), James Costello on for Darren Geoghegan (42'), Jake McNamara on for Ronan Hackett (52'), Fionn Cumiskey (0-1) for Ricky McKeown (59').

Wicklow: Micheal Cleary; Ben Kearney, Jack Phelan (0-1), Dylan Byrne; Emmet Blanchfield, John Henderson, James Boland (0-2); Padraig Doran (c) (0-2, 1f, 1'65), Brendon Ryan (0-4); Luke Evans (0-1), Andrew Kavanagh, Jack Doyle (0-1); Eoin McCormack (1-1), Padraig Doyle (0-6), Fionn Darcy (2-6).

Subs: Ian Clancy on for Andrew Kavanagh (HT), Sam O’Dowd on for Luke Evans (HT), Willie Cash (0-1) on for Jack Phelan (44), Andrew Lynch on for John Henderson (49), Luke Byrne (0-1) on for Jack Doyle (57').

Referee: Ciarán O'Donovan (Tipperary).