Louth open Nickey Rackard Cup campaign with victory over the Ernesiders

The Louth hurlers opened up their Nickey Rackard Cup campaign with this hard-earned victory over the Erne men in difficult windy conditions at St Brigid's Park, Dowdallshill, on Saturday afternoon.

These counties have now met on five occasions in league and championship action over the last fourteen months, and on each occasion the Wee County have come out on the right end of the scoreline.

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The crucial score that decided this match was scored by Conor Murphy when he fired home the game's only goal from close range on 55 minutes.

Darren Geoghegan was off target with the first two opportunities before opening the home side's account with a free from close to midfield on four minutes.

The visitors replied with a good point from Caolan Duffy, but Louth responded to this with three unanswered points. Firstly, Conor Murphy got in behind the Fermanagh defence to fire over when a goal might have been on his mind.

Seaghan Conneely then set up the hard-working Sean Flynn for a good point with the Knockbridge man adding a second from 20 metres out to the right of the post.

From a free that was moved forward 30 metres by the referee under the new dissent rule, top scorer Dannan McKeogh struck over a free to half the deficit on ten minutes.

Louth responded with two quick-fire points from Michael O'Shea and Ciaran McKelvey before the aforementioned O Shea received a yellow card with McKeogh firing over the resultant free.

Darragh Flanagan added one from play, and the visitors could have taken the lead when the referee awarded them a dubious penalty as full-back Aaron McGuinness Smith was harshly adjudged to have fouled Luca McCusker.

McKeogh's weak penalty was saved by keeper Conor Clancy and boosted by this. Darren Geoghegan added two points, the first from play, to have his side in front by 0-8 to 0-4 on 27 minutes.

McKeogh and Flanagan added to their earlier scores before Louth were reduced to 14 men when Michael O Shea picked up a harsh second booking shortly before the break. 

A McKeogh 20 metre free in added time at the end of the half had Fermanagh heading to the dressing rooms trailing by just 0-8 to 0-7.

A good point from long range by Tom Keenan saw Fermanagh get on level terms inside 60 seconds of the resumption.

Ciaran McKelvey restored the home side's lead with a point from right of the post, which was added to by a free from top scorer Darren Geoghegan.

McKeogh (free) and McKelvey again, then exchanged points with Conor Murphy adding to his first half score when he took a pass from Sean Flynn to fire over in style from 45 metres, 0-12 to 0-9.

Centre half back Francis McBrien responded with a brace of points, the first from a long range free, in between which Geoghegan fired over his second point from play of this encounter from the left wing.

The visitors were denied a goal on 51 minutes thanks to a goal-line clearance by defender John Casey, but they did put the minimum between the teams again moments later when Tom Keenan scored from a tight angle, 0-13 to 0-12.

From a free earned by Seaghan Conneely, the ever reliable Darren Geoghegan fired over from 60 metres, and it got even better for the home side in their very next attack when Conor Murphy did well to gain possession to fire past keeper Mark Slevin from close range, 1-14 to 0-12.

Fermanagh managed to reduce the deficit to three with a brace of 20 metre frees from Dannan McKeogh.

A foul for over carrying was then called by the referee against the Erne men, and Geoghegan was happy to take advantage by firing over the resultant 42 metre free.

Louth corner back Stephen Kettle then fell victim to the same offence, with McKeogh striking over his eighth point, but with the game now into injury time, victory looked in sight for the home side.

From a free awarded for a foul on goal scoring hero Conor Murphy, it was Geoghegan who also took his personal tally to eight points as his side held on for this important opening round victory ahead of their trip to take on Sligo at Markievicz Park on Saturday (3pm).

Louth: Conor Clancy; Stephen Kettle, Aaron McGuinness Smith, Sean Hodgins; Peter Fortune, Michael O Shea (0-1), John Casey; Darren Geoghegan (0-8, 6f), Mark Gahan; Conor Murphy (1-2), Sean Flynn (0-2), Seaghan Conneely; Ciaran McKelvey (0-3), Andrew Le Touche Cosgrove, Fionn Cumiskey.

Subs: Thomas McCreesh for F Cumiskey (HT), Sean Magill for M Gahan (69), James Costello for C McKelvey (70).

Fermanagh: Mark Shevlin; Daniel Teague, Ronan McGurn, Seamus Cleary; Dylan Bannon, Francis McBrien (0-2, 1f), Odhrán Johnston; Caoimhin Heaney, Ciaran Duffy; Darragh Flanagan (0-2), Caolan Duffy (0-1),  Danann McKeogh (0-8, 8f); Tom Keenan (0-2), Sean Corrigan, Luca Mc Cusker.

Subs: Adam McShea for L McCusker (43), Ben Corrigan for F McBrien (56), Padraig Johnston for T Keenan (62), Shea McElroy for D Bannon (65).

Referee: Seaghan Walsh (Waterford).