Louth book their place in Leinster semi-final after seeing off Wexford

Louth are now high rollers in the the now much maligned Leinster championship and they duly dolled out a seven point victory against a plucky Wexford in second gear.

Four goals caught the headlines in O’Moore Park, a brace each from man of the match Ciarán Downey and top scorer Sam Mulroy but the shadow of the league is now dictating the championship.

The result was simply the case of a Division Two side going through the motions against a Division Four side before focusing enough in the finish to see them off when it mattered.

Regardless of Ger Brennan’s first outing in charge, this Louth group are a seasoned outfit and it showed. Managing the game well against the wind, taking the key chances when they rose and riding out the sticky moments.

The game might not have been much of a labour for Louth if the officiating was more convincing. The ingredients for an upset was there when Louth were denied a clear cut penalty in the early stages when Ryan Burns was fouled.

At that stage Louth were lagging but forged a great goal chance nonetheless. It may have helped the spectacle but the underdogs should have been grateful to be 0-4 to 0-2 ahead at that key juncture.

Mulroy landed quick frees but with the wind at their back’s Wexford were right in the game. Graeme Cullen was giving Donal McKenny a few awkward moments and only for Niall McDonnell’s fingertips the hole might have been greater for Louth to awaken from.

The debutant’s save was only seen at the end third slow motion replay such was its quality. Regardless, Louth trailed double scores 0-8 to 0-4 as the Yellowbellies were chasing a first quarter-final win since beating Longford a decade ago. Tommy Durnin showed leadership to score from play, Louth’s first with a half an hour on the clock.

Then, before half time, as many good teams playing poorly do, pounce on a concentration lapse. Ciarán Keenan probed and Downey straightened the attack with an arrowed shot that levelled the game and broke Wexford’s spirit.

Tom Jackson gave Louth an undeserved half time lead 1-6 to 0-8 with Wexford surely scratching their heads at falling behind with the elements and fortune behind them as well. Second half more malaise from Louth as they went 18 minutes without a score. In between, John Hegarty’s side refocused, levelled through Glen Malone and took the lead from Seán Nolan.

Earlier in the half, Louth were twice denied a second goal with some outstanding goal line clearances. Defender Dylan Furlong's save was top drawer and so much so that the save to deny Ryan Burns brought the emotion out in Eoin Porter.

Referee Seamus Mulhare deemed it too much, as he sent the cornerback off the field with a black card for provocative gesturing but even so, lacklustre Louth failed to take advantage. It wasn’t until Downey accelerated through the centre for his second goal and sensational finish that Louth clicked into a winning position. Downey’s strike was needed to rise above the chaff.

On the back of that show of quality, the game opened up. Ciarán Keenan twice forged two penalties for Mulroy to dispatch in the finish as Louth got their campaign up and running. Momentum slowly gained.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch; Leonard Grey, Anthony Williams, Conall McKeever; Tommy Durnin 0-2, Ciaran Downey 2-0; Conor Grimes 0-1, (1m), Sam Mulroy 2-4 (2-0pen, 4f) Ciaran Murphy; Ciarán Keenan, Tom Jackson 0-1, Ryan Burns 0-1.

Substitutes: Liam Jackson 0-1 for Tom Jackson 46, Niall Sharkey for Grey (46), Bevan Duffy for Murphy (46), Dan Corcoran for Campbell (63), Paul Matthews for Durnin (68).

Wexford: Rory Tubritt; Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Paraic Hughes 0-2; Dylan Furlong, Darragh Lyons, Glen Malone 0-2; Liam Coleman 0-2, (1 ’45), Niall Hughes; Kevin O'Grady 0-1, Eoghan Nolan, Mark Rossiter 0-2; Ben Brosnan, Sean Nolan 0-3 (2f), Graeme Cullen 0-3.

Substitutes: Tom Byrne for Eoghan Nolan (49), Conor Kinsella for Brosnan (49), Richie Waters for Cullen (61), Shane Pettit for Rossiter (66), Jonathan Bealin for O'Grady (71).

Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois).