Louth retain Nicky Rackard Cup status

The Louth hurlers brought the curtain down on their Inter County season when they hosted Nicky Rackard finalist Donegal at St Brigid's Park Dowdallshill on Saturday afternoon.

With neighbours Monaghan losing to Armagh on the same afternoon it was confirmed that Trevor Hilliard's charges have achieved what they set out to do and retain their status in the fourth tier of Championship hurling for 2025.

The Donegal hurlers can look forward to a day out in Croke Park this June Bank Holiday weekend when they take on Mayo in the final and they used this match to give game time to members of their extended panel.

They had to work hard however to see off a gallant Louth outfit in this high scoring encounter as the home side actually held the lead up until the 45th minute.

Ruairi Campbell had opened the scoring for the visitors inside two minutes, but they soon found themselves trailing the Wee County following two pointed frees from Darren Geoghegan and a kicked point from Aaron McGuinness Smith on the quarter hour mark.

Donegal got their noses in front on 23 minutes with contributions from Ryan Hilferty, Daire O'Maoileidigh (65f) and Cormac Finn.

Another brace from Peter Kelly and O'Maoileidigh had them three up before two more pointed frees from Geoghegan and one direct from a sideline cut out on the right wing had the minimum between the teams.

The home side wasted a great goal scoring chance when Aaron McGuinness Smith could only find the side netting with his close range effort.

Two more from O'Maoileidigh and a good point from the right wing from James Monagle helped Donegal to lead by 0-11 to 0-9 at the break.

Louth grabbed 1-2 without reply inside the opening three minutes of the restart, the goal coming from McGuinness Smith following a terrific high catch.  Donegal replied almost immediately with their opening goal scored by corner forward Ruairi Campbell.

Geoghegan restored a two points advantage for his side before Donegal introduced some of their regular starters including the Burt pair of Ronan McDermott and Stephen Gillespie.

The latter scored a point with his very first touch and in his side's very next attack Peter Kelly netted the winners second goal on 46 minutes. Goalkeeper Luke White added a point from a long range free with the sides exchanging the next two points.

The visitors effectively sealed the victory with two quick fire goals from Campbell again and the earlier mentioned Ronan McDermott.

These scores now had them leading by 4-14 to 1-14 on 53 minutes. Louth to their credit did not drop their heads and actually outscored their opponents in what time remained.

Their efforts yielded further points from Geoghegan (4), substitute Sam Phelan and the hard working Paddy Lynch.

Two more Donegal substitutes Liam McKinney and Brian McIntyre got on the scoresheet bringing the total number of different scorers to thirteen as this result confirmed the winners position at the top of the Nicky Rackard table standings.

Donegal: Luke White (0-1 free); Oisin Kelly, Ciaran Bradley, Padraig Doherty; Cormac Finn (0-1), Cathal O Brien, James Monagle (0-1); Dean Harvey (0-1), Conor Griffin; Ryan Hilferty (0-1), Danny Cullen (0-1), Peter Kelly (1-1); Daire O'Maoileidigh (0-5, 4 frees), Oisin Grant, Ruairi Campbell (2-2).

Subs: Ronan McDermott (1-2) for R Hilferty (44), Stephen Gillespie (0-1) for C Griffin (44), Liam McKinney (0-1) for D O'Maoileidigh (49), Brian McIntyre (0-1) for C Finn (51), James Hartnett for J Monagle (60).

Louth: Conor Clancy; Andrew Smith, Conor Quigley, Kyle Rafferty; George Allen, Adam Plunkett, Peter Fortune; James Costello (0-1), John Casey (0--1); David Stephenson, Darren Geoghegan (0-13, 12 frees), Paddy Lynch (0-1); Aaron McGuinness Smith (1-1), Conor Murphy (0-2), Cathal Ryan.

Subs: Sean Hodgins for C Ryan (half time), Ronan Mulholland for K Rafferty (56), Sam Phelan (0-1) for A Plunkett (59), Dan O Neill for C Clancy (65), Conor Whyte for D Stephenson (65).

Referee: Nicky O'Toole (Waterford).