Louth footballers crushed by Tipperary in Thurles as relegation looms large

Allianz National Football League

Tipperary 2-17 Louth 0-9

Louth were  left teetering on the brink of relegation from Division Two at Thurles this afternoon after succumbing to Tipperary by 14-points for their fifth successive defeat.

In truth, the match was over by the quarter-hour mark as Tipp blitzed in two goals along with seven points to race 11-points clear of the Wee County.

Bill Maher and Michael Quinlivan got the Premier's majors as Liam Kearns' men swamped Louth's over-worked rear-guard.

A point from Gerard McSorley and a brace of Ryan Burns frees was all Pete McGrath's side could muster in a disappointing first half as the hosts led 2-9 to 0-3 at half-time.

The Reds improved somewhat in the second half as Burns, Tommy Durnin and Conor Grimes got their names on the scoresheet in quick succession, however, they were never going to be able to reel in the Munster men who struck over eight second-half points.

Result-pending, Louth could be relegated this afternoon. Though, for all intents and purposes, their fate is already sealed.

Tipperary: Ciarán Kenrick; Alan Campbell, John Meagher, Paddy Codd; Bill Maher (1-1), Robbie Kiely, Jimmy Feehan; Steven O'Brien (0-1), Liam Casey; Josh Keane, Jason Lonergan (0-1), Brian Fox (0-1); Conor Sweeney (0-7, five frees), Michael Quinlivan (1-1), Liam McGrath (0-4)

Subs: Emmet Moloney for Codd (HT); Liam Boland for Quinlivan (53), Kevin Fahey for Feehan (56), George Hannigan for O’Brien (62), Kevin O’Halloran (0-1) for McGrath (64), Luke Boland for Maher (66)

Louth: Neil Gallagher; Darren Marks, Emmet Carolan, James Craven; Eoghan Lafferty, Bevan Duffy, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin (0-1), Declan Byrne; Gerard McSorley (0-1), Andy McDonnell (0-1), Ciarán Downey; Derek Maguire, Conor Grimes (0-1), Ryan Burns (0-4, frees)

Subs: Fergal Donohoe for Lafferty (55), William Woods (0-1) for Burns (55), Ross Nally for Durnin (59), James Stewart for Maguire (61), Andrew Smyth for Craven (66)

Referee: Paul Falloon (Down)