Louth minors finish strongly to secure first Leinster Championship victory

Leinster MFC

Westmeath 2-11 Louth 3-11

Louth minors picked up their first championship victory at the fourth attempt in Mullingar on Wednesday night.

A clash of the two previously winless outfits in the group, the Wee County put in a powerful finish to leave Cusack Park with the points.

Having trailed 2-6 to 0-5 at half-time, with Westmeath’s goals coming from Cian Cleary and Enda Gaffney, the Reds came surging back. St. Fechin’s forward Ryan Walsh converted a penalty in the opening minute of the second half as the comeback effort got underway.

Craig Shevlin hit the contest’s fourth major, as Louth closed to within one point of the Midlanders, and when Seán Healy - who had been fouled for the earlier penalty - found the net, the Wee County went into the lead for the first time since the second minute - captain Dáire Nally having struck the match’s opening point.

The home side came with a flourish, however, and led by a point with time almost up. But Louth weren’t to be denied and finished strongly, closing with the final four minors - Cathal Fleming (two frees), Healy and Conal McCaul on target - to seal a morale-boosting victory.

Westmeath: Cian McCourt; Charlie Drumm, Ciarán Daly, Cian Cleary (1-0); Josh Gahan, Conor Gibney, Darragh Seery; Jamie Coffey (0-1), Kevin O'Sullivan; Jordan McDonnell (0-1), Jack Torpey (0-3), Shane Fleming (0-2); Adam Donoghue (0-1) Ben McGauran (0-1, free), Enda Gaffney (1-2)

Subs: Eamon Martin for Donoghue (h-t), Óisín Raleigh for Cleary (46), Dylan Keegan for Coffey (57)

Louth: James McGillick; Finbarr Lynch, Craig Callan, Tom Jackson (0-1); Cathal Fleming (0-3, frees), Craig Shevlin (1-2), Gabriel Bell; Conal McCaul (0-2), Joe Mee; Bobby Butterly, Dáire Nally (0-2), Rúairí Hanlon; Seán Healy (1-1), Ryan Walsh (1-0, penalty), Eoghan Ryan

Subs: Mícheál Begley for Ryan (HT), Conor Quigley for Callan (39), Jamie Winters for Butterly (60)

Referee: Chris Dwyer (Offaly)