Louth goals were not enough to overcome dogged Armagh

Despite the campaign starting encouragingly with a victory over neighbours Monaghan some even weeks ago, four successive defeats for Trevor Hilliard's charges has condemned them to relegation.

Another re-structuring of the National Hurling Leagues in 2025 will see five Divisions of seven teams with Louth confirmed now as participants in the lowest of these Division 4. Alongside the Wee County will be Monaghan, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Longford, Warwickshire and Lancashire.

This game was moved from the Athletic Grounds in Armagh City to the home of County champions Middletown but one must question the suitability of the venue for a National League fixture with all the basic essentials totally lacking.

Add in the poor weather and it led to a very uncomfortable afternoon for the brave supporters of both teams. With the wind and rainin their favour it was paramount that the visitors posted a half time lead that they could defend in difficult conditions, but despite a promising start they would pay the price in the end.

Louth led from the off in this game and held that lead right up until the 56th minute when Armagh grabbed the lead for the very first time.

They visitors were also unhappy with the performance of referee Aidan McAleer where they had good reason to question some of his decision making. Darren Geoghegan opened the scoring after two minutes with a point from a long range free.

The same player was wide of the mark with the next two scoring opportunities before he doubled his side's advantage on ten minutes with a good point from play from the left of the post.

A foul on Paddy Lynch allowed Geoghegan to grab a third on 13 minutes before the Orchardmen opened their account three minutes later when Alex O'Boyle fired over a 20 metre free.

From the resultant puckout James Costello picked up a breaking ball and neatly played in the lively Conor Murphy to fire to the net from close range.

Free taker O'Boyle then took advantage of a Louth defence who were conceding too many frees as he accounted for three points in a row, all easily taken from inside the 45 metre line.

The sides shared the next four points all from placed ball before the home side cut the arrears to just one when O'Boyle rounded off a good five man move by firing over his seventh point of the half from the right of the post.

Another foul on Paddy Lynch presented Geoghegan with the opportunity to fire over his sixth point from the right wing late on to see his side head for the warmth of the dressing rooms leading by 1-6 to 0-7.

It only took the home side three minutes to tie up matters with a good brace of points from play from midfielder Stephen Renaghan.

At the opposite end Conor Murphy fired over a good point from close range and his side then added a second goal on 36 minutes. George Allen and Murphy were both prominent in the move which Lynch rounded off by firing past 'keeper Fintan Woods.

Armagh appeared to cope better with the conditions and three unanswered points from Connor Renaghan, Paul Gaffney and a converted 65 metre free from the stick of O Boyle had just one point between the teams.

Another point a piece was followed by another from Connor Renaghan who tied up matters on 55 minutes 2-8 to 0-14. Armagh went in front for the first time a minute later when corner forward Sean Og McGuinness knocked one over from close range.

They pulled three clear with good points from distance from Barry Shortt and substitute Aaron Fox. To their credit Louth fought back gamely with Geoghegan taking his personal tally to eight followed by another from play from Conor Murphy.

Armagh wrapped up the victory and with it guaranteed themselves Division 3 hurling next year as O'Boyle fired over a late brace of points.

Other Louth players deserving mention were 'keeper Conor Clancy alongside Andrew Smith, Peter Fortune, Conor Quigley and Sean Casey.

Armagh: Fintan Woods; David Ryan, Paudie Lappin, Niall Lennon; Kieran McKernan,Barry Shortt (0-1), Tiarnan Nevin; Stephen Renaghan (0-2), Connor Renaghan (0-2); Paul Gaffney (0-1), Alex O'Boyle (0-11, 9f), Liam O'Flaherty, Fionntan Donnelly, Danny Magee, Sean Og McGuinness (0-1)

Subs: Aaron Fox(0-1) for L. O'Flahery (54), Tom Mc Kavanagh for D. Magee (55), Dillon Fox for C. Renaghan (63), Peadar McBride for S. Renaghan (70)

Louth: ConorClancy; Andrew Smith, Adam Plunkett, Stephen Kettle; Peter Fortune, Conor Quigley, Thomas McCreesh; Sean Casey, Conor Murphy (1-2);Seaghan Conneely, Darren Geoghegan (0-8, 7f), James Costello; Paddy Lynch (1-0), George Allen, Aaron McGuinness Smith

Subs: David Stephenson for S. Conneely (HT)

Referee: Aidan McAleer (Donegal)