Louth senior hurlers make it two wins from two games

National Hurling League Division 4, Round 2

The Louth hurlers made it two wins from two in Div4 of the NHL with this emphatic and totally deserving victory over neighbours Monaghan at the well-appointed Truagh Gaels grounds on Saturday afternoon.

These teams have had close encounters over recent years, but the visitors were good value for this 18-point victory over a poor Monaghan side.

Building on their opening-round victory over Fermanagh, this was a terrific all-around team performance, with every player from one to 14 playing their part, which will certainly have pleased the management team.

The fact that ten different players contributed scores also shows the potential of this team who sit proudly at the top of the Division 4 table standings with full points and a plus scoring difference of 22 better than their nearest rivals.

The sides exchanged the opening points with Adam Plunkett on target for the visitors with a good effort.

Top scorer Darren Geoghegan fired over one from distance from play before adding another from a 50-metre free out on the right wing.

Listed as number 14 the impressive Niall Arthur was given a free role by the home management and he left just one between the teams when he fired over a 30-metre free on nine minutes. 

Centre half Sean Flynn had missed Louth's victory over Fermanagh a week earlier and on this showing, he will be key to any success this season and it was a foul on the Tipperary man that saw Louth awarded a penalty on 12 minutes.

Geoghegan's effort struck the base of the left-hand post but the Naomh Moninne man made up for this error a minute later when he took a pass from Leon Fox to fire over a good point.

Flynn added another from play with the hard-working James Costello doing likewise to leave their side 0-6 to 0-3 to the good on the quarter hour. 

Niall Arthur responded with a point from inside his own half but from the resultant puck out Conor Murphy took a pass from Costello to knock over his side's seventh point. 

The sides exchanged the next two points as the Wee County gained the upper hand and after accounting for three wides in quick succession they were awarded a second penalty on 30 minutes after Conor Murphy was pulled down close to goal.

Leo Moloney was black-carded as a result before Geoghegan saw his effort saved by the keeper Hugh Byrne. Another point from the right wing from Geoghegan had four points between the teams on the run into halftime. 

In the time that remained the teams shared the next four points with that man Arthur on target again with both the Monaghan efforts.

The Louth scores came from the sticks of Mark Gahan and Sean Flynn who was set up by the aforementioned Gahan to leave Trevor Hilliard's charges in front by 0-11 to 0-7 at the break.

A week ago Louth saved their best for the second half and it was much the same on this occasion. 

Five quick-fire points in as many minutes suddenly had nine points between teams with the scores coming from Geoghegan (2), James Costello, Sean Flynn and Mark Gahan. 

The gap widened further when Peter Fortune took a good pass from Conor Murphy to smash home the game-opening goal on 42 minutes.

The scores kept coming for the visitors with Geoghegan pointing a free from the right wing before the Farney men were reduced to 14 men when Shane Slevin was sent off for a dangerous pull.

Geoghegan knocked over the resultant free to leave his side now in control by 1-18 to 0-7 on 45 minutes. The home side's response inevitably came from Niall Arthur who struck over a brace of frees.

The Moninne duo of Mark Gahan and Darren Geoghegan (2 frees) added further points to pile on the pressure on the host with a second victory all but assured with 15 minutes remaining.

Both sides used those remaining minutes to give run-outs to their full quota of substitutes. It was one of those substitutes Sam Phelan who grabbed a good point from play in response to Niall Arthur's last contribution, a free, before his substitution.

Eithan Flynn became only the second Monaghan scorer in this match when he fired from play on 68 minutes. 

The Louth defence had good performances in particular from the likes of Andrew Smith, Leon Fox and Aaron McGuinness Smith with another John Casey getting in on the scoring act with a long-range point.

In added time substitute David Stephenson pointed from distance from the left wing. Victory was assured when Sam Phelan pounced on a breaking ball from Tadhg Dowdall's initial effort to finish off the team's polished performance with their second goal.

The team will now make the trip to Birmingham next Saturday in a confident mood ahead of their clash with Warwickshire at Pairc na hÉireann (2pm). 

The exiles picked up their first point in this League when they drew with Lancashire on Sunday afternoon. 

LOUTH: Conor Clancy; Andrew Smith, Conor Quigley, Stephen Kettle; John Casey (0-1), Leon Fox, Aaron McGuinness Smith; Ben Goss Kieran, James Costello (0-2); Adam Plunkett (0-1), Sean Flynn (0-3), Darren Geoghegan (0-10, 8 frees); Mark Gahan (0-4), Conor Murphy (0-1), Peter Fortune (1-0).

Subs: Sam Phelan (1-1) for  C Murphy (54), Sean Hodgins for M Gahan (56), David Stephenson (0-1) for J Costello (62), Tadhg Dowdall for S Flynn (62), Sean Magill for S Kettle (66).

MONAGHAN: Hugh Byrne; Jack Guinan, Aaron Kenny, Conall McHugh; Conor Boyle, James Slevin, Declan Hughes; Conor McHugh, Oisin Hagan; Emmet Walsh, Niall Garland, Leo Moloney; Shane Slevin, Niall Arthur (0-10, 6 frees, 1 65m), Eithan Flynn (0-2), 1 free).

Subs: James Brady for E Walsh (41), Rowan McMahon for C McHugh (54), Paudie Heavin for J Slevin (55), Eoghan Hoey for N Arthur (66).

REFEREE: James Judge (Mayo).