Alex O’Boyle’s winning point gives Armagh hurlers the edge over Louth

While the Orchard county led for long stretches of an absorbing contest, Darren Geoghegan led a late Louth rally and they were level when Conor Murphy was fouled on his way to goal with three minutes to go.

Geoghegan, who would register 10 points, stepped up to strike the penalty but his effort was straight at Fintan Woods, who got the sliotar to safety.

O’Boyle and Geoghegan traded points in added-time before the former hit over the winning point in the 39th minute of the second half.

It is a damaging loss for Trevor Hilliard’s team, who now take on Mayo and Donegal either side of meeting Monaghan in what could be a decisive clash in the race to avoid relegation.

For Armagh, who were beaten by the Tír Chonaill men in their first fixture, they will take great pride at how they won in Dowdallshill, despite letting slip a five-point lead.

The visitors sent over the first three points of the encounter via Ciarán Duffy, Liam O’Flaherty and Stephen Renaghan.

Lively Murphy got the Reds off the mark and the next eight points were shared – O’Boyle (2), Aaron Fox and Duffy raising white flags for Armagh with Geoghegan (3) and Paddy Lynch responding.

But Duffy, Fox and O’Boyle contributed as Armagh moved five ahead on 27 minutes only for Ricky McKeown to point from a sideline and halt the scoring run for Louth.

O’Boyle and Geoghegan traded frees before Paul Gaffney hit over impressively to give Karl McKeegan’s charges a 0-12 to seven advantage at half-time.

There remained five in the difference after Geoghegan and O’Boyle got their shooting eye in on the restart but Geoghegan and Ronan Mulholland sent over quickfire points to raise hopes of a Louth revival.

O’Boyle got a brace back for Armagh and after Geoghegan converted another free.

Substitute Fionntán Donnelly made his presence felt with a sublimely-taken point, making it 0-16 to 0-11 in the winners’ favour after 46 minutes.

But Louth launched a stirring comeback and over an 11-minute period, Geoghegan pointed five times without reply – four from frees – to level matters with seven minutes to go.

With the Wee county piling on the pressure, Murphy was hauled down, ensuring Armagh would finish with 14 players after a black card was brandished.

But Geoghegan was unable to capitalise and despite bringing his personal haul to 0-13 later in the match, the Ulster men won out.

SCORERS – Armagh: A O’Boyle 0-10 (8f); A Fox, C Duffy 0-2 each; L O’Flaherty, S Renaghan, P Gaffney, F Donnelly 0-1 each. Louth: D Geoghegan 0-13 (8f, 1 65); R McKeown, P Lynch, C Murphy, R Mulholland 0-1 each.

ARMAGH: F Woods; D Ryan, P Gaffney, N Lennon; K McKernan, L O’Flaherty, T Nevin; B Shortt, A Fox; D Fox, S Renaghan, A O’Boyle; J O’Connor, S Óg McGuinness, C Duffy. Subs: F Donnelly for O’Connor (23), T McKavanagh for O’Flaherty (70), K Laverty for McGuinness (70).

LOUTH: C Clancy; A Smyth, A Plunkett, R Mulholland; S Hodgins, C Quigley, A McGuinness-Smyth; S Kettle, G Allen; P Lynch, D Geoghegan, R McKeown; P Fortune, J Costelloe, C Murphy. Subs: J Casey for Hodgins (30), T McCreesh for McKeown (HT), D Stephenson for Costelloe (45), K Rafferty for Mulholland (50), D Carey for McGuinness-Smith (64).

REF: N O’Toole (Waterford)

Photo Credit: Ciaran Culligan Photography