Lethal Louth defeat Cavan

Allianz National Football Division 2 League Round 5

From Kingspan Breffni, Cavan

Louth 1-22 Cavan 1-12

Louth produced their most complete attacking display off the year to defeat Cavan at Kingspan Breffni on Saturday evening.

Gavin Devlin’s side followed up their win over Tyrone a week previous with another impressive display as they clinically overcame the challenge of the Breffni men.

The early exchanges were dominated both in the air and on the ground by Louth as the likes of Conor Early, Paul Mathews, Conor Grimes and Sam Mulroy won high percentages of both sets of kickouts.

Sam Mulroy, Ciaran Downey, Ryan Burns, Paul Mathews and Tadhg McDonnell all found the target, allowing Louth build up a 1-16 to 0-6 lead at the break. These scores included a much covered, incredible team goal. Niall McDonnell found Sam Mulroy with a superb kick pass, the skipper then turned and pinged a 50 yarder to Ryan Burns where he swiftly turned his man and threaded a ball through the eye of the needle to Ciaran Downey who calmly slotted home along the ground – his second major in as many games.

Any chance of a Cavan comeback disappeared early in the second half when they conceded five points to Tadhg McDonnell, Burns, Conor Grimes, Kieran McArdle and Downey.

The Louth men continued to play with extreme composure with the introduction of Eoghan Callaghan proving a shrewd move in controlling the middle third of the pitch.

All eyes now turn to a huge clash at the top of the table in two weeks time, at home to Derry.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Padraic Tinnelly, Dermot Campbell, Emmett Carolan; Tadhg McDonnell (0-3, 1tp), Dara McDonnell, Craig Lennon; Conor Early, Paul Mathews (0-3, 1tp); Conall McKeever, Sam Mulroy (0-6 – 2f, 1tpf, 1tp), Conor Grimes (0-1); Kieran McArdle (0-1), Ciaran Downey (1-4), Ryan Burns (0-4).

Subs: Ciaran Keenan for Ryan Burns (43’), Eoghan Callaghan for Conall McKeever (54’), Daire Nally for Tadhg McDonnell (62’), Tommy Durnin for Paul Mathews (64’), James Maguire for Kieran McArdle (69’).

Cavan: Liam Brady, Jason McLoughlin, Paddy Meade, Brían O’Connell (0-1), Oisin Brady, Eoin Clarke, Gerard Smith (0-1), Ryan Brady (0-1), Conor Brady, Ciaran Brady, Cormac Brady, Peter Corrigan, Cian Shekleton (0-2), Patrick Lynch (0-4, 2ptf, 1f, 1 ’45’), Dara McVeety (0-1)

Subs: Gearoid McKiernan (0-02f) for E Clarke (16), Niall Carolan for Ryan Brady (HT), Ciaran Brady (1-0) for G Smith (49), Tiarnan Madden for Ciaran Brady (49), Thomas Smith for N Carolan (69).

Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)

Photos: Ciaran Culligan