Louth retain Nickey Rackard Cup status
Donegal 3-19, Louth 1-20
Donegal maintained their unbeaten record in the Nickey Rackard Cup when four second-half goals saw them get past a stubborn Louth side at St Brigid’s Park, Dowdallshill.
Already assured of their place in the final, where they will take on Mayo on the June Bank Holiday weekend, the Ulster side give run outs to members of their extended panel, with only five starters from the previous weekends victory over Roscommon.
Louth were good value for their 0-4 to 0-3 lead on 20 minutes with Darren Geoghegan accounting for three points from long-range frees.
Donegal responded with three unanswered points including one from a 65-metre free from Daire O Maoileidigh to lead by two but three more Geoghegan scores kept his side in touch.
The sides shared the last four points of the half as Donegal led by 0-11 to 0-9 at the break.
The home side scored 1-2 without reply on the resumption with the goal well taken by Aaron McGuinness Smith.
Donegal hit back with the first of their goals scored by Ruairí Campbell and another from Peter Kelly on 46 minutes had them back in front, a lead they would hold onto until the final whistle.
A quick fire brace of goals from Campbell and substitute Ronan McDermott left nine points between the teams on 53 minutes, 4-14 to 1-14.
To their credit Louth battled gamely to the end with Geoghegan taking his tally to 13 points but Donegal were not to be denied their day out in Croke in a fortnight’s time.
Scorers – Donegal: R Campbell 2-2, D O Maoileidigh 0-5 (4fs), R Mc Dermott 1-2, P Kelly 1-1, G Browne 0-1, J Monagle 0-1, D Harvey 0-1, R Hilferty 0-1, S Gillespie 0-1, L White 0-1 (f), L Mc Kinney 0-1,B McIntyre 0-1. D Cullen 0-1. Louth: D Geoghegan 0-13 (12 fs), A McGuinness Smith 1-1, C Murphy 0-2, J Costello 0-1, J Casey 0-1, S Phelan 0-1, P Lynch 0-1.
Donegal: L White; O Kelly, C Bradley, P Doherty; C Finn, C O Brien, J Monagle; D Harvey, C Griffin; R Hilferty, D Cullen, P Kelly; D O Maoileidigh, O Grant, R Campbell. Subs: R Mc Dermott for R Hilferty (44), S Gillespie for C Griffin (44), L Mc Kinney for D O Maoileidigh (49), B McIntyre for C Finn (51), J Hartnett for J Monagle (60).
Louth: C Clancy; A Smith, C Quigley, K Rafferty; G Allen, A Plunkett, P Fortune; J Costello, J Casey; D Stephenson, D Geoghegan, P Lynch; A McGuinness Smith, C Murphy, R Mc Keown. S Hodgins for C Ryan (ht), R Mulholland for K Rafferty (56), S Phelan for A Plunkett (59); D O Neill for C Clancy (65), C Whyte for D Stephenson (65).
Referee: N O Toole (Waterford).
PHOTO CREDIT: Louth GAA (Studio Upstairs Photography-Alicija McGuinness)
