Rapid start is decisive for Louth hurlers in National League victory over Monaghan

The Knockbridge-native played with and then managed the Farney county for five seasons but despite knowing the opposition so well, not even he could have foreseen the start his new charges would provide the home supporters with when netting three goals inside the opening 13 minutes to effectively settle the outcome.

Holding a 10-point lead at the turnaround, Louth were clinging on by the end but did pick up both the league points at stake in this Division 3A encounter played at St Brigid’s Park on Sunday afternoon.

And the Reds will be hoping to build on this ideal start to the campaign when they travel to take on Cavan at Kingspan Breffni this weekend.

Corner-forward Thomas Hughes, one of eight Castleblaney players in their starting XV, opened the scoring for Monaghan with a point from play on four minutes.

But the home side responded with the game’s opening goal when Conor Murphy set-up league debutant John Casey to fire home from 13 metres.

After Hughes had doubled his early tally, Casey struck again from close range, finding the net following a mistake from goalkeeper Hugh Byrne.

Reliable free-taker Niall Arthur, who previously togged out for the hosts, got off the mark with a point from a 20-metre free but from the resultant puckout, Aaron McGuinness-Smith was upended in the box.

His Naomh Moninne colleague, Darren Geoghegan, stepped up, raising a third green flag as Louth now led by 3-0 to 0-3 after 13 minutes.

The Farney men reduced the arrears with points by Arthur and midfielder Rowan McMahon, who was set-up well by the former, before Geoghegan fired over his side’s first point from a 20-metre free.

Arthur and Dylan Carey, who was also making his league debut in the Louth colours, then exchanged points before another four unanswered points had the home side leading by 3-6 to 0-6 on 29 minutes.

This period of dominance started with the hard-working Peter Fortune firing over a good point from the right wing, added to by another brace from play by Geoghegan, who also added another from a customary, long-range free.

Monaghan full-back Brian Minogue, who had played previously with Louth outfit Pearse Óg before moving to Inniskeen Grattan’s, winning a senior championship medal alongside Hilliard last year, found himself in an advanced position to shoot over a good point from close range.

Three quickfire points from the sticks of Casey, Murphy and Paddy Lynch allowed the home side to enjoy their half-time visit to the dressing room, leading comfortably by 3-9 to 0-8.

Playing against the breeze on the resumption, Louth found things much tougher and after Byrne took advantage of the elements to convert a free from inside his own 65-metre line, the visitors found the net on 38 minutes.

Arthur’s initial effort was well-saved by the outrushing Conor Clancy but Hughes was quickest to react, sending the rebound into an empty net.

Another double by Arthur from pointed frees and one from play from the right wing by Leo Moloney suddenly saw Louth’s lead cut to just three points on 45 minutes.

Lynch’s well-taken point, whereby he cut in from flank and finished, was certainly welcomed by the home supporters, bringing to an end the period of Monaghan dominance.

The sides shared the next four points with Arthur and Casey accounting for two apiece before a show of frustration earned the Louth manager a yellow card from the Antrim referee.

The whistler was particularly strict on the handpass rule throughout this match and when he pulled up another Monaghan defender on this infringement, it presented Geoghegan with the opportunity to stretch the gap from a 20-metre free on 60 minutes.

Geoghegan was again instrumental in the next score, setting up Casey for another point from the right of the posts, 3-14 to 1-14.

Arthur added to his ever-increasing tally with another point before the home side appeared to guarantee themselves the spoils when substitute David Stephenson played in Murphy who netted a fourth goal from close range.

Monaghan gave themselves a late lifeline as Arthur amassed another three points which were added to by centre-half Conor Gernon and when the Clare-native took his personal tally to 13 points on 70 minutes, the deficit had been whittled down to just three points as four added minutes was announced on the public address.

Would they have time to inflict late heartbreak on the home side? Despite their best efforts, Monaghan came up short as Louth held out for a very important victory.

But Hilliard looks certain to spectate from the stands in Cavan after his frustration boiled over as he received a second yellow card very late on.

Others deserving mention in this Louth performance are defenders Andrew Smyth, Thomas McCreesh and Kyle Rafferty as well as the midfield pairing of George Allen and James Costelloe.

LOUTH: Conor Clancy; Stephen Kettle, Adam Plunkett, Andrew Smyth; Thomas McCreesh 0-1, Peter Fortune, Kyle Rafferty; George Allen, James Costelloe; Paddy Lynch 0-2, Darren Geoghegan 1-5 (1-0p, 0-3f), Aaron McGuinness-Smith; John Casey 2-4, Dylan Carey 0-1, Conor Murphy 1-1. Subs: David Stephenson for Carey (47), Ronan Mulholland for Rafferty (69).

MONAGHAN: Hugh Byrne 0-1 (1f); Jack Guinan, Brian Minogue 0-1, Conall McHugh; Pauric Malone, Colin Merrick, Declan Hughes; Martin Murphy, Rowan McMahon 0-1; Ethan Flynn, Conor Gernon 0-1, Leo Moloney 0-1; Niall Garland, Niall Arthur 0-13 (10f), Thomas Hughes 1-2. Subs: Kevin Crawley for Flynn (HT), Pádraig McGahon for Moloney (62), Emmet Walsh for Minogue (62), Patrick Bermingham for Malone (70).

REFEREE: Ciarán McCloskey (Antrim).

Photo Credit: Ken Finnegan/Newspics