Defeat for Senior Footballers against Louth

DUBLIN 1-24 

LOUTH 4-18

The concession of three second-half goals proved telling as Louth got the better of Dublin by three points in their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Round 1 encounter at CrokePark on Sunday afternoon. 

Of course, the sides met four weeks previously with Dublin easing home by double scores and Dublin were full value for their 1-12 to 1-6 half-time lead with Con O’Callaghan cancelling out a Louth goal by Kieran McArdle. 

That lead proved a precarious one as James Maguire pounced for two goals in the third quarter and Craig Lennon was the Louth hero as he added a fourth goal with three minutes remaining.  

Dublin were far superior in the early stages with Charlie McMorrow setting the tone with a point inside thirty seconds while Killian McGinnis doubled that lead two minutes later. 

While Craig Lennon opened Louth’s account soon after, the Dubs continued to hold the upper hand as they pushed further clear courtesy of scores from Paddy Small and McMorrow. 

A Seán Bugler point and a two-pointer from Cormac Costello in the 11th minute gave the scoreboard a more accurate reflection of Dublin’s initial control but a series of frustrating wides began to undermine their ambitions.

With Sam Mulroy popping over a two-pointed free to leave three points between the sides, Louth almost levelled matters as they seized on a precarious Hugh O’Sullivan restart but Nathan Doran and then Seán MacMahon were on hand to clear subsequent shots to safety. 

The Dubs were denied a goal of their own as Costello’s close-range shot was tipped over the crossbar by Niall McDonnell before their opponents finally raised a green flag as McArdle cut inside and left O’Sullivan helpless with a precise finish from ten yards. 

Dublin were still creating chances with the returning O’Callaghan seeing his effort well blocked before he elected to fist over in the 25th minute, leaving the teams deadlocked at 0-9 to 1-6. 

His next contribution was far more telling as he eluded Donal McKenny to collect Eoin Kennedy’s inviting pass and he rolled the ball low past McDonnell, stirring memories of his early goal against Mayo in the 2017 All-Ireland final.

The Dubs carried that momentum into the break with three scores on the bounce from McMorrow, Bugler and Costello leaving them six points clear by the interval.

Lennon wasted little time in reducing Louth’s deficit as he burst through to kick his second point while Mulroy added a free in the 38th minute to leave just four points between the teams. 

Dublin’s advantage was halved in an instant as substitute Ryan Burns kicked a two-pointer but from their first attack of the half, Small popped over following a clever incision by Brian Howard. 

The introduction of Lee Gannon off the bench was another boost for Dublin but they quickly saw their lead eroded as Maguire plundered two goals within a minute.

The first saw the full-forward cut inside Bugler before firing a low shot inside O’Sullivan’s near post and a minute later he rose highest to deflect a Conor Grimes shot into the empty net. 

Points followed through Ciarán Byrne and Downey while a Costello brace at the opposite end kept Dublin in touch as they trailed by three points with twenty minutes remaining. 

Howard should have netted from Bugler’s pass but shot too close to McDonnell but Dublin gained some reward for their pressure as Bugler nonchalantly stroked over a two-pointer. 

Points from Niall Scully and Small helped offset a two-pointer from Louth’s Dara McDonnell while two points in quick succession from O’Callaghan restored the stalemate by the 56thminute. 

Costello and McArdle traded points as neither side could establish any control on the scoreboard before a sloppy piece of defending saw Lennon fire home for the match-winning score in the 67th minute.            

Scorers – Dublin: C Costello 0-8 (2f, 1 P2); C O’Callaghan 1-3; S Bugler 0-4 (1 P2); P Small, C McMorrow 0-3 each; C Kilkenny, N Scully, K McGinnis 0-1 apiece. Louth: J Maguire 2-0; C Lennon 1-2; S Mulroy 0-5 (2f, 1 F2); K McArdle 1-1; C Byrne 0-3; D McDonnell (P2), R Burns (P2), C Downey 0-2 each; P Matthews 0-1.   

Dublin: H O’Sullivan; D Byrne, N Doran, S MacMahon; G McEneaney, C McMorrow, E Kennedy; C Kilkenny, B Howard; K McGinnis, N Scully, S Bugler; P Small, C O’Callaghan, C Costello. Subs: L Gannon for Kennedy (41), E Dunne for McGinnis (43), C Murphy for McEneaney (45), L Smith for Doran (58), T Lahiff for McMorrow (65).  

Louth: N McDonnell; D Nally, E Carolan, D McKenny; C McKeever, D McDonnell, C Lennon; C Early, S Callaghan; C Downey, S Mulroy, C Grimes; K McArdle, J Maguire, C McCaul. Subs: R Burns for Early (half-time), C Byrne for McCaul (42), T Durnin for Callaghan (42), P Matthews for Grimes (53), L Gray for Maguire (64). 

Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).