Ruthless Louth Minors cruise to victory over Westmeath

Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship

Louth 2-13 Westmeath 0-7

The result was significant for the Louth minors, as they edged out winless Westmeath to realign their chances of making the knockout stages out of Group 2 in the Electric Ireland Minor Championship at DEFY Pairc Mhuire in Ardee.

Both sides were feeling the pressure having lost the opening group game, but perhaps Louth at home and with all that expectation inside and out of the panel will have felt it that bit more.

The quick starts to both halves, controlled finale and the ruthless goals displayed focused and the young minds embraced that pressure to the good. That was most pleasing and now sets up a mouth watering shoot out with Meath at home again in Ardee in a fortnight’s time.

Top scorer in the Leinster championship so far, Adam Gillespie, stood up again and enjoyed home soil with a sparkling performance. But his early deflected goal in the 8th minute was the injection David Reid and Johnny Clerkin’s side needed to settle and take on the challenge head on.

With Dublin two from two and the head to head advantage already bestowed upon them, Meath and Louth will play off for that  second quarter final spot with the safety of a preliminary final eight spot. That is why the win was so crucial.

If you also throw in the confidence the young reds will feel after their first win at this level, it can only be beneficial. They also look like a side that will only get better as they progress and enjoy each other's company. 

Mícheál Reid and Liam Brannigan made way for Lorcan Buckley and Robbie Matthews in two changes from the Dublin game. Reid was injured in Parnell Park, but his replacement Buckley slotted in fine on his home pitch. One of four that started in the  Louth 15 that were on their familiar home pitch of DEFY Pairc Mhuire.

Reid aside, all three benefited from the alterations. Matthews bagged the second half goal, Buckley and Conor Ginty impressed around the middle third, while Brannigan bagged a brace off the bench. Impact and a reaction all in one. 

Another knock on consequence was Seán Flynn switched out to the wing from full forward and that particular move had the desired effect instantly. The Mattock Rangers man opened the scoring for Louth and Gillespie quickly added his major.

It was the perfect settler and Westmeath were visibly shook.

Gillespie’s run and rasping shot deflected into the net, but Westmeath's disguised response came in dogged fashion. Both Lake County midfielders Daire O’Connor and James Mitchell combined for three points between them.

A sign of a good side is someone popping up with a performance. Gillespie and Cormac McKeown matched their Dublin showings, but Conor McGinty stood up with a lot of responsibility around the middle to notch two fine scores over the hour. 

Despite the wind, Westmeath significantly trailed at half time. Gillespie and Pearse Grimes Murphy dispelled the myth of the element's advantages to tag on scores to see them lead 1-5 to 0-4 at the short whistle.

Modern day football has seen most sides enjoy the breeze in their faces, such is the ball control, measured attacks and less foot passing. Grimes Murphy hand passed his shot over the bar with a possible goal chance beckoning but it was the right decision.

Upon the resumption, Louth resumed their ascendancy on proceedings to extend their lead with two Gillespie frees.

The visitors struggled with the conditions and their ability to keep the scoreboard kicking. Yet Louth corner back and full back Cian Farrell and Ciarán McGinty twice did make two excellent blocks to deny goal chances.

With Westmeath at desperation stakes, Louth picked them off at will. Newtown Blues Liam Brannigan impressing off the bench with a brace, but the second goal beforehand highlights this side's ruthlessness.

After Kealan Connell finally found the range twice in the half for Westmeath, Grimes Murphy picked the ball up from deep and took off like no one on the pitch can. The pace the Joe’s stripling possesses is a huge asset.

The sensational run cut through the Lake landers and sealed the game when he found Robbie Matthews to apply the perfect finish. With that both management teams emptied the benches for a scrappy finish.

Brannigan and Ryan Devlin impressed off the bench also. The Stabannon Parnell clubman came in for his twin brother and had a telling impact. He might have put his hand up for selection the next day with a point and a close effort for a goal from a punch.

Revengeful Meath at home, it was always going to come down to this and these lads you suspect wouldn’t want it any other way.

LOUTH: Cian O'Donoghue; Cian Farrell, Ciarán McGinty, Keelin Martin; Josh Taaffe, Pádraig Tinnelly, Cormac McKeown (0-1); Conor McGinty (0-2), Lorcan Buckley; Seán Flynn (0-1), Dylan Shevlin, Pearse Grimes-Murphy (0-1); Adam Gillespie (1-5, 0-3 frees), Robbie Matthews (1-0), Shane Lennon. SUBS: Ryan Shevlin (0-1) for Shevlin (35), Liam Brannigan (0-2) for Matthews (49) Cormac McArdle for Taaffe (54), Paddy McHugh for Flynn (58), Evan McCloskey for Gillespie (60).

WESTMEATH: Luke Nicholson; Aódhan Curran, Cian Whitney, Aidan Maguire; Neale Pierson, Jack Murtagh, Conor Leech, James Mitchell (0-2), Dáire O’Connor (0-1); Tommy Farrell, Ryan Kelly (0-1), Callum Rigney; Conor Daly, Kealan Connell (0-2, 0-1 free), Shane Cully. Matty Thornton for Farrell (22) John Casey for O'Connor (ht), David Carter for Daly (49), Cillian Geary for Rigney (52), Paul Keegan (0-1 free) for Connell (58).

REFEREE: Dan Stynes (Dublin)