High class Wicklow put Louth Hurlers to the sword

Nicky Rackard Cup Round 1

Wicklow 4-25 Louth 0-13

Louth were thrown right into the deep end upon their return to the Nicky Rackard Cup, as they faced an impressive Wicklow.

In all honesty, the Garden County were on a different level, be it physically, their fitness levels or their overall control of the sliotar. And given the quality of opposition they are used to facing, this game was rarely a challenge for them.

Louth now have an idea of the levels they need to reach to be among the best in the fourth tier of championship hurling. And it’s a level their manager Paul McCormack will hope they reach in the years to come, as they get a taste for more hurling at this level.

As for last Sunday, the Wee County were playing catchup from the word go, having conceded inside the opening few seconds of play. And within 10 minutes they were 1-7 to 0-1 down, 1-6 of which coming from open play as the home side pulled no punches.

The Men in Red never backed down, steadying the ship somewhat to ‘only’ trail by 11 at the break, 1-12 to 0-4.

Just before half time Wicklow were reduced to 14 men when John Henderson was red carded for a high challenge on Ryan Walsh, but another 1-5 midway through the second half helped the home side on their way to a 24-point victory.

Casey O’Brien’s troops were out of the traps fast and had threats throughout their attack.

They moved so quickly too, their long diagonal passes being a constant threat as they cut open a Louth defence that were under immense pressure.

All three of their full forward line we were on the scoresheet before the fifth minute and all three ended the contest with significant final tallies. Between them Gavin Weir, Luke Evans and Andy O’Brien accounted for 2-17 and while not scoring Davy Maloney was also a huge threat as a provider.

Louth were under the cosh and were not helped by losing the vast majority of their early puck outs, which meant having to deal with wave upon wave of attack. Thus, teeing up the aforementioned trio.

It led to Louth going short instead and working the ball up the field. But even in this fashion, the aggression in the tackle from Wicklow meant Louth were struggling to get the ball forward whatsoever.

It meant sacrificing bodies up top, as everyone was needed to help try and negate Wicklow’s potent attack, with Andrew Mackin and Conor Murphy the only men left near the opposition posts.

When getting it up the field, Murphy did act as a decent target men, but after a while Conor McNally, the Wicklow keeper, became aware of this aerial threat and started to make sure he was there to win the ball back for his team.

The opening goal came via O’Brien on eight minutes, who slipped past two defenders and blasted it home past Dan O’Neill in the Louth net.

Sean Kerrisk got Louth’s opening score and Seaghan Conneely added another shortly after the first Wicklow goal, but overall the Wee County relied heavily on the marksmanship of Darren Geoghegan for scores. Two frees in this half helped boost morale somewhat, but trailing by 11, it was long way back.

They did notch the next two scores right after the restart, but Wicklow created a serious gap afterward, notching 1-6 without reply.

O’Neill did well to deny Weir a goal as both men collided when going for the ball on 48 minutes, before Wicklow recycled possession. They were still gifted their 2nd goal seconds later when a long range effort from Luke Maloney lobbed it’s way over the keeper.

Throughout the rest of the contest Louth showed pockets of class, as they did all they could to put some more pride into the scoreline. But with Wicklow so superior in midfield, and putting huge pressure on the Louth backs when going short, there was nowhere they could escape.

A miserable afternoon got worse when Christy Moorhouse and Luke Evans rattled the net in the space of 60 seconds towards the end of the contest. But already 16 clear at this stage, it had no real impact on the match.

Geoghegan finished as Louth’s top scorer with eight to his name, while Mark Gahan, Kerrisk and Conneely also hit one over the black spot throughout the second half, but the result was never in question.

Next up for the Wee County is a home tie with Division 3A champions Roscommon.

They accounted for the Westerners earlier in the year but expect a different outfit this Saturday (throw in 3PM), as they were finalists at this grade in 2022 and have looked strong since that Louth defeat.

LOUTH: Dan O’Neill; Conor Quigley, Danny Morgan, Conor Quigley, Stephen Stafford; Conall Shaw, Liam Molloy, Peter Fortune; Adam Plunkett, Darren Geoghegan (0-8, 0-6 frees); Jamie McDonnell, Seaghan Conneely (0-2), Sean Kerrisk (0-2); Andrew Mackin, Conor Murphy, Ryan Walsh. SUBS: Ronan Mulholland for Stafford (25), Aaron McGuinness for Morgan (56), Padraig Fallon for Mackin (56), Mark Gahan (0-1) for Walsh (60).

WICKLOW: Conor McNally; Ben Kearney, Tommy Collins, Martin O’Brien; Padraig Doran, John Henderson, Sam O’Dowd; Luke Moloney (1-3), Diarmuid Masterson (0-1); Eoin McCormack, Jack Doyle (0-1), Davy Maloney; Gavin Weir (0-9, 0-4 frees), Luke Evans (1-3), Andy O’Brien (1-5).

SUBS: Andrew Kavanagh for for McCormack (HT), Mikey Lee (0-1) for Doyle (46), Christy Moorhouse (1-2) for O’Brien (51), Eoghan Byrne for Weir (59), Dylan Byrne for Kearney (59).

REFEREE: C Mooney (Dublin).