Extra time flurry sees Louth Minors secure Leinster silverware

Seamus Heaney Cup Final

Louth 4-21 Wexford 3-15

It may not have been the silverware that the Louth Minors expected to be contesting for this season, but in the end, they still finished their year on a high note, getting the better of Wexford at a sun drenched Aughrim to secure the Seamus Heaney Cup.

Having lost out to Offaly in the Leinster Quarter Final, the Wee County ended up in this competition alongside the other teams that failed to make the provincial semi-finals. And after accounting for Longford in Darver a week earlier, Wexford stood in their way of taking this title.

Despite leading at half time, a second half burst saw the Yellowbellies building up a five-point cushion as the tie entered the final quarter. However, David Reid and Johnny Clerkin’s troops battled back gamely to send the final to extra time.

And from here there was only going to be one winner, Louth by far the superior team as they outscored their opponents by 2-6 to 0-3 points across the 20 added minutes. Two goals from Ryan Shevlin sucking all the life out of Wexford, leading to an impressive nine point margin of victory.

After trading early points from the boots of Adam Gillespie and Darragh Dee, it was Wexford that bagged the first goals of the evening on seven minutes. A Lovely team move saw them break through the Louth defence, with Darren Rossiter firing home a bullet past Tiernan Markey.

The sides were soon level once more when Pearse Grimes Murphy managed to find the back of the net on 10 minutes after the teams had earlier traded a score apiece. Three points quickly followed as the boys in red went three clear by the end of the first quarter.

Dylan Gregan’s troops didn’t let Louth slip way, two frees from Harry Murphy helping to reduce the gap to just a single point. But while Louth largely got their scores from play, Wexford were heavily reliant on drawing fouls. Four of their 1-6 in the first half coming from the placekicker.

Conor MacCriosta, Dylan Shevlin, Padraic Tinnelly and Gillespie all hit the frame before half time to help them go into the break three ahead, 1-9 to 1-6. Louth seemingly in the ascendancy.

However, only for a clearance off the line the teams would’ve been level at the break, as Rory Gilbert came close to equalising with a goal. But within a minute of the restart he had got his three pointer, with Gilbert fisting home a long range pass from Darragh Dee.

Soon afterwards, the St Mary’s Maudlintown attacker bagged a mark to regain the lead for his side. Dylan Shevlin and Darragh Gethings traded points, before Wexford really began turning the screw with a couple of huge goal chances in quick succession.

Gethings was denied by Cian O’Donoghue, who replaced Markey between the sticks at half time, while Brian Roban’s effort was denied by the crossbar. The Geraldines’ keeper was called into action again to deny Darragh Dee.

Wexford finally got their third goal on 43 minutes. Cathal Kehoe the provider this time for Gilbert, whose green flag saw his team go five in front, 3-10 to 1-11.

Louth could've gone into their shell at this stage, thinking it just wasn’t their night. But instead they contained their opponents to just two more points in normal time, all while posting 1-4 of their own.

Gillespie, Jason Brady and Keelan Martin all raised white flags, before Gillespie fired home a penalty just before the game entered injury time.

Just a point separated them now, but when a Ryan Shevlin effort at goals was blocked and another effort from distance went wide, it looked all over for Louth. But in the final minute of the four allotted by the referee Stephen Fagan, Gillespie slotted over a free to send the game to extra time.  

It was one way traffic from here on in, and despite Jack Conneely coming close to goal early on, his shot instead blocked out for a 45, Wexford were kept to just three more scores in this contest. Two of them coming when the tie was essentially already decided.

Some great fielding by Conor McGinty teed up Dylan Shevlin, whose goal seven minutes into extra time put Louth six clear. And when he managed to grab a second goal just 30 seconds into the second period of extra time, there was really no coming back for the Yellow bellies.

Tony McDonnell (2), Grimes Murphy (2), Shevlin and McGinty raised white flags across the 20 minutes of extra time, as they produced a superb late showing to secure the Seamus Heaney Cup.

10 different players got on the scoresheet in this final, showcasing the firepower this team possesses when on-song. Whether at this grade or at U20 level, all will be keen to continue to produce the goods in a county jersey as they try to end Louth’s long wait for a provincial crown.   

Louth: Tiernan Markey; Cian Farrell, Caoimhin Prout, Keelin Martin (0-1); Liam Coleman, Padraic Tinnelly (0-1), Cormac McKeown; Conor McGinity (0-2), Jason Brady (0-1); Conor Mac Criosta (0-1), Dylan Shevlin (0-2), Pearse Grimes Murphy (1-4); Adam Gillespie (1-5, 0-4 frees, 1-0), Shane Lennon, Ryan Shevlin (2-2). Subs: Josh Taafe for Tinnelly (HT), Cian O’Donoghue for Markey (HT), Tony McDonnell (0-2) for Lennon (45), Robbie Mathews for Dylan Shevlin (49), Jack Healy for Mac Criosta (56), Justin Cooney for Coleman (56), James Corcoran for Farrell (76), Donnacha Hodgins for Ryan Shevlin (76), Liam Brannigan for Grimes Murphy (78).

Wexford: Ryan Sinnott; Aidan Brennan, Niall Furlong, Mikey Hughes; Shane Reddy, Darragh Harris, Eoin Hughes; Darragh Dee (0-1), Cathal Kehoe; Michael Kavanagh, Harry Murphy (0-7, 0-6 frees, 0-1 45), Brian Roban; Rory Gilbert (2-2, 0-1 mark), Darragh Gethings (0-1), Darren Rossiter (1-3). Subs: Dan Mulvihill for Brennan (56), Jack Conneely for Gethings (57), Chris Frawley for Rossiter (60), Sam Foley (0-1) for Brian Roban (60), Darragh Shannon for Mikey Hughes (73), Odran Kehoe for Foley (74).

Referee: Stephen Fagan.