Cavan hold off Louth fightback to secure important win

BIG WIN: Sam Mulroy of Louth with Meath manager Colm O’Rourke after the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Meath and Louth at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Louth 3-9

Cavan 2-13

Cavan held off a Louth fightback in a chaotic affair in DEFY Pairc Mhuire that sees both sides eyeing up opposite ends of the Division 2 table.

With three games remaining, Cavan are in line for a promotion tilt while Louth on the back of their third one point defeat this campaign, are staring relegation.

The visitors' third quarter blitz stunned Louth and had the hosts chasing their tails. James Smith scored his first goal for his county and in the celebrations shellshocked Louth lost Ciarán Downey to a straight red card.

Raymond Galligan’s side built up a six point lead at that juncture and it would be enough to soften the blow of their own discipline matters.

Goalscorer Smith and Oisín Brady both picked up two yellow cards apiece and with 13 men on the field the travelling Breffni party held strong.

Sam Mulroy found the net in the opening half from a penalty and added his second in the midst of this dominant run in. Louth led at half time against the wind 2-3 to 1-5. Ryan Burns continued his fine form this season with the second major.

A concession of a soft opening goal put Louth on the back foot, Gerard Smith intercepted and blasted past Niall McDonnell but Louth fought back.

With Ciarán Keenan exceptional in the second period it looked to be following the same pattern as the first, but Louth could not find the equaliser. Paddy Lynch’s contribution when his side needed him, the difference.

Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 2-2 (1-0pen, 2f), Ryan Burns 1-0, Conor Grimes and Ciarán Keenan 0-2 each, Ciarán Downey and Tom Jackson 0-1.

Scorers for Cavan: Paddy Lynch 0-8 (5f, 1’45) James Smith and Gerard Smith 1-0 each, Cian Madden and Caoimhín O’Reilly (1m) 0-2 each, Cormac O’Reilly 0-1.

LOUTH: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dermot Campbell, Peter Lynch; Leonard Grey, Anthony Williams, Conall McKeever; Conor Early, Tommy Durnin; Paul Mathews, Ciarán Keenan, Conor Grimes; Ryan Burns, Sam Mulroy, Ciarán Downey.

SUBS: Tom Jackson for Mathews (44), Niall Sharkey for Grey (57), Conall McCaul for Early (62), Ciarán Murphy for Williams (62), Kyle McElroy for Burns (68).

CAVAN: Gary O’Rourke; , Jason McLoughlin, Killian Brady, Oisín Kiernan; Padraig Faulkner, Niall Carolan, Brian O’Connell; Killian Clarke, James Smith; Ciarán Brady, Cian Madden, Gerard Smith; Caoimhín O’Reilly, Paddy Lynch, Oisín Brady.

SUBS: Cian Reilly for Kiernan (ht), Cormac O’Reilly for C O’Reilly (ht), Conor Rehill for K Clarke (62), Ryan O’Neill for Madden (64).

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).