Monaghan come from five down to share the spoils with Louth

SHARE OF THE SPOILS: Monaghan came from five points down midway through the second half to salvage a draw with neighbours Louth in front of over 11,000 in Clones. Pic: Philip Fitzpatrick/Sportsfile

All-Ireland SFC: Monaghan 2-10 Louth 2-10 

Monaghan came from five points down midway through the second half to salvage a draw with neighbours Louth in front of over 11,000 in Clones. First-half goals by Craig Lennon and Conor Grimes had put Louth in pole position for a second win of the group stage, but despite being pegged back in the end, the draw will be enough for the Wee County to go through to the knock-outs. 

Monaghan dug deep in the second half to halt their losing streak, helped by Mícheál Bannigan punishing a stray pass to hit an unguarded net. Their wait for a craved win goes on, however, after Sam Mulroy cancelled out a Rory Beggan free that had edged the hosts ahead for the only time late on.

Louth took an early lead with a brace of frees by Sam Mulroy, while it took a wasteful Monaghan side ten minutes to open their account through Joel Wilson. Mulroy had a goal-attempt from point-blank range saved by Rory Beggan, but he converted the resulting ’45 and Monaghan’s clean sheet only got a brief reprieve until Craig Lennon blasted home his third goal in two games.

Monaghan responded with a brilliantly-finished goal from Conor McCarthy, while points from Jack McCarron (free) and Kieran Duffy (mark) were cancelled out by Mulroy. Louth finished the first half on a high when Conor Grimes fired home their second goal to make it 2-5 to 1-3 at the break.

Monaghan started the second half with more purpose, hitting early points through Mícheál Bannigan, Gary Mohan and Ryan O’Toole. A Ryan Burns brace restored Louth’s four-point lead and although Ciarán McNulty got one back for Monaghan, Ciarán Downey and Mulroy replied for Louth, who passed up a great chance to go six clear going into the final quarter.

Conor McManus came on to kick a couple of frees on his 200th senior appearance for Monaghan, who got a major boost on the hour mark when Bannigan intercepted a loose pass deep inside the Louth half and deftly lobbed into an empty net. A trademark free by Rory Beggan had Monaghan ahead for the only time in the game, but Mulroy converted his seventh from a similar distance to level it up.

The game ended with seven scoreless minutes, which meant the teams had to settle for a point apiece. Louth remain second in Group 4 ahead of a final-round meeting with Kerry, while Monaghan will put their hopes of progressing on the line against Meath.

Scorers for Monaghan: M Bannigan 1-1; C McCarthy 1-0; C McManus 0-2f; R Beggan (f), R O’Toole, Kieran Duffy (m), G Mohan, J Wilson, C McNulty, J McCarron (f) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Louth: S Mulroy 0-7 (6f, 1 ’45); C Lennon, C Grimes 1-0 each; R Burns 0-2; C Downey 0-1.

MONAGHAN: R Beggan; R O’Toole, K Lavelle, R Wylie; J Irwin, K Duffy (Capt.), C McCarthy; G Mohan, J Wilson; M Hamill, M Bannigan, S O’Hanlon; R McAnespie; J McCarron, C McNulty.

Subs: K O’Connell for Duffy (H-T); C McManus for McCarron (45); A Woods for O’Connell (inj., 53); S Jones for Hamill (63); M McCarville for Wilson (70 + 3).

LOUTH: N McDonnell; D McKenny, D Corcoran; P Lynch; C McKeever, A Williams, C Lennon; T Durnin, C Grimes; N Sharkey, B Duffy, C Downey; R Burns, S Mulroy (Capt.), C Keenan.

Subs: L Grey for Lennon, C Byrne for Downey (inj.) (both 54); P Mathews for Sharkey (65); T Jackson for Burns (66).

Referee: F Kelly (Longford).