McDonnell connection help in-form Louth past Derry and in hunt for seat at top table

A third consecutive win, this time against leaders Derry has put promotion firmly within reach for Gavin Devlin’s side heading into the final round

TRENDING UP: Louth manager Gavin Devlin celebrates with player Conall McCaul after his side's victory in the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Derry at DEFY Pairc Mhuire in Ardee, Louth. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

NFL Division 2: Louth 1-19 Derry 0-18

From a long shot to a possibility, Louth reignited their promotion push with the strongest run of form of anyone in Division two.

A third consecutive win, this time against leaders Derry has put the top table firmly within reach for Gavin Devlin’s side heading into the final round, with the three McDonnell’s Niall, Dara and Tadhg all playing pivotal roles in the result. None of them are related.

Goalkeeper Niall McDonnell produced arguably the defining moment of the contest when he saved Shane McGuigan’s second-half penalty. With Derry building momentum and the wind at their backs, the stop halted the visitors’ match-winning surge and proved to be the winning of the contest.

Louth had taken full advantage of the conditions in the opening half, leading 1-7 to 0-4 at the interval. Three two-pointers helped create that cushion, the first coming from an outstanding Dara McDonnell, who delivered a commanding display at centre-half back.

Now the Division’s leading scorer, Sam Mulroy also made his mark, converting a first-half penalty after Kieran McArdle was fouled. With the scoreboard pressure mounting, Louth remained composed in possession and were clinical on the counterattack.

Derry responded strongly after the restart. Niall Loughlin led the charge with three early points as the visitors began to chip away at the deficit. With McGuigan scoreless, Loughlin would finish as Derry’s top scorer on the day as their challenge gathered momentum.

Yet, Louth responded decisively when Tadhg McDonnell was introduced from the bench. His first effort steadied the hosts before he produced a superb two-pointer that lifted the home crowd and restored belief.

Sub Matthew Downey also struck from distance for Derry during their push, but McGuigan’s missed penalty proved costly. A relation of Enda Muldoon’s, Dara McDonnell immediately punished the miss with the next score to crush Derry.

Unusually quiet, Conor Glass showed why Derry are close to promotion with an orange flag, before that the home side had notched three unanswered scores. These two could whip up another entertaining league final by the looks of things.

Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 1-6 (1tp, 1f, 1-0pen), Tadhg McDonnell (1tp) Dara McDonnell (1tp) 0-3 each, Paul Mathews (1tp), Kieran McArdle 0-2 each, Conall McCaul, Conall McKeever, and Sean Reynolds 0-1 each.

Scorers for Derry: Niall Loughlin 0-7 (1tpf, 1f), Conor Glass 0-3 (1tp), Paul Cassidy (1tp) and Matthew Downey (1tp) 0-2 each, Lachlan Murray, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty and Eoin McEvoy 0-1 each.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Emmett Carolan, Dermot Campbell, Daire Nally; Conall McKeever, Dara McDonnell, Eoghan Callaghan; Tommy Durnin, Conor Early; Paul Mathews, Sam Mulroy, James Maguire; Ciaran Keenan, Conall McCaul, Kieran McArdle.

Subs: Tadhg McDonnell for Maguire (43), Donal McKenny for E Callaghan (58), Sean Callaghan for Durnin (62), Conor Branigan for D McDonnell (63), Sean Reynolds for McCaul (65).

Derry: Shea McGuckin, Diarmuid Baker, Ruairi Forbes, Shea Downey, Conor Doherty, Gareth McKinless, Padraig McGrogan, Conor Glass, Brendan Rogers, Ethan Doherty, Shane McGuigan, Dan Higgins; Paul Cassidy, Niall Loughlin, Lachlan Murray.

Subs: Niall Toner for S Downey (47), Matthew Downey for Higgins (53), Eoin McEvoy for Forbes (57), Sean Young for E Doherty (62).

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)