Louth's 14 dig deep to prevail over Monaghan in another quarter-final cracker

Despite going a man down after just seven minutes, Louth progress to an All-Ireland semi-final for the first time since 1957.

Ciaran Byrne of Louth celebrates after kicking a point during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Louth and Monaghan at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Monaghan: 2-18 (2-3-12) Louth: 0-27 (0-2-23) 

No one knows what will happen next. They’ll tell you they saw this coming, that Louth’s stunning triumph to make their first All-Ireland semi-final since 1957 was written in the stars. They are wrong.

A point down with three minutes left, Gavin Devlin’s men rattled off the final four points to down Monaghan. Former AFL star Ciaran Byrne came off the bench to kick three points. Fellow substitute Tadgh McDonnell scored the same.

At 1.45 pm, they were strong favourites. Monaghan were without two vital players. Seven minutes later, a red card threatened to cripple their challenge. A spirited side refused to give in. This new game is completely unpredictable, even if it eventually ends as some expected. No one saw it happening like this.

Monaghan were dealt a huge blow before throw-in when goalkeeper Rory Beggan and midfielder Karl Gallagher were replaced in the squad. U20 captain Jamie Mooney started in goals while Oisin McGorman was also added to the starting team.

They proceeded to race into a four-point lead as Conor McCarthy and Andrews Woods ignited the Farney Army on the Hill. With seven minutes on the clock, Louth were the ones reeling as midfielder Sean Callaghan saw red for a late hit on McGorman.

At first look, it seemed like a typical third-man tackle. However, Sean Hurson evidently deemed the challenge to be dangerous, involving a shoulder to the head.

After all the talk about the extreme consequences that accompany a red card, Louth still led at half-time on a 0-12 to 1-7 scoreline. They went for seven two-pointers, converting two. Ciarán Downey kicked a corker just before the hooter to send them bouncing down the tunnel.

While McGorman finished one goal chance after another immense run from Stephen O’Hanlon, Monaghan butchered many more. Dara McDonnell’s orange flag came directly after Micheál Bannigan failed to beat Niall McDonnell.

Mícheál Bannigan of Monaghan reacts as a free is awarded against his side during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship quarter-final match between Louth and Monaghan at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

A further problem was difficulty in securing their own kickout. Mooney is a bright prospect but unexposed at this level, so Louth covered the Monaghan defenders around the arc with one less, three versus four or our versus five, to maintain pressure around the middle. They were unable to make the most of an extra body in their press at the other end either.

In the end, Louth won 73% of their kickouts. Monaghan’s retention was 60%.

Four points on the bounce, one of which could have been a goal if James Maguire hadn’t blasted over, had Louth in the ascendancy.

Then came the typical Monaghan burst. Jack McCarron with two two-pointers, an outstanding O’Hanlon goal after brilliant work by Ryan O’Toole, a fine point by Max Maguire to push them ahead.

The noise that Croke Park produced as Louth fought back once more was spine-tingling. Byrne turned to the stand and celebrated every score elaborately. Monaghan’s efforts to pepper the square were futile and for his final act, Byrne stood with the ball and held his hands aloft. What a thrill ride. More to come.

Scorers for Monaghan: J. McCarron 0-5 (1 tp, 1 tpf); A. Woods, M. Bannigan (1f) 0-4 each; O. McGorman, S. O’Hanlon 1-0 each; C. McCarthy 0-3 (1 tp); M. Maguire, S. Mooney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Louth: S. Mulroy 0-5 (2f); J. Maguire, R. Burns 0-4 each; C. Byrne, T. McDonnell 0-3 each; D. McDonnell (tp), C. Downey 0-2 (tp) each; D. McKenny, C. Lennon, C. Early, K. McArdle 0-1 each.

MONAGHAN: J. Mooney; R. Wylie, R. O’Toole, D. Byrne; O. McGorman, K. Lavelle, C. McCarthy; M. McCarville, D. Ward; A. Carey, R. McAnespie, S. O’Hanlon; J. McCarron, A. Woods, M. Bannigan.

Subs: S. Mooney for McAnespie (41); M. Maguire for Carey (49); D. McElearney for McGorman (55); D. Garland for Woods (63); R. Hanratty for Ward (66).

LOUTH: N. McDonnell; E. Carolan, D. McKenny, D. Nally; C. McKeever, D. McDonnell, C. Lennon; C. Early, S. Callaghan; J. Maguire, S. Mulroy, C. Grimes; K. McArdle, C. Downey, R. Burns.

Subs: C. Byrne for McArdle (26-28, Temp); T. McDonnell for McKeever (41); P. Matthews for Grimes (43); T. Durnin for Early (55); C. Byrne for McArdle (56); C. Keenan for Maguire (67).

Referee: S. Hurson (Tyrone).