Wee glee as brave
Monday May 1st 2006
[/img]
John Neary of Louth fends off a challenge from Donegal's Christy Toye during yesterday's division two final at Kingspan Breffni Park.
Determined display denies Donegal to land Division 2 title
Louth 1-12
Donegal 1-9
NFL Div 2 Final Replay
THEY'VE watched a lot of silverware travel through their towns and roads in Louth since their last Allianz NFL Division 2 title in 2000.
From first All-Ireland titles for Armagh and Tyrone to last year's corresponding league win for Monaghan the Wee County has been a pathway for success in the last six years, not a destination.
But at Kingspan Breffni Park in Cavan yesterday they got a slice of their own action, learning from the mistakes made in last week's drawn second half when they failed to defend a healthy lead.
Their manager Eamonn McEneaney hadn't hoped to learn from those mistakes last week he had promised it and true to his word when Louth got their noses in front this time they were a much different team.
Spurred on by an opportunist Mark Stanfield goal just before half-time they took a slender 1-6 to 1-5 lead into the interval and built on it in the first few minutes just after half-time, the game's key period.
The naive streak they showed seven days earlier was nowhere to be seen as Louth protected their lead and their goals.
The flowing football of the drawn game was replaced by a greater level of cynicism all round with referee Marty Duffy red carding Donegal's Paddy Campbell and yellow carding 11 players (seven Louth).
The manner of the victory won't concern Louth, however, as they rolled up their sleeves and gritted their teeth in difficult conditions.
They slowed the game down at every opportunity, were never afraid to risk a booking to halt an opponent and disrupt Donegal's trademark build-up with so many players coming from deep positions, as evidenced by the 16 frees they conceded in the second half.
Critically they got men behind the ball in a way that they failed to do in last week's second half and closed off the channels of attack that had opened so favourably for Donegal in the drawn game. The joyous scenes at the end when captain Martin Farrelly accepted the cup will be replicated five fold if Louth can maintain their momentum when they meet neighbours Meath in two weeks time.
Louth's success will serve to heighten the interest in this clash with expectations of a first win over their Boyneside rivals for 31 years rising.
Whatever the results is in two weeks time there is now tangible evidence to suggest that Louth are very much on the right road. Having coughed up that seven point lead last week the perception was that they had blown their chance.
But it was quite apparent in the opening quarter that there was a steely resolve to their approach. They should have been vulnerable early on but instead got the first three points from John O'Brien, Farrelly and Darren Clarke.
The things that worked so well for Donegal in the second half of the drawn game misfired yesterday.
Adrian Sweeney turned the game with his introduction seven days earlier but struggled yesterday, Ciaran Bonner was largely anonymous and Neil Gallagher was never allowed to dominate.
In contrast Mark Stanfield, substituted last week, was, apart from Paddy Keenan, arguably Louth's most influential player, scoring that crucial 33rd minute goal and driving over a 45 to calm Louth's nerves in the 61st minute.
Stanfield also made his presence felt around the middle to supply good ball into his inside forwards who thrived themselves.
Darren Clarke popped over four points (one free) and Aaron Hoey helped himself to two, a profitable return for both players in difficult conditions.
Donegal had led briefly in the first half when Michael Doherty brilliantly converted a 19th minute penalty after Louth goalkeeper Stuart Reynolds had pulled down Damien Diver.
They were still leading as half-time approached when Mark Brennan's effort for a point off his left foot dipped perfectly for Stanfield who nipped in to slap the ball past the waiting Paul Durcan for a 1-6 to 1-5 lead.
Points from Clarke (twice) and Stanfield within five minutes of the restart set the tone for the second half.
Donegal did manage to get within a point as Doherty (twice, one free) and Sweeney, with a great free, found their range.
But commendably Louth showed nerve to respond as Hoey from an awkward angle and Clarke from a free restored a three point lead.
Campbell's 53rd minute sending off for retaliating to Paddy Keenan's tackle gave Louth further impetus and they battened down the hatches.
Jamie Carr, Peter McGinnity and John Neary all defended resiliently. Sweeney did get a point and may have had a goal after gathering Damien Diver's delivery but a foot block from Stuart Reynolds on 62 minutes denied him.
MAN OF THE MATCH - Paddy Keenan
SCORERS - Louth: M Stanfield 1-2 (0-1f), D Clare 0-4 (0-1f), A Hoey 0-2, J O'Brien, M Farrelly, P Keenan, C Grimes(f) all 0-1 each. Donegal: M Doherty 1-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), A Sweeney 0-3 (2f), B Monaghan, B Dunnion, C Toye all 0-1 each.
LOUTH - S Reynolds; D Brennan, C Goss, J Carr; J O'Brien, P McGinnity, J Neary; M Farrelly, P Keenan; C Grimes, M Brennan, M Stanfield; J P Rooney, A Hoey, D Clarke. Subs: R Carroll for Grimes (69).
DONEGAL - P Durcan; R Sweeney, P Campbell, K Lacey; D Diver, B Monaghan, B Dunnion; B Boyle, N Gallagher; C Toye, C Bonner, R Kavanagh; A Sweeney, J Gallagher, M Doherty. Subs: S McDermott for Boyle (16), M Hegarty for J Gallagher (41), F McGlynn for Monaghan (53), C Dunne for Bonner (58),
REF - M Duffy (Sligo).