Louth 2-24
Carlow 3-11
Jackie Cahill reports from O’Moore Park, Portlaoise
RYAN BURNS BAGGED 1-7 as Louth cruised past Carlow in this evening’s first round Leinster SFC clash.
James Califf was another to impress for the Wee County, notching five points, as Colin Kelly’s charges survived a brief second half scare before setting up a quarter-final clash with neighbours Meath on 12 June.
When the sides last met in the Leinster SFC in 2011, Carlow won but the Barrowiders have endured a miserable championship run since then, winning just one of 12 outings.
And that dismal record for Carlow continued at O’Moore Park in Portlaoise, although the final scoreline flattered Louth, as they had ten points to spare at the final whistle.m
Just a point separated the sides in the 37th minute when Carlow’s Chris Blake scored the first of five second half goals.
Division 4 champions Louth hit back to lead by five points but Carlow were back within two when Darragh O’Brien netted fifteen minutes from time.
Injury-time goals from Burns and Anthony Williams added real gloss to the final score from a Louth viewpoint, before Paul Broderick lashed home a stoppage time consolation penalty goal for Carlow.
Louth led by 0-11 to 0-6 at half-time and were full value for it, having made their intentions clear well before throw-in.
They burst from the tunnel in unison and looking full of focus but in contrast, Carlow struggled to get their full team together for the pre-match photograph.
Sean Gannon kicked Carlow into the lead after just 13 seconds with a terrific point but Louth hit back with five on the trot to move into a comfortable lead.
Declan Byrne and Jim McEneaney were showing up well in attack for Louth and by half-time, the pair had registered five points from play between them.
Carlow’s main source of inspiration was midfielder Brendan Murphy, who landed two first half points, but they were sorely lacking elsewhere, as their six starting forwards failed to register a point from play before the break.
Carlow did reduce the deficit to just two points, 0-5 to 0-7, but Louth responded with another scoring burst, four-in-a-row this time to move into their biggest lead to date, 0-11 to 0-5.
Darragh Foley’s free left Carlow with a five-point gap to chase in the second half and it was a challenge they would not win.
Scorers for Louth: Ryan Burns 1-7 (0-5f), James Califf 0-5 (3f), Anthony Williams 1-0, Jim McEneaney 0-3, Derek Maguire, Declan Byrne & Conor Grimes 0-2 each, James Stewart, Gerard McSorley & Ronan Holcroft 0-1 each.
Scorers for Carlow: Darragh Foley 0-5f, Paul Broderick 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1f), Darragh O’Brien & Chris Blake 1-0 each, Brendan Murphy 0-2, Brendan Kavanagh, John Murphy & Sean Gannon 0-1 each.
Louth
1. Craig Lynch (Naomh Mairtín)
4. Kevin Toner (Naomh Padraig)
3. Patrick Reilly (Naomh Brid)
2. Padraig Rath (Dreadnots Ceann Clochair)
5. Derek Maguire (Éire Óg, Dun Dealgan)
6. Darran McMahon (Naomh Mochta)
7. Anthony Williams (Dreadnots Ceann Clochair)
8. James Stewart (Na Gaeil, Dun Dealgan)
9. James Califf (Dreadnots Ceann Clochair)
10. Declan Byrne (Naomh Mochta)
11. Jim McEneaney (Na Gearaltaigh)
12. Conal McKeever (Clan na Gael)
13. Bevan Duffy (Naomh Feichin)
14. Conor Grimes (Emmiti An Ghleanna)
15. Ryan Burns (Ragairi Baile Fiach)
Subs
21. Ruairi Moore (O Raghallaigh) for Duffy (45)
23. Gerard McSorley (Na Gaeil, Dun Dealgan) for McKeever (65)
24. Ronan Holcroft (Naomh Feichin) for McEneaney (70+2)
17. John Bingham (Naomh Mhuire) for McMahon (b/c 70+5)
Carlow
1. Robbie Molloy (Rathvilly)
2. Brendan Kavanagh (Éire Óg)
3. Daniel St Ledger (Kildavin)
4. Kieran Nolan (Fighting Cocks)
7. Hughie Gahan (Old Leighlin)
6. John Murphy (Grange)
5. Gary Kelly (Cnoc Laighean Gascaigh)
8. Brendan Murphy (Rathvilly)
9. Sean Gannon (Éire Óg)
10. Darren Lunney (Ballinabranna)
11. Darragh O’Brien (Éire Óg)
12. Alan Kelly (Rathvilly)
13. Paul Broderick (Tinryland)
14. Darragh Foley (Kilbride)
15. Chris Blake (Éire Óg)
Subs
19. Brian Murphy (Rathvilly) for Lunney (49)
20. Graham Power (O’Hanrahans) for Murphy (59)
21. Donal Smithers (Naomh Eoin) for Blake (70)
18. Ed Finnegan (Rathvilly) for A Kelly (70)
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).
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