LOUTH laid the foundations for this fully-deserved 1-10 to 0-9 victory over Armagh at the Athletic Grounds by prudently going for long-range points in the first half, assisted by a gale force wind.
The Wee County landed 10 points mostly from around the 40-metre mark as their opponents failed to score.
They sealed victory with a gift-wrapped Alan Doherty goal five minutes after the break which was to be Louth’s only score in this half.
Against the wind Armagh created a number of scoring chances and should surely have had their first score when Gerard Houlihan was grounded by his former team-mate Gareth O’Neill as he was going for goal.
The close-in free was incredulously missed by young Oisin McConville who redeemed himself in the second half by scoring two-thirds of Armagh’s total.
This bigger and stronger Louth side was inspirationally led by their prodigious midfielder Seamus O’Hanlon who also scored three points.
Armagh: Brendan Tierney, E Martin, M McNeill, C Hanratty, D Horisk, T McEntee (0- 1), J McNulty, P McGrane, J Burns, O McConville (0-6), B O’Hagan, M McQuillan, J Rafferty, M Toye, G Houlihane.
Subs: C Shortt (0-2) for O’Hagan; J McEntee for McQuillan (38 mins).
Louth: N O’Donnell, N Malone, G O’Neill, C Nash, G Curran (0-2), J Donaldson, S Melia, S O’Hanlon (0-3), K Reilly, M Farrelly (0-1), D Reilly, P Butterly (0-3), J Levins, O McDonnell, A Doherty (1-0).
Subs: B Kerin for Nash (38); C O;Hanlon for Farrelly (53).
Referee: Mick McGrath (Donegal).
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Fermanagh got their National League campaign off to a winning start at Ruislip, yesterday. The six-point margin of their 1-11 to 0-8 victory over London doing justice to the sharper forward play of the Erne men.
Pat King’s men were wasteful of any chances they received in the opening minutes, a wide total of 10 over the hour – six in the first half alone – tells its own tale.
London: J Doyle, J Devine, C O’Reilly, S Doherty, B McDonagh, Senan Hehir, P tinnelly, M Heslin, M Tucker, N Harrington (0-1), S McGrellis (0-1), A Creaner, W Knight (0-3), T Maguire (0-2), E Blaney.
Subs: P Coggins for Blaney and A Murphy (0-1) for Heslin
Fermanagh: C McAdam, P Courtney, S Breen, C Fitzpatrick, R Curran, B King, T Callaghan, P Brewster, C Courtney, K Donnelly (0-4), C Curran (0-1), M Greene, R Gallagher (1-0), Ruairi Gallagher (0-3), S King (0-2)
Subs: Mark Gallagher for R Gallagher and John Caddin (0-1) for Greene
Ref: Kevin Walshe (Clare)
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A MUCH-improved Wicklow side gave Antrim the worst possible start to the league yesterday.
Allstar Kevin O’Brien ran amok, scoring one goal and six points, capping a fine individual performance for the visitors who ran out 1-11 to 1-6 winners.
Colum McCabe, who was committed throughout, got Antrim’s hearts beating with a third-minute goal.
But McCabe’s goal was not added to until the 25th minute. By that stage Wicklow, playing with a strong breeze at their backs,
Eight Saffron wides after the break took their toll and despite a mini-rally with five minutes remaining, Antrim could not find the killer touch in front of goal.
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THE sun can hide and the clouds might threaten a downpour but poor weather over Belfast yesterday did not dampen the joy of Patrick Sarsfields, its mentors, players and supporters at the opening of the club’s splendid new pitch.
No longer will the Sarsfields pitch be known as “bear pit”.
Yesterday’s official opening by Cumann Luthchleas Gael president Jack Boothman was greeted by a crowd of nearly 1,000 people coming from all over Ireland to see Sarsfields open a new chapter of its 90-year history.
The main attraction of the day saw Antrim hurlers take on 1995 All Ireland champions Clare.
The Munster men, who had flown to Belfast on an Aer Lingus flight, won an entertaining game by 1-14 to 1- 12.
History was recorded by Sarsfields man Ciaran McKiernan.
He became the first “Paddy” to score on the new ground – a goal, while guesting for the Saffron county.
