Allianz Football League Division Two round two
Louth 1-11 Derry 2-11
DERRY were made to battle every step of the way to maintain their unbeaten start to 2023 against a well-organised Louth side yesterday.
The home side were two points ahead with 12 minutes of normal time remaining and began to hoover up more than their share of breaking balls, with Sam Mulroy’s influence growing.
Enter Niall Toner with a goal to swing the game in the Oak Leafers’ favour. Niall Loughlin’s shot for a point tempted home ‘keeper Peter McStravick off his line. Rather than catch, he elected to punch and while he got plenty on it, the ball landed in the hands of Niall Toner.
There was still plenty to do and Toner mixed composure with a powerful finish, giving Derry the 2-8 to 1-10 lead which they hung onto.
Rory Gallagher’s side needed Odhran Lynch to come to the rescue. He did brilliantly to cut out an audacious Sam Mulroy pass to Craig Lennon.
Late on, Lynch made a block on the line from Ciaran Downey’s flicked effort. Had it gone either side, the point-blank attempt would almost certainly have ended up in the net to win the game.
Instead, Derry built another attack with Oisin McWilliams kicking an insurance point after another lung-busting Paul Cassidy run.
“You are always happy to win,” said Derry manager Rory Gallagher after the game. “We knew it wasn’t going to be straight forward down here. It is an old-school pitch and a very slow pitch.
“We knew that would play into Louth’s hands, but it is no excuse for us being five points up and in control in the first half and letting it slide very carelessly.”
Derry began without Gareth McKinless who sat out the game as a precaution with a “tight quad” but the major talking point was in the Louth selection.
Manager Mickey Harte opted for outfield player Peter McStravick between the posts for his League debut with no goalkeeping experience.
Louth’s set-up was to fill the centre and force Derry to engineer their scores from the wing, while hunting the turnovers and pouring forward.
A kick-out to Conor Grimes helped Louth get off the mark with Tom Jackson kicking a fine early point. The sides traded scores to leave the game level, 0-2 each, after nine minutes before Derry bagged their first goal.
Ethan Doherty’s ball found Shane McGuigan who was fouled by Dermot Campbell. McGuigan stepped up take the kick, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way for a goal that had Derry 1-2 to 0-2 ahead.
Paudi McGrogan and Paul Cassidy tagged on points as Derry went into a five-point lead thanks to the width they generated by getting Cassidy, Toner and Conor McCluskey active on the flanks.
Grimes landed an inspirational point before Louth found the net in the 23rd minute when Liam Jackson slotted the ball under the advancing Lynch and Derry’s lead was cut to a single point.
Daire McConnon levelled matters from a free before kicking Louth back into the lead only for McGuigan to have the final say with a free to tie the game at the break, 1-6 each.
Sam Mulroy got a grip on the game in the third quarter and helped Louth into the lead, passing to substitute Craig Lennon who slotted over with his first touch.
Conor Grimes made a point for Tom Jackson when there was a goal there for the talking after Padraig Cassidy coughed up possession when Derry had everyone on the front foot.
All the momentum was with Louth until Toner’s excellent
58th-minute finish to shoot Derry back into the lead and on their way to a hard-earned victory.
Louth: P McStravick; D Corcoran, D Campbell, D McKenny; L Grey, N Sharkey (0-1), C McKeever; C Grimes (0-1), C Early, C Murphy; L Jackson (1-0), S Mulroy (0-3 1m, 1f), T Jackson (0-2); C Downey;
D McConnon (0-3, 2f)
Subs: C Lennon (0-1) for L Jackson (51), P Lynch for D McKenny (64), J Hughes for D McConnon (64), T Durnin for C Murphy (64), B Duffy for N Sharkey (75)
Derry: O Lynch; C McKaigue, E McEvoy, C McCluskey; P McGrogan (0-2), C Doherty, Paul Cassidy (0-2); C Glass, B Rogers; Niall Toner (1-1), S McGuigan (1-5, 1 pen, 3f), E Doherty; B Heron; L Murray,
N Loughlin
Subs: O McWilliams (0-1) for E Doherty (46), Padraig Cassidy for E McEvoy (49), B McCarron for N Loughlin (58), M Downey for L Murray (66), S Downey for B Heron (70)
Referee P Fallon (Down)
