LOUTH 3-18 MONAGHAN 1-4

For the second week running the Louth hurlers made full use of home advantage recording a comfortable victory this time over Monaghan at a cold Darver Centre of Excellence on Sunday afternoon (20/02/2001).

On this occasion eight different Louth players contributed scores as the Wee County made it two wins from two in the National League with Fingal next up for Paddy Kellys side on Sunday week. It only took 20 seconds for the home side to open their account when straight from the throw corner forward Diarmuid O Sullivan brushed aside a couple of tackles before firing past keeper Hugh Byrne from close range. Full forward Gerard Smyth followed that early score up with a couple of points both from frees. A foul on ex Louth player Trevor Hilliard presented Monaghan with their first scoring opportunity as Stephen Lambe struck over the resulted free on five minutes. From the resultant puck out the impressive Brian Corcoran scored a good point and he would go onto be Louths top scorer on the day with 2-3. The sides shared the next four points with Louth now leading by 1-5 to 0-3 on the quarter hour. Corcoran had a hand in the next three scores, scoring two points himself as well as setting up Darren O Hanrahan for a good point. Monaghan did have opportunities but were unable to add to the first half tally as Louth again upped the tempo in the closing ten minutes of the half scoring four unanswered points from Shane Callan, Gerard Smyth (2 frees) and Donagh O Sullivan to lead by 1-12 to 0-3 at the break.

Just as in the first half Diarmuid O Sullivan was on target inside 60 second this time with a point with Smyth adding another from a long range free on 39 minutes. The young Mattock Rangers player Brian Corcoran followed these early scores up with probably the score of the game on 46 minutes when after picking up possession on the ring wing he soloed through a stationary Monaghan defence before firing to the net from just inside the 13 metre line. The Farney men had to play out the last 23 minutes with just 14 men when Down referee Declan McGee sent off their centre half back Jim McHugh. Gerard Smyth fired over the resultant 20 metre free to leave the score now 2-15 to 0-3 in his sides favour. Louths third goal came on 53 minutes when David Dunne passed the sliotar inside to Brian Corcoran who volleyed home from close range. Both sides then took the opportunities to give their full quota of substitutes some Allianz National League action as the game came to its inevitable conclusion. David Dunne grabbed his only point of the afternoon on 62 minutes and five minutes Monaghan did manage a consolation goal when Trevor Hilliard played in Gary Boyd who beat keeper James Connolly with a good effort. Midfielders Donagh O Sullivan and Shane Callan then completed the scoring for the winners with a point a piece as the last action of the day saw Stephen Lambe firing over an injury time point for Monaghan.

LOUTH: James Connolly; Adrian Wallace, Conor Kerrigan, Mark Wallace; Domhnall McArdle, Ronan Byrne, Diarmuid Murphy (0-1); Donagh O Sullivan (0-1), Shane Callan (0-3); Shane Fennell, David Dunne (0-1), Darren O Hanrahan (0-1); Brian Corcoran (2-3), Gerard Smith (0-6 all frees), Diarmuid O Sullivan (1-2). Subs - Brian Hassett for A Wallace (44mins), Paddy McCormack for R Byrne (49 mins), Cathal Ryan for S Fennell (49 mins), Wesley Morrissey for G Smith (57mns), Aidan Callan for Diarmuid O Sullivan (57 mins).

MONAGHAN: Hugh Byrne; Alan Lambe, Paul Murphy, Peter Treanor; PJ Boyle, Jim McHugh, Padraig Dowdall; Trevor Hilliard, Seamus Roche; Stephen Lambe (0-4 all frees), Gary Boyd (1-0), Eanna MacSuibhne; Ronan Meegan, Michael McHugh, Brian McGuigan. Subs - Martin Murphy for E MacSuibhne (50 mins), Johnny McAnespie for PJ Boyle (55 mins), Aengus MacSuibhne for R Meegan (60 mins), Fergal Rafter for B McGuigan (67 mins), Ronan MacAteer for H Byrne (67 mins).

Wides : Louth 12 (6 in first half); Monaghan 7 (4 in first half).

Referee : Declan McGee (Down)

[Report: Maurice Murphy]