NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIV 3A
LOUTH 4-24 DONEGAL 0-12

Louth recorded their first win in this years National Hurling League when they easily accounted for Donegal in this Div 3A clash at a sunny Centre of Excellence in Darver on Sunday afternoon (March 25). The scoring hero for the Wee County on this occasion was young full forward Brian Corcoran who grabbed an impressive hat-trick in a personal tally of 3-3. In total seven different players contributed scores for Pat Clancy's side with Diarmuid Murphy (6) and Shane Fennell (8) accounting for fourteen of the sides points in what was a good all round team performance.

The home side led by 1-8 to no score after just eleven minutes before Lee Henderson fired over Donegal's first point from their first scoring opportunity on 12 minutes. Louths first goal was scored by Corcoran who finished off a solo run by firing past the keeper from close range. The scores continued to mount up with regularity as further points from Murphy (3), Fennell (4), Kevin McNally and Adrian Wallace helped Louth to lead by 1-18 to 0-5 at the break.  The winners second goal arrived inside the first minute of the restart when Darren O Hanrahan soloed through the Donegal defence before unleashing an unstoppable shot past keeper Burns.

With the wind now aiding the Ulster side for the second half they managed to curtail the home sides scoring opportunities as the sides went on to share the next six points. Corcoran then saw a goal bound effort deflected off the substitute keeper PJ Browne for his sides next point. On 59 minutes he did grab his second goal of this encounter when he scrambled home from close range after Ronan Byrnes initial effort had been well saved. Henderson and Fennell then exchanged pointed frees before Louth sealed a welcome victory as Corcoran completed his hat-trick on 64 minutes when he took a pass from Ronan Byrne before netting from a tight angle.

Brian Corcoran scored a hat-trick in the victory over Donegal

Louth complete their Div 3A campaign when they host Tyrone, again in Darver next Sunday April 1. The side will be looking to build on this performance with the Nicky Rackard Cup clash with Armagh now over a month away.

LOUTH: Johnny Carter; Donal Rafferty, Wesley Morrissey, Mark Wallace; Domhnall McArdle, Ronan Byrne, Diarmuid Murphy (0-6, 0-1free); Shane Callan (0-1), Donagh O Sullivan;Darren O'Hanrahan (1-0), Shane Fennell (0-8, 0-4 frees), David Dunne; Kevin McNally (0-3), Brian Corcoran (3-3), Adrian Wallace (0-3).
Subs - David Mahoney for K McNally (45m), Derek Horan for D O Sullivan (56), Daire McKiernan for D Rafferty (62), Andrew McCrave for M Wallace (62), Gerard McKeown for S Fennell (66).
Booked - Kevin McNally (42).

DONEGAL: Paul Burns; Padraig Doherty, Conor McLaughlin, Marty McGrath; Justin Browne, Ardal McDermott, Chris McDermott; Paul Sheridan (0-3), Eugene Organ; Ronan McDermott, Stephen Gillespie, Lee Henderson (0-9, 0-7 frees); Michael McGee, Conor McVeigh, Colm Flood.
Subs - Shane Gallen for C McLaughlin (9m), Chris Gallagher for C Flood (49), P J Browne for P Burns (52), Conor Goulding for E Organ (60), Lee Scanlon for M McGee (60).
Booked - Lee Henderson (19).

Wides: Louth 11(six in first half); Donegal 2 (0 in first half).

REFEREE: B Sweeney (Cavan)

[Report: Maurice Murphy]