Reds pass Trinity test with flying colours
KEHOE CUP
Derek Horan gets a clearance away despite the attentions of Oisin Daly, while below Ronan Byrne tries to break past Neill O'Gorman
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Wednesday January 27 2010
THE focus is on the National League, and beyond that the Nicky Rackard Cup, so Louth can feel well pleased with Sunday's performance in Darver which yielded an opening round Kehoe Cup win over Trinity College Dublin.
An expected tough challenge from the students failed to materialise – they appeared short a number of intended starters and the team which took to the field bore little resemblance to the match programme – but the Reds gave the visitors no time to settle, a first minute goal providing a lead that was never relinquished.
Full-forward Wesley Morrissey did the damage, and it provided the impetus for Louth to dominate the first half and establish a lead of 1-7 to 0-3 at the break.
A run of five unanswered points, three from free-taker Gerard Smyth, helped the home side kick clear of their opponents.
TCD had their chances but if they weren't firing wide – a total of 17 wides for the match, seven of them coming early in the second period – they were denied by 'keeper Ruairi O'Reilly, standing in for the injured Eddie McArdle.
He made a fine save from David Goff in the 11th minute, and made another brace of good stops later on, one in particular from Michael Hyland.
A new face in the line-up was centre-back Derek Horan, and the DkIT student looks to have plenty to offer on this assured display; as does another addition to the panel, midfielder Donagh O'Sullivan.
Trinity enjoyed considerably more of the play in the second half but their shooting continued to let them down.
A nice point from Aidan Callan extended the interval lead before the Dublin college outscored their opponents 0-5 to 0-1 in the space of nine minutes to cut the gap to four, 1-9 to 0-8.
Their momentum was broken by a decision which annoyed the TCD bench to say the least.
An umpire called play back from midfield, and after consulting with his colleague referee Alan Lagrue awarded Louth a 13m free which Smyth blasted high to the net in the 62nd minute to finish the scoring and end the Trinity resistance.
The margin of victory could have been greater as Shane Fennell pulled on a loose ball which trickled against an upright.
- Francis CARROLL
