Louth progress as Monaghan battle back for draw

Monaghan came from five points down midway through the second half to salvage a draw with neighbours Louth in front of over 11,000 in Clones.

First-half goals by Craig Lennon and Conor Grimes had put Louth in pole position for a second win of the All-Ireland series group stage, but despite being pegged back in the end, the draw will be enough for the Wee County to go through to the knock-outs.

Monaghan dug deep in the second half to halt their losing streak, helped by Mícheál Bannigan punishing a stray pass to hit an unguarded net. Their wait for a craved win goes on, however, after Sam Mulroy cancelled out a Rory Beggan free that had edged the hosts ahead for the only time late on.

Louth took an early lead with a brace of frees by Sam Mulroy, while it took a wasteful Monaghan side ten minutes to open their account through Joel Wilson. Mulroy had a goal attempt from point-blank range saved by Rory Beggan, but he converted the resulting ’45 and Monaghan’s clean sheet only got a brief reprieve until Craig Lennon blasted home his third goal in two games.

Monaghan responded with a brilliantly-finished goal from Conor McCarthy, while points from Jack McCarron (free) and Kieran Duffy (mark) were cancelled out by Mulroy. Louth finished the first half on a high when Conor Grimes fired home their second goal to make it 2-05 to 1-03 at the break.

Monaghan started the second half with more purpose, hitting early points through Mícheál Bannigan, Gary Mohan and Ryan O’Toole. A Ryan Burns brace restored Louth’s four-point lead and although Ciarán McNulty got one back for Monaghan, Ciarán Downey and Mulroy replied for Louth, who passed up a great chance to go six clear going into the final quarter.

Conor McManus came on to kick a couple of frees on his 200th senior appearance for Monaghan, who got a major boost on the hour mark when Bannigan intercepted a loose pass deep inside the Louth half and deftly lobbed into an empty net. A trademark free by Beggan had Monaghan ahead for the only time in the game, but Mulroy converted his seventh from a similar distance to level it up.

The game ended with seven scoreless minutes, which meant the teams had to settle for a point apiece. Louth remain second in Group 4 ahead of a final-round meeting with Kerry, while Monaghan will put their hopes of progressing on the line against Meath.

Monaghan: Rory Beggan (0-01 f); Ryan O’Toole (0-01), Killian Lavelle, Ryan Wylie; Jason Irwin, Kieran Duffy (Capt., 0-01 m), Conor McCarthy (1-00); Gary Mohan (0-01), Joel Wilson (0-01); Michael Hamill, Mícheál Bannigan (1-01), Stephen O’Hanlon; Ryan McAnespie; Jack McCarron (0-01 f), Ciarán McNulty (0-1).

Subs: Karl O’Connell for Duffy (H-T); Conor McManus (0-02 f) for McCarron (45); Andrew Woods for O’Connell (inj., 53); Seán Jones for Hamill (63); Mícheál McCarville for Wilson (70 + 3).

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Dónal McKenny, Dan Corcoran; Peter Lynch; Conall McKeever, Anthony Williams, Craig Lennon (1-00); Tommy Durnin, Conor Grimes (1-00); Niall Sharkey, Bevan Duffy, Ciarán Downey (0-1); Ryan Burns (0-02), Sam Mulroy (Capt., 0-07, 6f, 1 ’45), Ciarán Keenan.

Subs: Leonard Grey for Lennon, Ciarán Byrne for Downey (inj.) (both 54); Paul Mathews for Sharkey (65); Tom Jackson for Burns (66).

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford).