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MEATH 1-17 LOUTH 1-11
An experimental and youthful Louth outfit put in a spirited performance in Páirc Taiteann, Navan before succumbing to a six point defeat in the Fitzsimmons Cup. A strong finish from the home side secured the win which takes them to the Fitzsimmons Cup Final against Armagh, while Louth will tackle Cavan in the 3rd/4th place playoff. With just 60 seconds left on the clock, the sides were tied but 1-03 in the last four minutes of play meant that the home team got the win.Corner forward Paddy Gilsenan was a thorn in the Louth side throughout the entire contest, finishing with a total of 1-06 (all from play), of his sides total.
While Meath finished the stronger, they were also first out of the blocks, racing into a three point lead by the fifteenth minute. Gilsenan made a bright opening, grabbing his sides first three points thanks to his cultured left foot. Jim McEneaney responded for Louth, kicking the Wee County's first score in the tenth minute, following good work from captain Darren Clarke. Playing against a strong breeze, Louth were guilty of dropping a number of balls short into Justin Carry Lynch's hands but wing back David McComish made no mistake with his long range attempt for the score of the game. Gerard Hoey was performing well in defence and with Cathal Bellew, Conor Rafferty and McEneaney getting more involved in the game Louth were enjoying their fair share of possession. However, the Meath defence held out and but for a last ditch tackle by Eamonn McAuley, the Royals would have claimed the first goal. Two giveaways by the visitors in 60 seconds were punished as Meath stretched their lead to 0-06:0-02 by the twenty sixth minute. Brian Donnelly replied for Louth knocking over a fine score with his left boot, following good work from Bellew. The young Kilkerley man was enjoying his first start for Louth at Senior level but his debut was cut short in the twenty eight minute as a clash of heads meant that he had to retire early through injury. The sides exchanged scores in the remaining first half minutes with Graham Reilly and Clarke opening their scoring accounts.
Half time: Meath 0-07 Louth 0-04
Reilly and Clarke started the second half as they finished the first exchanging scores but a run of four unanswered scores meant that the home side enjoyed a seven point lead just fifteen minutes into the second half. Ronan Carroll added to Clarkes score with a fine long range score and this was soon followed by another from former club mate Clarke. The Slyvesters man struck again moments later with a superb long range placed ball from an acute angle. By now Louth were on top and a great shot from McEneaney closed the gap further to leave just a goal between the sides. Long balls into the square were beginning to pay dividends for the Wee Men and sure enough Clarke cancelled out the deficit finishing with aplomb past Lynch. Shane McAnarney replied for the home side but Clarke leveled matters again as the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other. Gilsenan set up midfielder Tom Walsh for his first point of the contest but another long range effort from Carroll drew Louth level for one last time. With just seconds left Meath regained the lead thanks to a Reilly free kick before Gilsenan finished off a flowing move, drilling the ball past a hapless Craig Lynch. Two late points from Walsh and substitute Gary O'Brien somewhat flattered the home side who claimed victory and with that a date with Armagh next Saturday evening.
Full-time: Meath 1-17 Louth 1-11
MEATH: Justin Carry Lynch; Chris O'Connor, Brian Menton, Eoin Harrington; Donal Keoghan, Shane McAnarney, Conor McConnell; Philip Ward, Tom Walsh; Graham reilly, Mark Collins, Eoin Reilly, Paddy Gilsenan, Martin Barrett, Brian Hanlon.
Subs: Michael Burke, Ciaran Lenehan, Willie McGrath, Seamus Kenny, Mark Ward, Stephen Bray, Gary O'Brien, Cormac McGuinness
LOUTH: Duane Crosby; Eamonn McAuley, Gerard Hoey, Raymond McCabe; David McComish, Declan Byrne, Stephen Fitzpatrick; Brian Donnelly, Ronan Carroll; Cathal Bellew, Derek Crilly, Conor Rafferty; Darren Clarke, Jim McEneaney, Michael Rogers.
Subs: Jason Clarke for Cathal Bellew (32), Conor McGuinness for Stephen Fitzpatrick, Sean McCann for Michael Rogers, Jackie Agnew for Eamonn McAuley, Craig Lynch for Duane Crosby, Harry McConnell for David McComish (all H/T), Paudie Clarke for Conor Rafferty (42), Eamonn O'Neill for Brian Donnelly (42), Ronan Greene for Gerard Hoey (49).
For Louth debutants Crosby, McComish, Bellew and Agnew performed well while McEneaney, Crilly, Byrne, Carroll and Clarke performed well.
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