Louth's Rangers reach new heights

Mattock Rangers ... 3-13 Moorefield ... 2-10: There was no shortage of talking points after the first of the Leinster club football semi-finals at Pairc Tailteann, Navan, as Mattock Rangers became the first Louth side to qualify for the decider since 1977.

Apart from a brilliant team effort from the winners, there were two disallowed goals for the losers, an own goal, a penalty and a sending-off in the course of an entertaining encounter.

Goals at the start of both halves gave the Louth kingpins the impetus to control the respective periods. In the fifth minute Mattock's top scorer, David Reid, collected a delivery from Robbie Brennan and fired to the net to leave the board reading 1-2 to 0-0.

Grimes and "man of the match" Mark Brennan were other big contributors to the victory, but Moorefield kept the contest alive for most of the hour despite their unsteady start.

The Newbridge outfit received a fortunate boost after eight minutes when Mattock gave away a needless penalty for a foul on Ross Glavin and Ronan Sweeney dispatched the spot kick to the net.

With centre forward Paddy Murray making a major impact, Moorefield came a lot more into the contest and when trailing by 1-4 to 1-5 at the break, it looked as if the pre-match favourites would go on to justify their position.

However, Moorefield were hit with a stunning goal in the opening minute of the second half when Mark Brennan blasted to the net.

Moorefield responded with Michael Ryan pointing twice and Mark Sexton reducing the deficit to the minimum with a terrific long range shot.

But Mattock weathered that short storm and they hit three of the next four points from Grimes and Reid (two) leaving them a goal to the good. Then at the start of the last quarter came the Mattock third goal when Kenny Duane knocked the ball into his own net.

MATTOCK RANGERS: M Englishby; E Roche, R Sherlock, I Sherlock; D Brennan, D Geraghty, F Feeley; G Hanratty, C Grimes (0-4); N Callan (0-1), M Brennan (1-1), A Finnegan (0-1); R Brennan (0-2), D Reid (1-4), S Grimes Sub: D Hickey for Finnegan.

MOOREFIELD: P Canavan; D Barry, M Ryan, P O'Flynn; K Duane, L Hogan, A Melia; K O'Neill, R Sweeney (1-0); S Dowling, P Murray (1-5), M Sexton (0-1); M Ryan (0-4), R Glavin, P Behan. Subs: J Lonergan for O'Flynn, C O'Neill for Behan, B McGrogan for Dowling, P Wolfe for Glavin, R Delaney for Glavin.

Referee: J Smith (Meath).