Louth's wait is over as first-half goals settle nerves

A FOURTEEN-POINT victory over neighbours Monaghan mattered little to Louth; the only statistic which mattered to the team and supporters was that yesterday's victory means promotion to Division One and a quarter-final against Cork.

While the victory was never really in doubt against a Monaghan side already relegated to Division Three and severely hampered by late injuries which meant three changes from the team listed in the programme, there was an anxious wait before Louth were certain that their seven-year spell in Division Two was about to end.

"The goals in the first-half and Brendan Kerin's in the second-half clinched it," said a delighted Louth manager, Paul Kenny, afterwards, who admitted the side was very tense in the opening quarter.

Those nerves weren't helped by the sight of their leading forward, Colin Kelly limping off after seven minutes. The Leinster player was replaced by Cathal O'Hanlon, with full-forward Ollie McDonnell moving to the wing, a change which, ironically, helped Louth.

With the score tied at two points after 14 minutes, Monaghan's wretched luck continued, with mid fielder Padraig McShane joining Kelly on the sideline

O'Hanlon made an immediate impression to give Louth a 0-3 to 0-2 lead. However, Monaghan responded in worrying fashion for the large Louth support, with points from Aidan Tavey Cyril Ronaghan and Darren Swift to lead by two points after 24 minutes.

Louth's nerves were finally settled by some magic from corner forward Pat Butterly who burst through the Monaghan rearguard to crash a right-loot shot past Glenn Murphy. Just 60 seconds later, the Louth support was in full voice when Stefan White, a former Monaghan player, repeated the feat after good approach work by David Reilly.

Mark Daly brought the scores to within a goal, 2-3 to 0-6, with a point on the halftime whistle.

Five minutes into the second period, referee Martin McBride, who spoiled the game with overzealous and baffling whistling, made his lasting mark on the match with the dismissal of Louth's Ray Rooney and Monaghan's Darren Swift. The two players were involved in an off-the-ball incident near the touchline under the nose of the linesman but the crime scarcely deserved the punishment doled out by the Fermanagh official.

The Louth supporters were finally able to cast off the disappointment of the last three seasons and the result against Laois a fortnight earlier when Brendan Kerin finished a move, involving White and Butterly, into the net after 47 minutes.

With Monaghan heads bowed and Louth's place in Division One and the quarter-finals booked, the tensions were released and Louth began to score with every attack.

Points from Butterly, Ollie MeDonnell, Seamus O'Hanlon, Butterly again and Gerry Curran came during a final 10-minute purple patch which included a tremendous team goal worked from their own half and involving Curran, McDonnell, White and Cathal O'Hanlon before Butterly finished to the net for a second goal of the game, bringing his tally to 2-5.