Goals in either half from Gerard Smyth and Shane Callan propelled Louth to a six-point win over Sligo in this NHL Division 3B first round clash at Dundalk yesterday.

Louth 2-11
Sligo 0-11

The visitors led by 0-5 to 0-2 early on, but a converted penalty by Smyth in the 31st minute helped Louth to a 1-5 to 0-7 advantage at the break. Full forward Callan extended the home side's lead within a minute of the restart when he connected with a Smyth free to crash home a second goal.

That gave the Wee County a 2-5 to 0-7 lead, but Sligo rallied with three unanswered points to close the gap the minimum again. Louth were ahead by 2-7 to 0-11 when Sligo corner back Jamie Kenny received a second yellow card, and it signalled their end of their challenge.

Louth - E McArdle; A Wallace, J Carter, M Wallace; B Murphy, D Horan, E McCarthy; R Byrne, D O'Sullivan (0-1, 1sl); G Smyth (1-6, 1 pen, 0-3f), G Rellis, S Fennell; D Murphy (0-1), S Callan (1-1), W Morrissey (0-2). Subs: K McNally for Rellis (42), A Callan for Fennell (60), G Kerrigan for O'Sullivan (70).

Sligo - M Kearney; J Kelly, W Gill, J Kenny; R Cox, M Burke, L Reidy; C Herrity (0-6, 4f), M Gilmartin (0-1); V O'Hora, D Burke (0-2), J Bannerton; M Gordon, C O'Mahoney (0-1), A Cawley (0-1). Subs: A Walsh for Bannerton (66), N Cadden for M Burke (70), P Quinn for O'Mahoney (70).

Ref: R Matthews (Antrim). Tweet

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