LOUTH 2-10
MEATH 1-12

Louth's disappointing league campaign game to an end with a narrow defeat at home to neighbours Meath, but once again there were some crumbs of comfort for the Wee County.

In an Allianz Division 2 League campaign that has had very few bright points, there were some positives to be taken from a better all round display by Aidan O'Rourke's men.

Ultimately it was goals in the opening and closing minutes of the game that saw Meath through, but in between Louth played some of their best football of the season and can count themselves somewhat unfortunate not to have come away with at least a point.

Although neither side had anything to play for in this encounter, the game will serve as another small step in rebuilding Louth's fragile confidence, coming as it did on the back of a spirited second half display against Donegal the previous week.

The Wee County may have had their relegation confirmed in Ballyshannon but went into the game at the Gaelic Grounds knowing that they couldn't afford another heavy loss in the last competitive outing ahead of the championship.

Although Derek Crilly opened the scoring in the opening minute, it looked as if Louth's woes would continue when Bryan McMahon hit the net on four minutes and a point soon after from David Bray had the visitors 1-1 to 0-1 in front.

That came despite the fact that the Royals were playing against the elements, but the response from the home side was encouraging as Andy McDonnell, Crilly and Brian White found their range to level that game on 14 minutes.

In what was turning out to be a well-contested encounter, White brought his side level on two further occasions to cancel out efforts from Stephen Bray and Bryan McMahon to make it 0-6 to 1-3 on 27 minutes.

A fine point from Cian Doyle followed by a Declan Byrne effort had Louth two to the good but Stephen Bray pulled one back in injury time to leave the home side 0-8 to 1-4 ahead.

Meath had the wind in their backs for the second period and they made full use of it in the opening six minutes when Graham Reilly and Andy Tormey (2) pointed to ease into a two-point lead.

In previous games that might have been the cue for Louth heads to drop, but they recreated the determination of the second half against Donegal to remain in contention.

Declan Byrne and Crilly pointed either side of a Graham Reilly point to reduce the gap to the minimum at the end of the third quarter before Louth hit the front from a Shane Lennon penalty after Doyle had been brought down.

When Brian White pointed a free on 56 minutes Louth were 1-11 to 1-8 in front. However, Meath were by no means out of it and two successive frees from McGahon had the gap back to one.

The game then turned in the 65th minute when Kevin Reilly picked out Dalton McDonagh and he slotted the ball past Neil Gallagher to make it 2-10 to 1-11.

The Wee County fought hard to rescue the game and pulled a point back through Lennon, but in the closing stages where both teams had chances, they were unable to produce the equaliser.

MEATH: Conor McHugh; Donal Keogan, Kevin Reilly, Caolan Young; Seamus Kenny, Donnacha Tobin, Damien Carroll; Brian Menton, Shane O'Rourke; David Larkin, Andy Tormey 0-2, Graham Reilly 0-2; David Bray 0-1, Stephen Bray, Bryan McMahon 1-3. Subs: Padraic Harnan for D Tobin, Dalton McDonagh 1-0 for D Bray, Shane Gillespie for G Reilly, Paddy Gilsenan for D Larkin.

LOUTH: Neil Gallagher; Padraig Rath, Michael Fanning, John O'Brien; Darren O'Hanlon, Derek Crilly 0-3, Adrian Reid; Paddy Keenan, Andy McDonnell; Paddy Reilly, Brian White 0-4, Bevan Duffy; Declan Byrne 0-2, Shane Lennon 1-1, Kevin Rogers. Subs: Cian Doyle 0-1 for K Tweet

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