Colm O'Callaghan, Cork, and Donal McKenny, Louth, in All-Ireland SFC action. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile
All-Ireland SFC Preliminary Quarter-Final
Louth 1-9 Cork 1-8
By Dan Bannon at Páirc Grattan, Inniskeen
Louth have made it to the All-Ireland quarter final for the first time in their history with a one point victory over Cork at Inniskeen.
It had been 67 years since the Wee county defeated the Rebels in the championship, the 1957 All-Ireland final.
In the third minute of injury time, Sam Mulroy calmly kicked over the winning point from a free.
With history on the kick, there was no doubting the talisman in that moment. Cue an emotional pitch invasion from Louth supporters.
After a slow start coupled with energy conservation phases of play Tommy Walsh’s effort lifted the home crowd with a shot that sprung Niall McDonnell into action.
Craig Lennon the hero four weeks ago opened the scoring for the hosts but Brian O’Driscoll and Colm O’Callaghan sandwiched the Louth score.
Cork led for the opening quarter until Sam Mulroy found the range and Ryan Burns swivelled over after some good work from Tommy Durnin on his home club pitch of Inniskeen Grattans.
Urged to shoot by the crowd and with his eye firmly in, Burns quickly added to his tally. With that burst, Cork crept into the game.
O’Callaghan continued on his stunning form to hit a brace off either foot. John Cleary clearly identified Louth’s weakness to concede from distance the week previous against Kerry.
With that tactic and those three scores in a row Cork took the ascendancy on the scoreboard before half time. Better was to come from the Leesiders.
Cork full back Daniel O’Mahony flicked over McDonnell in a rapid move down the right channel to stun Louth before half time. Mulroy softened the blow to make it 1-5 to 0-5 at the turn.
In the second half Louth were more dominant and struck three in a row to level while stifling Cork from finding the target. In that run, Paul Mathews skied the ball over the bar and spurned a huge goal chance.
Cleary’s side were lacking ideas, but Brian Hurley curled over to keep the visitors noses back in front. Louth had played a lot of football, but were still behind. They needed inspiration and it came once again in the form of Donal McKenny.
Last weekend's goalscorer, McKenny scored in the same fashion as last week. A shot from Conor Grimes followed in from the Ardee man after he pounced.
McKenny lashed home and Mulroy added the winner.
Scorers for Louth: Sam Mulroy 0-4 (4fs), Donal McKenny 1-0, Craig Lennon 0-2, Ryan Burns 0-2, Paul Mathews 0-1.
Scorers for Cork: Colm O’Callaghan 0-3, Daniel O’Mahony 1-0, Chris Óg Jones 0-2, Brian Hurley 0-1, Rory Maguire 0-1, Brian O’Driscoll 0-1.
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dan Corcoran, Dermot Campbell; Bevan Duffy, Conal McKeever, Anthony Williams; Tommy Durnin, Ciarán Byrne; Conor Early, Ciaran Keenan, Craig Lennon; Conor Grimes, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns.
Subs: Paul Mathews for Byrne (26), Leonard Grey for Early (63), Liam Jackson for Burns (67).
Cork: Christopher Kelly; Kevin Flahive, Daniel O’Mahony, Maurice Shanley; Rory Maguire, Tommy Walsh, Matty Taylor; Ian Maguire, Colm O’Callaghan; Ruairí Deane, Mark Cronin, Brian O’Driscoll; Chris Óg Jones, Brian Hurley, Steven Sherlock.
Subs: Thomas Clancy for Walsh (23), Eoghan McSweeney for Deane (51), Seán Powter for Sherlock (57), Conor Corbett for Cronin (60).
Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan).
