Monaghan 5-12 Louth 3-11

Five goals helped Monaghan record their first victory in the Bank of Ireland U17 Celtic Challenge hurling league against Louth on Wednesday evening last.

Played in perfect conditions at Cloghan, both teams served up a warmly contested eight goal shoot-out that defied the cold winds present.

Louth opened the contest with the first goal from full forward Jack Tobin after good link-up play.

Monaghan soon responded with their own green flag from Mikey Carville, and a string of points by the Farneymen had them in front by 1-6 to 1-2 after 20 minutes.

Mikey Carville then bagged his second goal when a 65 amazingly dropped into the net and left Monaghan eight points clear coming up to half time.

Louth started the second half as they did the first with a goal, this time from Josh Murtagh. They then added another point to leave the score at 2-9 to 2-5 and a comeback on the cards.

Despite then a trio of Louth points from Sean Kerrisk, Monaghan regained their composure when Zach McArdle kicked the sliotar to the net from close range.

Emmett Walsh added Monaghan’s fourth major with an audacious back flick with the sliotar in the square, and the fifth came through James Slevin.

Louth grabbed a consolation goal from a Sean Kerrisk penalty, but the game as a contest had already been settled.

MONAGHAN: Niall Bermingham, Niall Keenan, Emmett Walsh (1-0), Caleb McArdle, Ethan O’Gorman (0-2), Daniel Boyle, Mikey Carville (2-5), Darragh Cassidy, Niall McKenna (0-2), Michael Maguire (0-2), Shane Slevin (0-1), Ciaran Slevin, Karl McMeel, Senan O’Brien, James Slevin (1-0).

Subs: Zach McArdle (1-0)

LOUTH: Josh Murtagh, Neil Boylan, David Lally, Conor Brennan, Brandon Johnson, Adam Plunkett (0-2), Conor Byrne, Ben Goss Kieran (0-1), Kyle Rafferty, TJ Doheny, Sean Kerrisk (1-6), Michael Belton, Tommy Metcalfe, Josh Tobin (1-2), Seamus Birch (1-0)