NICKY RACKARD CUP RELEGATION PLAYOFF.

Monaghan 4-17, Louth 2-20.

A goal a minute into stoppage time by Mark Treanor saw Monaghan snatch victory in this ding dong affair in Crossmaglen that keeps them in the Rackard Cup for 2020 while Louth make the drop to the Lory Meagher competition. Monaghan led at half time by 2-10 to 1-12 with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions in an exciting second half before Monaghan clinched it in the dying embers to give retiring manager Trevor Hilliard a winning send off.

Scorers: Monaghan: F Rafter 0-9 (8f, 1’65), M Murphy 1-2, B McGuigan 1-1, S Lambe 1-1, M Treanor 1-0, C Flynn 0-3, S McNally 0-1. Louth:D Geoghgan 0-13 (6f, 3 ‘65’2) P fallon 1-0, D Kettle 1-0, C Deane 0-3, S Kettle, P Brennan, F Joyce and S Connolly 0-1 each.

Monaghan: N Butler, P Bermingham, E Sheehan, E Leonard, C McKenna, C Merrick, C Gernon, K Crawley, F Rafter, P McKenna, M Treanor, S McNally, B McGuigan, S Lambe, M Murphy. Subs:c Flynn for P Bermingham (19), P McGahon for P McKenna (46), P Finnegan for S McNally (59),

Louth: D Connolly, M Wallace, AMcCrave, M Lyons,. ASmith, J Martin, J McDonnell, C Deane, s O’Hanrahan, D Geoghgan, G smyth, F Joyce, P Brennan, D Kettle, S Connelly. Subs: P Fallon fort G Smyth (36), S Kettle for J Martin (46), G McKeown for P Brennan (64). Referee: J Clarke (Cavan).