McSorley strike clinches semi for Louth
Louth 3-14 Carlow 2-12
Late goals from Anthony Williams and Ger McSorley earned 14-man Louth a derby date with Meath in the O’Byrne Cup semi-finals next Sunday. Photo: Sportsfile
Late goals from Anthony Williams and Ger McSorley earned 14-man Louth a derby date with Meath in the O'Byrne Cup semi-finals next Sunday.
Trailing by a point as the clock ticked into injury-time, the Wee County looked set to bow out on score difference, but when sub Carlow goalkeeper Robbie Molloy was caught out by a Derek Maguire up-and-under, Williams tapped home from the edge of the square.
Carlow pushed forward in a frantic search for a third goal, but a quick free-kick sent McSorley racing clear to make victory certain for Louth.
The hosts had been dominant in the early stages, building a 0-5 to 0-2 lead, but they were hit with a double whammy when John Murphy converted a penalty and a minute later Kurt Murphy was sent off.
Carlow took full advantage to lead by 1-6 to 0-7 at the break, but Louth re-grouped well at half-time and they snatched the lead back with a well-worked Conall McKeever goal on 39 minutes.
However, another well-timed goal, slapped home by Darragh Foley, put Carlow back in the driving seat, 2-10 to 1-11.
A couple of Ross Nally frees levelled it up, but Paul Broderick and Eoghan Ruth restored Carlow's two-point advantage. A Declan Byrne strike was tipped over by Molloy, but the goalkeeper went from hero to villain moments later.
SCORERS - Louth: R Nally 0-6 (5f), A Williams 1-1, G McSorley, C McKeever 1-0 each, P Smith, D Byrne 0-2 each, T Durnin, D Crilly, J Bingham 0-1 each.
Carlow: D Foley 1-2 (1f), J Murphy 1-1 (1-0 pen), E Ruth 0-3, P Broderick 0-2 (1f), S Reilly, S Clarke, M Ware, A Kelly 0-1 each.
LOUTH - N Gallagher; P Rath, L Dullaghan, K Carr; J Bingham, J Stewart, Anthony Williams; T Durnin, C Martin; R Moore, P Smith, K Murphy; C McKeever, D Crilly, R Nally. Subs: D Byrne for D Crilly (h-t), D Maguire for J Stewart (54), J Califf for C Martin (54), J McEneaney for P Smith (58), A Reid for R Moore (65), G McSorley for R Nally (70+), D Marks for K Carr (70+).
CARLOW - N Gallagher; P Rath, G Kelly, S Reilly; C Crowley, S Redmond, H Gahan; M Ware, E Ruth; A Kelly, D Foley, D O'Brien; J Murphy, P Broderick, D St Ledger. Subs: S Clarke for C Crowley (10), R Molloy for C Kearney (h-t), C Moran for M Rennick (39), J Kenny for M Ware (58).
REF - C Dwyer (Offaly).
