Ruthless Louth Dismantle Wexford to Secure Semi-Final Spot

Match Report: Louth 1-25 Wexford 0-11

Under the guidance of Gavin Devlin, the “Wee County” showed exactly why they have become a mainstay in the latter stages of the Leinster Championship. With ten different names on the scoresheet and a bench depth that would envy most, Louth overcame a nervous start to completely dominate the Slaneysiders.

Keenan and Mulroy Turn the Screw

Wexford were dealt a significant blow before throw-in with the loss of goalkeeper and dead-ball specialist Darragh Brooks to injury. While replacement William Gaul performed admirably, the absence of Brooks’ accuracy from restarts and placed balls was palpable.

Louth were initially patient, weathering a frantic opening period where Wexford’s high press caused several fumbled possessions. However, St. Joseph’s man Conall McCaul settled the nerves with a hat-trick of points to level the tie. From there, the Louth engine room clicked into gear.

Ardee’s own Ciaran “Kiki” Keenan was the architect of Wexford’s undoing before the break. Keenan’s movement and precision yielded three points, including a spectacular two-pointer that ignited the traveling Louth support. Alongside Sam Mulroy, the duo inspired a five-point unanswered run, heading into the interval with a commanding 0-14 to 0-5 lead.

Mulroy Penalty and Bench Depth

The pressure intensified upon the restart. Half-time substitute Tadhg McDonnell made an immediate impact, landing a quick-fire brace. The contest was effectively ended ten minutes into the second half when Sam Mulroy coolly slotted away a penalty, stretching the lead beyond Wexford’s reach.

Devlin used the final quarter to empty his bench “with glee,” handing a Leinster Championship debut to Sean Callaghan and welcoming back the in-form Ciaran Downey. While Wexford’s Mark Rossiter fought valiantly to register 0-7, Louth’s superior fitness and tactical discipline ensured there would be no comeback.

Fourth Successive Semi-Final

Louth finished with a flourish, as All-Star nominee Ryan Burns and Sean Reynolds added late scores to provide further gloss to the scoreboard. The victory marks Louth’s fourth Leinster semi-final appearance in a row, a testament to the unprecedented consistency of this current squad.

• Louth Scorers: Sam Mulroy 1-4 (1-0 pen, 1tp, 2fs), Ciaran Keenan 0-4 (1tp), Tadhg McDonnell 0-4, Conor Early 0-3, Conall McCaul 0-3, Dara McDonnell 0-3, Ryan Burns 0-1, Ciaran Downey 0-1, Sean Reynolds 0-1, Paul Mathews 0-1.
• Wexford Scorers: Mark Rossiter 0-7, Michael Kinsella 0-2, Cathal Kehoe 0-1, Tom Byrne 0-1.