Louth secure deserved victory over 14-man Wexford

Louth 1-16 Wexford 1-10

A rejuvenated Louth will be eyeing a promotion push after a second win on the bounce at the Gaelic Grounds.

Boosted by a surprise victory over Clare last time out, Colin Kelly’s side maintained an upward trajectory with a deserved win over 14-man Wexford.

They didn’t have it all their own way as the visitors looked the better side in the opening half, but some poor finishing saw David Power’s troops retire at the break with a modest two-point cushion, 0-8 to 0-6.

Wexford extended that advantage to three after the restart, but then Louth took complete control of the contest, kicking the next seven points without reply.

Wexford lost Adrian Flynn to a straight red card midway through that Louth purple patch, but they were right back in it when substitute Conor Sinnott fired to the net from close range to make it 0-14 to 1-10.

However, Louth didn't panic and Colm Judge restored a two-point cushion before substitute Tommy Durnin rounded Anthony Masterson to tap in a decisive goal.

LOUTH: N Gallagher; K Toner, P Reilly, P Rath; A Williams (0-1), D Finnegan, D O'Hanlon (0-2); B Duffy, E O'Connor; A Reid, C Judge (0-6, three frees), D Byrne; R Burns (0-3, two frees), C Grimes (0-1), D Maguire (0-1). Subs: R Moore (0-1) for Duffy (21 mins, bc), S O'Hanlon (0-1) for Grimes (46 mins), T Durnin (1-0) for O'Connor (46 mins), J Stewart for D O'Hanlon (57 mins).
WEXFORD: A Masterson; R Tierney, J Breen, M Furlong (0-1); A Flynn, B Malone, S Donohoe; C Kehoe (0-1), P Byrne; J Holmes, G Cullen (0-1), T Rossiter; B Brosnan (0-4), K Rowe (0-2), K O'Grady (0-1, free). Subs: C Sinnott (1-0) for Cullen (47 mins), K Butler for Holmes (51 mins), D Flood for Rowe (56 mins), P O'Keefe for J Breen (62 mins, bc), M O'Regan for T Rossiter (67 mins), J White for P Byrne (67 mins).
Referee: N Cullen (Fermanagh).