NFL DIVISION THREE Louth 1-12 Tipperary 1-10:LOUTH ALL-STAR and captain Paddy Keenan dragged his team to joint top of Division Three with a couple of superb late points at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.
The talismanic midfielder drew the Reds level in the 67th minute with a sweetly struck left-footed effort, before firing over an even better point off his stronger foot 90 seconds later.Mark Brennan finished the job with an insurance score soon afterwards, but Louth also had goalkeeper Seán Connor to thank for a superb save from full back Paddy Codd, who found himself clean through on goal in the final minute of normal-time.
Tipperary were left to rue not making more use of a strong wind in the opening half as they adjourned all-square at 1-6 apiece – both goals coming directly from defensive errors.
Conor Sweeney’s 52nd minute free proved to be Tipperary’s last score as Keenan and Brennan added a touch of class in the closing stages.
LOUTH: S Connor; E McAuley, A Hoey, G Hoey (0-1); R Finnegan (0-1), D Finnegan, D Byrne (0-1); P Keenan (0-2), R Carroll; D Crilly, M Brennan (0-2), A McDonnell; D Maguire, S Lennon (1-5, 0-5 frees), A Reid. Subs: R Greene for A McAuley (32 mins), B Donnelly for A McDonnell (half-time), JP Rooney for D Maguire (54 mins).
TIPPERARY: P Fitzgerald; C McDonald, P Codd, A Morrissey; C Aylward, L Egan, N Curran; B Jones, G Hannigan; B Fox (0-2), J Cagney (0-1), P Acheson; C Sweeney (0-3, 0-2 frees), S Grogan, B Grogan (1-4, 0-3 frees). Subs: A Matassa for J Cagney (45 mins), D Dwyer for N Curran (45 mins), S Hahessy for D Dwyer (50 mins), B Mulvihill for P Acheson (70 mins).
Referee: D Brazil(Offaly).
