Sport

Bourke drives London charge

London 5-8 Louth 1-5: In theory London's potential is huge

Mon Aug 22 2005 - 01:00

London 5-8 Louth 1-5: In theory London's potential is huge. Just look at the counties represented in their starting line-up: Kilkenny, Cork, Tipperary, Galway, Antrim, Limerick, Laois and a Meath captain in centre back Fergus McMahon. A Roscommon man even made a late entrance. Imagine if they started really recruiting. Somebody discarded by his own county, Kilkenny's Charlie Carter comes to mind, could seek refuge in the capital city across the water.

Otherwise what is the point in London progressing up a tier if they can't guarantee the players who gained them promotion will not move on?

London would have been out of sight but for the 21 wides they accumulated. Still, they looked safe at the break thanks to two goals in quick succession. After 13 minutes, with the sides level at 0-2 each, Barry Shortall fielded a high ball, slipped his man and powered home the first.

Kevin McMullan made it a six-point cushion when another dropping ball was not fielded by make-shift full back Aidan Carter, a late switch for Alan Mynes, and goalkeeper Stephen Smith only half cleared.

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It was 10 minutes into the second half before Dave Bourke added another score. Ger Smith gave Louth hope when he latched on to a poor clearance by Tom Simms to scuff the ball into the net, but three relatively soft London goals followed.

Antrim native Seán Quinn came off the bench to cause the most damage by setting up McMullan for his second before kicking to the net for the fourth.

Bourke, London's top scorer during the campaign, also found his groove with 1-3 to add to an earlier pointed free.

LONDON: JJ Burke; E Phelan, T Simms, B Forde; J Dillon, F McMahon (capt), B Foley (0-1); M Harding (0-1, 65), M O'Meara; D Smyth, J Ryan, J McGaughan; D Bourke (1-4, 3 frees), B Shortall (1-0), K McMullan (2-1). Subs: G Fenton for M O'Meara (35 mins), E Kinlon for D Smyth (45 mins), S Quinn (1-0) for B Shorthall (54 mins), P Doyle for E Phelan (67 mins), P Finneran (0-1) for K McMullan (69 mins).

LOUTH: S Smith; D Black, A Carter, S Darcy; D Mulholland, P Dunne (capt), R Byrne; D McCarthy, S Callan (0-2); T Hilliard, J Carter, D Byrne; G Smith (1-1), D Dunne (0-1), N McEneaney (0-1). Subs: S Conroy for D Black (40 mins), G Collins for R Byrne (45 mins), S Byrne for J Carter (52 mins), N Byrne for S Darcy (70 mins).

Referee: T Mahon (Fermanagh).