Louth scored their third win of 1997 over Carlow at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.
The new All-Ireland Senior Football B Champions had already accounted for Carlow in the Leinster Senior Championship and, more recently, in the All-Ireland SFC B semi-final.
The home county looked on course for a heavy defeat when their defence was torn to shreds in the opening half as Louth established a comfortable 1-9 to 0-4 interval lead.
The game produced two outstanding scoring exhibitions. Colm Hayden, the Carlow full-forward, scored all but one of his side's points, while Louth's number 15, Colin Kelly, shot a total of 0-8. A 42nd-minute Carlow goal from a penalty by Hayden kept the home county in front as Louth failed to score for the opening 17 minutes of the second half.
The Eire Og man scored his second goal in the 56th minute to leave only a point between the sides (1-13 to 2-9), but a brace of Kelly points ensured that Louth maintained their 100 per cent national league record.
