Mattock Rangers 1-12 Newton Blues 2-6: Mattock Rangers were crowned Louth champions yesterday after a remarkable injury-time burst of scoring saw them come from a point down to take a lacklustre encounter at the Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda.
A James Murray point put Newtown Blues in front with three minutes to go but David Reid equalised before Niall Callan and Gerry Hanratty made sure for Rangers.
Mattock got off to a dream start with a superbly worked goal. Christy Grimes rose highest at midfield to break a Blues kick-out and Mark Brennan and Niall Callan contrived to set up Shane Grimes on the left and he finished calmly. The goal proved the difference at the break, Mattock leading 1-3 to 0-3.
MATTOCK RANGERS: M Englishby; E Roche, R Sherlock, D Englishby; S Gilsenan, D Brennan, I Sherlock; G Hanratty (0-1), C Grimes (0-1, free); A Reid (0-1), M Brennan, N Callan (0-2); A Finnegan (0-1), D Reid (0-5, frees), S Grimes (1-1). Subs: R Brennan for A Finnegan (56 mins).
NEWTOWN BLUES: C Nally; N Costello, C Reynolds, J Carr (1-0); S Gerrard (0-1), B McPhillips, R Hughes; P Kelly, E Judge; S Moonan, H McGinn (0-2), E Judge (0-1, free); J Murray (0-1), T Carr (1-0), B Kelly. Subs: R Phillips for Moonan (25 mins); C Owen for Costello (27 mins); K Lynch (0-1) for P Kelly (ht); B Murphy for Reynolds (36 mins); A Donaghy for B Kelly (46 mins).
Referee: P Finnegan.
