GAA | Louth minors see off Wexford to secure first Leinster final since 1971

Leinster MFC Semi-Final | Louth 4–10 Wexford 2–15

The Louth minor team that beat Wexford in thE Leinster semi-final this evening. PICTURE: LOUTH GAA

Louth will play in their first Leinster Minor Championship final since 1971 after overcoming Wexford in a thrilling semi-final in Wexford Park on Tuesday night.

Wayne Kierans’ side found themselves 1–5 to 0–1 behind in the early stages with a brace of Jamie Myler frees getting the hosts off to a flying start.

Liam Jackson hit Louth’s opening score but Wexford hit back by bagging 1–3 without reply to lead by seven points with 18 minutes on the clock.

The Wee County hauled themselves back into the game with a stirring display before the break.

A 24th minute Conor Gillespie goal started the charge with points from Eoghan Callaghan, Gillespie and a 45 from John Gallagher leaving just two in it at the break, 1–7 to 1–5.

The second half went from end to end with Wexford seeing a three-point advantage wiped out by St Mochta’s player Gerry Garland’s 32nd minute goal.

The visitors took the lead for the first time in the game when full-back Alan Connor broke to make it 2–6 to 1–8.

The tit for tat nature continued with Jackson and Gillespie adding further scores for Louth.

And they put some daylight between the sides when Garland grabbed his side’s third goal of the night by slamming home after the ball came off the crossbar in the 42nd minute, 3–9 to 1–11.

The natives clawed their way back on level terms again with Myler and Wall doing the damage but Louth continued to dig deep and Gillespie raised another green flag in the 53rd minute to edge them closer to the line.

Two late points from Myler pulled Wexford within a point of drawing level but he missed a last gasp 45 as Kierans’ heroes held on.

His side will go to HQ on Sunday week, July 16th, where they will face Kildare or Dublin looking to become the first Louth team to win a Minor Championship since 1953!

LOUTH MINORS: Alan McGauley; Alan Connor (0–1), Philip Trainor, Dan Corcoran; Leonard Grey, Eoghan Callaghan (0–1), James O’Reilly; Liam Jackson (0–3), Conor Morgan; Gerry Garland (2–0), Conor Gillespie (2–3), Fearghal Malone; Keelan O’Neill, Ciaran Keenan (0–1), John Gallagher (0–1, 1 ‘45). Subs: Conor Nicholson for Malone, 51 mins; Shane Hickey for G Garland, 51 mins.