Louth 4-15 Sligo 4-11
A remarkable four-goal blast from the 62nd minute at Croke Park secured an incredible Lory Meagher Cup title success for courageous Louth.
Diarmuid McCarthy’s men trailed by 12 points approaching half-time as Sligo, beaten in last year’s final by Fermanagh, attempted to make amends.
But it was agony on the double for the Yeats County as they slumped in the second-half and were caught at the death as Louth came good in quite dramatic circumstances.
Substitute Seaghan Connelly hit Louth's first goal eight minutes from time and his lead was followed by Liam Dwan, Andrew Mackin and captain Shane Callan.
That Callan goal was the strike that finally put Sligo away as the Connacht outfit had grabbed a fourth goal themselves in a thrilling final few minutes.
It’s Louth’s first win at the grade having previously played in four Nicky Rackard Cup finals and lost the lot.
It didn't look good for them when they trailed 3-6 to 0-5 at half-time following Sligo goals from Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch, Kevin Gilmartin and Matthew Davey.
But the Wee County bossed the second-half and hit 1-7 without reply at one stage to set up that incredible finale.
Louth: J Connolly; M Wallace, B Minogue, C Matthews; M Lyons, R Maher, A McCrave; D O'Hanrahan, S Callan (1-1); G Smith, N Stanley, D Kettle; P Lynch, L Dwan (1-4, 1-2f), D Murphy (0-7, 6f, 1 65). Subs: N Cafferkey for Matthews 28, A Mackin (1-2) for Smith h/t, S Connelly (1-1) for O'Hanrahan 44.
Sligo: N McGrath; R Redmond, J Kenny, G Feely; E Comerford, C Behan, L Reidy; R Cox (0-1), K Raymond (0-2, 1f); C Brennan, G O'Kelly-Lynch (2-2), B O'Loughlin (0-3); K Gilmartin (1-0), M Davey (1-0), S Kenny (0-3, 1f). Subs: F Cretaro for Gilmartin 62, M Gilmartin for Davey 62, A Morrison for O'Kelly-Lynch 69.
Referee: M Murtagh (Westmeath).
