Cork push clear of Meath at top of Division 2 as Louth record first win over Tyrone in 32 years

February 22, 2026

Louth's Sam Mulroy and Eoghan Callaghan celebrate at the full-time whistle ©INPHO/Grace Halton

Louth put a serious dent in Tyrone’s Allianz Football League Division 2 promotion hopes this afternoon by inflicting a 1-15 to 0-13 defeat on them in Ardee.

The Wee County’s first win over the Red Hands since 1994 moves them up to fourth in the table and they were full value for both points at the St Mary’s GAA grounds.

Ciaran Downey’s goal four minutes in gave the Leinster champions the perfect start and two-pointers by Conor Grimes, Sam Mulroy and Dara McConnell had them holding a 1-8 to 0-8 advantage at the half.

Darragh Canavan, who was playing in his last league game for Tyrone as he gets set to jet off to Australia for a month, grabbed a couple of points to keep the heat on the hosts in the second-half and Darren McCurry’s single made it a two-point game with four minutes remaining.

Crucially, the next score went the way of Louth via a Mulroy free and more points from Craig Lennon and Mulroy (free) in the late stages cemented their famous win.

In Pairc Ui Rinn, Cork won their fourth consecutive league outing by handing Meath their first loss of the campaign (1-23 to 1-21).

John Cleary’s side had edged a 0-12 to 0-11 lead when Chris Og Jones fired in their goal in the 33rd minutes and a Mark Cronin point and Steven Sherlock effort from beyond the arc saw them up by seven by half-time.

The Rebels were up by six when they saw Ian Maguire red-carded in the 58th minute and, from there, the visitors staged a late rally that included scores from Eoghan Frayne (2, 1 two-pointer), Ciaran Caulfield, Jack O’Connor and Jack Flynn flying over.

However, Cork were able to hold on as Jones sailed over the game’s last score to seal the win which moves the Leesiders two clear of the Royals at the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Cavan got their first win of the campaign by coming from behind to defeat Kildare (0-16 to 0-13) at Kingspan Breffni.

An airtight first-half saw the sides going in on 0-5 apiece at the end of the first-half in Cavan Town before the Lilywhites hit 0-3 unanswered early in the resumption through James Harris and Ben Loakman (two-point free).

The Cavan response saw Paddy Lynch sail over a placed ball from beyond the arc and they’d be level through Oisin Brady in the 43rd minute.

Colm Moran nudged the visitors back in front before Dermot McCabe registered five unanswered scores, including another Lynch two-point free, to take control and ultimately claim to vital points.


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Cork push clear of Meath at top of Division 2 as Louth record first win over Tyrone in 32 years