Monaghan see off Louth after strong start while Meath snatch dramatic late win in Mullingar

March 02, 2025

Louth's Pearse Grimes-Murphy tackles Ryan Wylie of Monaghan ©INPHO/Leah Scholes

There was incredible late drama in Mullingar as Conor Duke’s goal with the last kick of the game saw Meath claiming a 3-14 to 1-17 win over old rivals Westmeath.

After having trailed by five points at half-time, the hosts clawed back their deficit by the 55th minute and then hit the front with a goal from substitute Kieran Martin nine minutes later.

The Royals, who had goals from Jordan Morris and Adam O’Neill in the first-half, would get it level again with five minutes remaining thanks to points from Bryan Menton and Eoghan Frayne (free).

Robbie Forde (free) and Frayne traded scores in the closing stages and the neighbours looked like sharing the points until a Keith Curtis ball into the Lake men’s square was met by Duke for the win as the hooter sounded.

The dramatic result leaves Robbie Brennan’s men right in the mix for promotion with two rounds left, while a luckless Westmeath are still pointless after another close encounter that they could’ve taken a result from.

Monaghan sit top of the Division 2 table on score difference after coming through their derby clash against Louth in Ardee.

It finished 1-27 to 1-21 at DEFY Pairc Mhuire, where the visitors thoroughly dominated in the opening half, holding a 0-17 to 0-5 lead when Conor Carthy hammered in their goal in the 29th minute.

The difference between the teams at half-time would be 15 points and Ger Brennan’s side made some inroads after the change of ends as the points of Sam Mulroy, Tommy Durnin and Paul Matthews helped trim their deficit down to six.

A Mulroy penalty in the 65th minute gave the home side a real chance of pulling off the comeback, but a Rory Beggan two-pointer settled Farney nerves ahead of McCarthy’s late score sealing his side’s fourth win of the campaign which sees them now sitting on eight points along with Roscommon and Meath.


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