Louth 0-13
Cavan 2-6

A great week for Louth got even better last night when they retained their Leinster JFC title at Cavan's expense in Drogheda.

Wing forward Bernard Osbourne emerged as the home side's hero, slotting over the winning point in the final minute to complete a fine comeback by Peter Fitzpatrick's side after provincial guests Cavan had led by four points early in the second half. But their failure to score in the final 24 minutes proved costly as the holders came storming back to claim the spoils.

There was little to separate the sides in the first half, at the end of which Louth held a slender 0-7 to 1-3 lead. Former senior star Mark Stanfield scored three first half points as the Wee County recovered from the concession of a Philip Brady goal in the 18th minute.

The Breffnimen enjoyed a highly productive spell in the first eight minutes of the second half when they scored 1-3 without reply. After Eamonn Reilly converted a free to bring the sides level, Brady swooped for a quick 1-1 to give the visitors a 2-6 to 0-8 lead.

With the experienced Stanfield to the fore, however, Louth fought back to restore parity before Osbourne's late winner gave them the first part of a possible Leinster football double.

Louth - C Lynch; P Bannon, J Faulkner, J Carr; S Brennan, C Goss, L Shevlin; S O'Neill, J Califf (0-2, 2f); D Bracken, P O'Boyle, B Osbourne (0-2); N Conlon (0-2), M Stanfield (0-6, 3f), M Larkin (0-1). Subs - W Reilly for O'Neill (ht), JJ Quigley for Brennan (35), C McGuinness for Goss (46), D O'Connell for Bracken (51).

Cavan - D Murphy; E McPhilips, E Smith, M Johnston; N O'Reilly, P Cahill, K Donohoe; T Crowe, A Taite; D Costello, R Galligan, S Jordan; E Reilly (0-2, 1f), D McKiernan (0-1), P Brady (2-3). Subs - N Smith for Costello (19), F Bird for Taite (48), J Jordan for E Smith (51), B Reilly for Reilly (60).

Ref - P Daly (Westmeath). Tweet

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