Monaghan withstood a tremendous Louth fightback to go back joint top of Division two at Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda.
Gabriel Bannigan's men were out of sight in the first half, coasting to a whopping and deserved 17-point lead shortly before half-time.
In a game of the proverbial two halves, Louth dusted themselves down and cut the gap to three points with two minutes remaining.
Wee Counnty captain Sam Mulroy the instigator in chief slotted home the penalty to really make Monaghan sweat.
However, matchwinners in the form of Rory Beggan and Conor McCarthy stood up when needed most, to cancel out Mulroy’s best efforts and go back across the neighbouring county boundary with all two league points.
Right from the throw-in, late change Andrew Woods slotted over from a narrow angle to give an indication of the one way traffic that was to follow.
Valiantly Sam Mulroy did respond to level for the only time of the game as far back as the second minute of the match.
Monaghan then had spells of dominance through individual moments of quality. The aforementioned McCarthy was majestical at times.
Pressing on the opposing kick outs, McCarthy was further advanced than the number seven on his back suggested.Quick to any breaking ball and surging runs but his two pointer from the outside of his boot had the stand in Drogheda in awe.
Monaghan stretched their lead right out to ten, 0-12 to 0-02 after 12 minutes, with a clinical show of shooting.
The visitors only kicked one wide in the entire first half.Woods notched four to his name, Stephen O’Hanlon the same and team captain and nephew of manager, Micheál Bannigan, also found the range in opening halves shooting practice.
Conall McKeever and Ryan Burns did try to settle Louth but forced attacks played sweetly into Monaghan’s counter attacking game.
Three shots into Rory Beggans’ hands in a row wound Louth’s confidence further, symptomatic of the opening half performance.
One of these efforts resulted in Conor McCarthy’s low drive to the net.The nail was well and truly into the contest before then, but the Scotstown’s man got the goal Louth needed to make a rally of things after the break.
The half-time scoreline read 1-19 to 0-07, but Louth showed more than resilience after the break. As part of a quadruple substitution before the break, Paul Mathews had a profound impact on the game for the hosts.
Ger Brennan sent out a message, and Mathews ignited the comeback with four points in the third quarter but Mulroy place kicking and leadership nearly carried off Louth’s mother of all comebacks.
Louth struck 1-09 to no reply to turn the game on its head, Mulroy accounting for all but two of those scores.
With the home crowd in a frenzy, the classy Monaghan pair silenced them to seal victory.
Louth: Niall McDonnell; Daire Nally, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Leonard Grey, Peter Lynch, Liam Jackson, Tommy Durnin (0-01), Ciaran Byrne; Conall McKeever (0-01), Sam Mulroy (1-12, 1-00pen, 0-05f, 3tpf, 0-01 '45), Conor Grimes (0-01); Daire McConnon (0-01), Kieran McArdle, Ryan Burns (0-01).
Subs: Paul Mathews (0-04, 1tp) for Byrne (30), Tadhg McDonnell for L Jackson (30), Pearse Grimes Murphy for McConnon (30), Sean Reynolds for McArdle (30), Tom Jackson for Grimes Murphy (68).
Monaghan: Rory Beggan 0-05 (2 tpf, 0-01 '45); Ryan Wylie (0-01), Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne; Kieran Duffy (0-02, 1tp), Ryan O’Toole, Conor McCarthy (1-04, 1tp); Mícheál McCarville, Gavin McPhillips; Stephen O’Hanlon (0-04), Micheál Bannigan (0-03, 0-01m), Ciarán McNulty (0-01); Andrew Woods (0-04), Jack McCarron (0-02, 0-01f), David Garland (0-01).
Subs: Bobby McCaul for McPhillips (44), Jason Irwin for McNulty (55), Gary Mohan for Garland (60), Darren Hughes for Irwin blood (65-68) Hughes for McCarville (68), Stephen Mooney for McCarron (71).
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)
