Louth overhaul Cork for first time in 66 years to add fuel to Division 1 promotion drive

Louth beat Cork for the first time in 66 years to set up a Allianz League Division 1 shoot-out with Dublin in Croke Park next weekend.

In a repeat of the 1957 All-Ireland final result, Mickey Harte's side are now unbeaten in four games and on the cusp of promotion from the second tier.

Ciarán Downey gave Louth the lead for the first time in the contest as late as the 62nd minute as the hosts ground down 14 men Cork in a relentless finish at DEFY Páirc Mhuire for a famous 1-10 to 0-10 victory.

John Cleary’s side looked good for victory midway through the first half but Daniel O’Mahony’s sending off just before half time would prove crucial.

O’Mahony’s loss combined with promotion being out of the question, Cork’s challenge waned and they conceded five unanswered scores in the dramatic finish.

The visitors were welcomed to Ardee with the custom swarm defence and after coughing up a couple of turnovers Conor Corbett showed his class by whipping over the bar. Still, it was edgy stuff.

The hosts were rightly confident and that was illustrated in Liam Jackson and Conor Grimes scores that twice brought the sides level.

Having missed the Clare game a fortnight ago, Steven Sherlock came back into the side instead of Brian Hurley. A free that he won himself, got the Barrs' man going and his second point from play was a touch over class from long distance. That class opened the gap and the Leesiders duly took over.

Stretching out to a five-point lead, Luke Fahy and impressive newcomer this season Chris Óg Jones found the range before Sherlock marvelled with sweetly struck 45’.

Louth hanging in the game has been a welcome habit of theirs this season and they grabbed a life line at the other end. Harte’s side countered and worked a goal