By Shaun Casey

Monaghan 2-18 Louth 0-27

Monaghan’s 2026 journey came to an end at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon as they lost out to Louth in the All-Ireland quarter-finals.

The Wee County, managed by former Tyrone player Gavin Devlin, kicked the last four-points of the game to secure their place in the All-Ireland semi-finals for the first time since 1957.

Louth were reduced to 14 men after just nine minutes of play, but dealt with the dismissal of midfielder Sean Callaghan, who was red carded for a head high challenge on Oisín McGorman, exceptionally well.

Monaghan started brightly, kicking the first four points of the day through a Conor McCarthy two-pointer and a brace from Andrew Woods.

Four on the bounce from Louth, after the red card, tied things up and the teams were nip and tuck for the remainder of the half. McGorman’s major, coming after a pacy run from Stephen O’Hanlon, did put three between them, but Louth outscored their opponents 6-1 for the last 15 minutes of the opening period.

Sam Mulroy (free) traded scores with Woods while five in a row from Ryan Burns, Mulroy (free) James Maguire and a massive shot from outside the arc by Ciaran Downey left Devlin’s men 0-12 to 1-7 up at the interval.

Within 45 seconds of the second half, the lead had doubled, with Maguire and Kieran McArdle scoring at the Hill 16 end. Jack McCarron ended Monaghan’s dry spell with a two-point free while Woods and Mícheál Bannigan hit the target to level things up.

Last year’s Leinster champions hit another purple patch to go five clear but a second two-pointer from McCarron, this time from played, ensured the Farney men remained in the fight.

McCarron then swapped scores with his immediate man-marker Donal McKenny before Monaghan nabbed a second goal, with O’Hanlon palming home Stephen Mooney’s pass across the square.

Two heroic blocks from Ryan Wylie at the back, along with the width of the crossbar, meant Louth didn’t make the perfect response with a goal of their own and instead Monaghan captain Bannigan gave them the lead for the first time in 25 minutes.

Tadgh McDonnell exchanged efforts with Max Maguire while Ciaran Byrne did likewise with Conor McCarthy. McDonnell levelled matters and scores from substitute Byrne (2) and Burns put Louth ahead at just the right time.

Monaghan: Jamie Mooney, Ryan Wylie, Killian Lavelle, Dylan Byrne, Dessie Ward, Ryan O’Toole, Conor McCarthy 0-3 (1tp), Michéal McCarville, Oisín McGorman 1-0, Aaron Carey, Mícheál Bannigan 0-4 (1f), Stephen O’Hanlon 1-0, Jack McCarron 0-5 (1tpf, 1tp), Andrew Woods 0-4, Ryan McAnespie. Subs: Stephen Mooney 0-1 for R. McAnespie, Max Maguire 0-1 for A. Carey, Darragh McElearney for O. McGorman, David Garland for A. Woods, Robbie Hanratty for D. Ward.

Louth: Niall McDonnell, Emmet Carolan, Donal McKenny 0-1, Daire Nally, Conal McKeever, Dara McDonnell 0-2 (1tp), Craig Lennon 0-1, Conor Early 0-1, Sean Callaghan, James Maguire 0-4, Sam Mulroy 0-5 (2f), Conor Grimes, Kieran McArdle 0-1, Ciaran Downey 0-2 (1tp), Ryan Burns 0-4. Subs: Ciaran Byrne for K. McArdle (blood sub), Tadgh McDonnell 0-3 for C. McKeever, Paul Matthews for C. Grimes, Tommy Durnin for C. Early, Ciaran Byrne 0-3 for K. McArdle, Ciaran Keenan for J. Maguire.