Tonight's U17 meeting of Louth and Wicklow in Ardee was nothing short of astonishing, finishing in a high-scoring 6-9 to 5-12 draw.

That's 54 points in total over the course of a remarkable contest where both sides opted to just attack, attack, attack.

In the end, they each picked up their first point of the all-new round-robin minor football campaign, having lost their openers to Dublin and Offaly respectively.

The first half was an exhibition of brilliant attacking football and the sides went in level at the break, Wicklow 3-7 Louth 4-4.

The Garden County couldn't have dreamed of a better start, the influential Eoin Darcy burying a penalty to put them on the front foot from the off. In an unbelievable beginning to the game, the visitors added further goals through Johnny Keogh and Matthew Ging but the Wee County remained right on their tails at 3-3 to 2-3 at the midway stage in a pulsating opening period.

Ruairi Hanlon and Daire Nally netted the first two Louth goals and they were level by the 17^th minute when Ryan Walsh converted from the spot to make it 3-3 apiece.

The action continued to ebb and flow and the scores came freely as cynicism and blankets were left out on the Slane Road! The visitors crept three clear again but a second Walsh major ensured the hosts of parity at the short whistle.

The attendance at Pairc Mhurie were rubbing their eyes in total disbelief when Cathal Fleming slotted the fifth Louth goal no sooner than the action had resumed but Kevin Quinn quickly retaliated with a fourth Garden goal, 4-7 to 5-4.

Sean Healy's point ensured they were still level after 40 minutes and Louth's sixth goal had them four points clear with 13 minutes left, 6-7 to 4-9.

Wicklow fought back and, just when it looked like the home team were going to hold on for victory, Darcy planted his second goal in injury time - wouldn't you know there'd be another one? - to seemingly hand the Garden County a memorable win.

But Walsh's late free salvaged a point for the Wee County with the very last kick of a remarkable contest and in fairness this was definitely a game that nobody deserved to lose!

Louth - M McEneaney; N Buckley, P McEvoy, T Jackson; C Fleming (1-0), C Shevlin, G Bell; C McCaul (0-1), J Mee; C Lennon (0-1), D Nally (1-2), R Hanlon (1-1); S Healy (1-1), R Walsh (2-1, 1-0pen, 0-1f), J Commins (0-2). Subs: F Lynch for N Buckley, M Begley for R Hanlon.

Wicklow - N Gaffney; C Grimes, D Lawlor, T Moran; K Quinn (1-1), O Cullen, G Fogarty; E Byrne (0-1), S Doody (0-1); J Keogh (1-1), E Darcy (2-3, 0-1f), A Barrett (0-1); M Ging (1-0), S Cranley (0-2), J Fleming Foran (0-1). Subs: S Kearney for O Cullen, C Maguire (0-1) for J Fleming Foran, S Daly for S Cranley, F O'Carroll for D Lawlor, J Doyle for M Ging, J Steed for G Fogarty, J Keogh (BC).

Referee - P Maguire.

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