Louth midfielder says players "died for the jersey" against the Royals

Louth senior footballers secured their Division 2 status in the Allianz National Football League with a hard-fought 1-19 to 0-17 victory over Meath on Sunday afternoon.

Stand-in captain Tommy Durnin was at the heart of the performance, leading by example in a game that meant everything to his side.

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Speaking after the final whistle, Durnin was full of pride for his teammates. He said: "We had a lot of injuries coming into this and I'm just so proud of each and every one of the lads. The boys that came in today were absolutely excellent.

(Jack Flynn of Meath in action against Tommy Durnin, left, and Paul Matthews of Louth during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

"But they've been excellent all year. I know we haven't got the results, but we've fought at it, we've changed different things, maybe it didn't work but today was massive to get over the line and just heard that Down beat Monaghan.

"So I'm just so proud of everyone there. There's a lot of hard work, there's a lot of boys fighting each other and look it's a 35-man panel.

"You see Kieran McArdle and these boys coming in with massive scores. I'm just so proud for the whole team, the backroom team and everything. It's just massive to be over the line, we needed to be in Division 2. I'm just so proud of the team."

(Kieran McArdle of Louth celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

Louth came into the game under real pressure, needing a win to guarantee their safety. With key injuries, including the absence of captain Sam Mulroy, the task was even greater.

"Every week we're looking and seeing different lads pulling up. But then again you see a few more coming back into the frame as well.

"So look, we know it's a 30-man squad and every man is fighting as hard as he can. I'm just so proud that we got the win today. We dug deep, big men stepped up, big occasions and that's exactly what you need in these big days.

"I'm just so proud and happy to get over the line and focus now on the championship and give it a good right back and get all the men back. A lot of hard work still to do so just so happy though."

(Matthew Costello of Meath in action against Tommy Durnin of Louth during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

The clash with their local rivals was intense, with Louth suffering setbacks like Andy McDonnell going off injured. But substitute Conor Branigan and others stepped up when needed.

"We seem to be picking up knocks, big players going off. But then again, Branigan has been brilliant last year when he came on as well.

"Sean Reynolds was fighting hard in there, working really hard. Burnsy (Ryan Burns) again, it's brilliant and it's credit to the boys, they're coming in some weeks to get their turn, some weeks they don't. But everyone is working in the background and I'm just delighted.

"It's massive, it's massive. That was a massive occasion there today, the crowd. I'm just so happy and so proud of them. I'm just delighted to get over the line."

(Liam Flynn of Louth in action against Eoin Harkin of Meath during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

The Wee County played with freedom in attack, spreading the scores throughout the team.

"I just think we threw off the shackles, sometimes we're trying to play a structured play and we just said, you know what lads, this is it, just go out and play our stuff, we know what we've got.

"And we grew into the game, we got big tackles, we got big hits and look when you're at it, you're at it.

"Maybe heads had been dropping, we've been giving teams big leads and then we're not taking the shots but today we knew exactly what we had to do.

"Everyone was up for it, from every man coming in. It was brilliant, big men stepped up today with big scores so delighted for everyone."

(The Louth team stand together for the national anthem ahead of the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

Louth built up an 11-point lead by halftime and managed the game well in the second half.

"11 points is nothing, we knew we were going to show absolutely everything but those massive scores, Burnsy and a few guys kept on creating space.

"They're just so precious scores and I'm just delighted, they were massive and even big turnovers from the full-back. The boys were absolutely incredible."

(Louth manager Ger Brennan celebrates with Conall McKeever after the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

Durnin highlighted the role of the defence and how Louth’s organisation helped them see out the win.

"Niall (McDonnell) never lets you down, big shot-stopper. But like, Dermott Campbell, Emmet Carolan, and Donal (McKenny) were absolutely outstanding.

"And that back end is a tough place to be. Look, it's probably been the midfield half-forward that maybe we've been struggling to put the press on. But today, no, I think we got everything right. Men were really tuned in and we just died for the jersey.

"I think we needed that today and it just goes to show now we can build on and get into the championship but yeah we still have a lot of work to do but getting them back fit and that's just the main thing."

(Donal McKenny of Louth in action against Jordan Morris of Meath during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

The loyal Louth supporters played their part to drive the team on.

"The crowd has been unbelievable like even Cork last week like we were actually ashamed of ourselves.

"Coming back on the bus like what we put in and like they've been here three, four years it's not just a few games they've been backing and backing us and even coming out there today second half you heard the roar like and it means so much.

"We had tough days in this league so far but they've always been behind us behind so I'm delighted for them it's coming on to the pitch there and look every time you beat Meath I've played against you a lot of times, not many wins so I'm just delighted for the fans and I'm just delighted that we got over the line there today."

(Louth supporter Peadar Hanlon, aged 5, from Termonfeckin, Co Louth, on the field after the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Meath at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile)

With safety confirmed, the focus now turns to the upcoming championship campaign.

"We'll check the boys probably Wednesday or Thursday and we'll go back at it. We know we've had injuries with different concerns and things like that so we just need everything behind the wheel to die for the jersey in the next first game championship.

"The fellas that came in today certainly put their hands up and they're ready to come in if need be.

"Sam (Mulroy) is an incredible player, Grimesy (Conor Grimes), all these boys are incredible players. It's time to put your shoulders in the wheel.

"We're not all here forever so it's a brilliant opportunity and I thought Sean Reynolds, Kieran McArdle, Dylan (McKeown) came in, stood up, big, big, winning big balls, kicking big scores.

"That's what it's about, it's generating, they're under 17s playing this. So it's a setting stone for all these guys and the bigger occasion, that's where you want to be.

"Division 2, trying to get off to Division 1, that's the games, they're big games for you to come on and express yourself.

"So I'm delighted for them boys, they need it and the boys have a bit of work to do to come back and get back in and that's what it's all about. Everyone needs to be fighting for the position."