Inside Track: Louth to face Laois with Mulroy sitting it out

There’s hardly time for Louth county team followers to draw breath. The seniors’ league campaign is not long over, and in the meantime the under-20s and minors are making steady progress in their championships, the under-20s coming in with a second decisive second win on Wednesday last, this time away to Wicklow.

Now comes the flagship’s first match in what all hope will be an extended knock-out campaign, with, as happened last year, a few qualifying mini-leagues included.

If it goes as well as it last year, no-one will complain. A wonderful couple of months didn’t end until a defeat by Donegal, when Louth were one of just eight counties left with a chance of winning the All-Ireland.

READ MORE: Louth GAA club: Division Three round-up

But even if there is not a third successive Leinster final appearance, it won’t be the end of the road. The Tailteann Cup would then be available.

There are many around who believe this second-tier championship offers the team the better chance of winning summer silverware, a stepping-stone, maybe, to something bigger in years to come.

It wouldn’t be guaranteed. The Tailteann has been contested just three times. Westmeath were the inaugural winners, with Meath next on to the podium.

It was Down’s turn last year. Unless they feature prominently this time around, none of that trio has made much progress.

No, better to look at the bigger picture. Louth have figured in the Leinster final for the past couple of seasons, and can do so again. There was a big defeat in the 2023 final – inflicted by who else but Dublin.

It was much better last year, a mistake at a crucial stage taking the sting out of what a rousing performance. And despite that, the Dubs retained their title with just four points to spare.

The pep is back in followers’ step, and, no doubt, in the team and management’s, as well. Results have been a big help, as has been the game’s appeal following the change of rules.

With the spectre of relegation looming large just weeks ago, following successive defeats by Cavan, Monaghan and Cork, Ger Brennan’s team dug deep, coming up with a blinder to get the verdict over promotion-chasing Meath.

And the business was done without the player everyone beyond this county identifies with the team. Sam Mulroy has been an integral part of the set-up over the past number of years, leader on the field and on the scoreboard.

Going to war without him at Grattan Park just over a fortnight ago left the team with what many felt was a near impossible task. How will the others respond, many asked.

Just fine, as it turned out. Taking charge of the game from the very start, Louth’s altered attacking sextet up front helped build a big first half lead backed by a strong breeze. Then the backs did their stuff, gallantly defending against an onslaught.

If in good health, Mulroy would certainly be in from the start on Sunday. But that’s not going to happen. Word is that the ace sharpshooter’s injury is more serious than first thought, and it could be up to eight or nine weeks before he’s able to resume county team duties.

There’s just a sliver of hope that his return may come before that. He was sidelined by a similar injury a few seasons ago, and came back sooner than expected. Being someone who knows his away about a gym better than most, he won’t want for know-how on how to get things right.

What happens now is that those up front who delivered the last day will have to come up with much the same.

There’s no reason to believe they won’t. Ryan Burns took over free-taking duties the last day and came in with nine points, most from place-kicks.

He missed one, hitting the post – which brings to mind something this page has touched on before.

That’s the need to have a player loitering around the square with intent if there’s a free-kick or 45. Balls can come back off a post or crossbar, or a defender can mishandle.

The only free which Burns failed to convert in the Meath match hit the post, but there was no-one there to challenge for the loose ball.

When many were expecting it to be Wexford who’d be in the other corner next Sunday, the strawberry-pickers, playing on a seventh successive weekend, crashed to Laois last Saturday.

Laois failed to make it out of Division Three, but were right on Offaly and Kildare’s tails. That might not leave them too far away from Louth, who, as we know, had to go to the last series of matches to make sure of remaining in the second strand.

To win on Sunday, Louth will have to reproduce Inniskeen form. Anything less could lead to an early exit from a competition they are second-favourites to win.