Inside Track: Memorable Louth win in defeat of Derry

They don’t come much better than this, Louth’s four-point league win over high-flying Derry at resplendent Páirc Mhuire.

It was a flag-fall to finish victory, Dara McDonnell’s two-pointer giving his side a lead which was heroically defended all the way to the end.

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And to think that this performance, arguably the best a Louth team has produced in the league in quite some time, was achieved without five who would have been included had they not fallen foul of injury.

Had they been fit to go, All-Star Craig Lennon and Padraig Tinnelly would have lined out in defence, and there’s little doubt Conor Grimes, Ciarán Downey and Ryan Burns would have been accommodated in attack.

All were instrumental in Louth going into Saturday’s match free of relegation, but, more important, in with the chance of promotion.

Add to that quintet Donal McKenny and Peter Lynch, the latter likely to be out for the rest of the season, and McKenny, only fit enough to take his place on the bench after missing the Cavan match.

The Ardee man came on in the second half and played well.

But what’s this they say: A team’s strength is in its subs. To be relevant in inter-county football today, a county panel has to bulked up, with those on the periphery ready to go to war when required.

Gavin Devlin gave a National League debut to James Maguire, a star of last year’s under-20 side, and a first start in the campaign to Conal McCaul and Daire Nally. Tommy Durnin returned to midfield, and Ciarán Keenan took over in the full-forward line from Burns.

Dara McDonnell filled the No 6 shirt, with Emmet Carolan moving back to take Tinnelly’s wing-full position.

All contributed to what was an outstanding performance. The backs tackled as if their lives depended on it, keeping tabs on an attack that had run amok last time out in the big victory over Cork.

Derry’s vaunted midfield pairing of Conor Glass and Brendan Rogers were more than matched by Durnin and Conor Early, and up front, Sam Mulroy provided the leadership the many newcomers around him needed.

All responded brilliantly, Kieran McArdle in particular.

The young St Bride’s player chose this game to come up with his best, creating scores as well as taking them. And he was the one bearing down on goal when dragged to the ground, earning the penalty which Mulroy put away with some style.

No different than any other player, Mulroy can have an off-day and make mistakes. But are we not looking at one of the best the county has produced since the turn into this century?

He’s a leader and a scorer, and, without doubt, an inspiration to the younger players around him. It’s great to see him with the ball in hand, though it can be costly for himself at times, being a player who always attracts his direct opponent’s attention, not just with a pre-match handshake.

Mulroy made a strong pitch for Saturday’s man-of-the-match, but it was goalie Niall McDonnell who picked up the accolade. Mulroy wouldn’t deny the St Fechin’s netminder, who just about got everything right.

He made a magnificent save from the penalty, the award of which was unclear to everyone at Páirc Mhuire – the visiting Press corp, included – except the referee; but more than that, his handling under the high ball was exemplary, his kick-outs nearly always on target.

And mention of referee Brendan Cawley: The Kildare handler made a number of mysterious decisions over the 70 minutes, which had the home support baffled.

A major one had him only showing a yellow card to the Derry player who took Niall McDonnell out of it early in the game with a whack across the neck.

It adds further gloss to the Louth goalie’s performance that he was able to recover to turn in such a sterling performance.

Derry came to Ardee sharing top spot in the Division Two table with Cork and Meath. They had all the pundits backing them and were made very warm favourites by the bookies.

They targeted Mulroy with one of their best, Gareth McKinless, marking the Naomh Máirtín player. That was one sub-plot that didn’t work for them. Another was their inability to match the Louth tenacity all over the place and sharpness around the goals and from beyond the arc.

In short, Derry simply weren’t good enough to trump a resurgent Louth side, who, only a few weeks ago, were looking nervously looking down the barrel of relegation.

It’s much different now – though the odds are against it, Devlin’s team competing with the big boys next season is still a possibility.

But back to Saturday: This Louth performance will only be forgotten if there’s better to come.