Mickey Harte hopeful Louth can build on league success

Louth senior manager Mickey Harte has been a gift that keeps on giving to the Wee County.

Back-to back promotions, followed by a resurgent Division Two campaign (one that almost ended with a return to the top tier), it has certainly been a period full of highlights.

But the league is now over and attention quickly turns to championship football, with Louth beginning their Leinster journey in Pairc Tailteann Navan this Sunday, when they collide with Westmeath (throw in 2PM).

Having posted two defeats to Clare and Derry before going on a glorious four game winning streak, Harte noted that vibes in the camp were good. But like any good team, they were already hungry for more success.

“We’re happy with the fact we recovered from a poor start in terms of results” exclaimed the Louth football boss.

“I always said we weren’t playing that badly. We played decent enough football, but it resulted in no points, so it was a dangerous place to be in.

“There is a contentment in the camp with the fact they are making progress and that the curve is going the right way, in the league at least. But ultimately, championship is a different ball game.

“Looking at our record in the championship, it isn’t all that exciting over the last number of years. There is not a lot of big wins over the last three or four years either, so we have to be very cautious and try to build some form of championship pedigree, which hasn’t been there.”

While Louth have enjoyed a memorable run of results of late, Westmeath have had more of a mixed bad, four wins from seven not being enough to secure a promotion to Division Two.

But the Tyrone native is not taking this challenge lightly, noting that the Midlanders already have more championship pedigree, which should stand to them come their stand-off in Navan.

“Westmeath are a decent side. They won the Tailteann Cup in some style, and we met them ourselves last year in the league and were fortunate to beat them. If they had won, they’d be in Division Two now instead of us.

“They have been in several semi-finals in Leinster for a number of years, along with a few a finals in recent times. A lot of their players will have that experience, so they are almost better equipped for championship football.

“That to some degree probably puts them ahead of us in terms of how prepared they can be, regardless of what division we played our football in this year. The overall picture says that they are more experienced and seasoned when it comes to championship football.”

If there was one question Louth supporters could put to Harte ahead of Sunday’s game, most would be keen to get an update on the fitness of their captain Sam Mulroy.

The Naomh Mairtin sharpshooter, who was the top scorer across all four divisions of the National League in 2022, has been out of action since picking up a hamstring injury during Louth’s win over Kildare. He has provisionally been named start in the game with Westmeath.

Louth captain Sam Mulroy named in the starting 15 to face Westmeath

Speaking to the Democrat earlier in the week, Harte admitted it was touch and go weather he would feature in this weekend’s game, but stressed he was on his way back to full fitness.

“His recovery is going as well as can be expected. It was a complicated sort of injury; it wasn’t just a simple hamstring tear. There were additional problems with it and it has become a challenging recovery for him.

“The medics are happy he is coming along well, but if that means he will have come on enough to play any part in this game, that will only be decided later in the week.”

He is sadly not the only person set to miss the clash with the Midlanders. Tom Jackson is another who will not be available for selection, while Dermot Campbell continues to recover from a knock he got prior to the league.

There is better news in relation to Paul Matthews, who is one of a few players the medical team are accessing ahead of Sunday’s game. He has been named on the bench.

“Paul Matthews was injured as we were preparing for the Clare game” recalled Harte. “He is now probably well recovered from that, and he might be available to us.

“There is a few prospects of an odd man returning, but unfortunately there is more guys under an injury watch then we would like to have at this stage of the season. But that is just where we are at.”

For the winners there is semi-final bout with Meath or Offaly, while down the line there should be a series of round robin games in the race for Sam Maguire. Louth’s place is pretty much nailed on, due to finishing in third spot in Division Two.

But despite the prospects of more football later in the year, the wily veteran is still taking it one game at a time. Their focus for now is on Westmeath and Westmeath only.

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The latest Louth GAA Fixtures as local league action begins

“The provincial championships are still knock out, you perform on the day you play, or you are gone” he stressed. “That’s the nature of the provincials, which I think is a good thing.

“We have only one game we’re sure of playing in Leinster, and that is Westmeath on Sunday. After that, we’ll know if we have any more challenges to come. Until that happens and we have another game to play, we are not thinking one iota past the immediate challenge of Westmeath.”