Harte Break: Louth humbled by Dublin in Leinster Final

Leinster Senior Football Championship Final

Louth 0-15 Dublin 5-21

It has a humbling day in Croke Park for the Louth Footballers as they were easily cast aside by an in-form Dublin outfit.

After putting it up to the reigning Leinster champions for the first quarter, The Boys in Blue upped the gears from here. Outgunned in midfield, Louth had no answer to a Dublin attack that finished with 12 different scorers. 5-15 of their final tally coming from open play.

Sam Mulroy was absent when the teams last squared up in the league. Today he was as good as it got for the Wee County. But despite notching 10 points, it meant very little on a day was Louth were simply outmatched pretty much everywhere on the field.

It was Louth that got the scoring underway. The Louth captain drifting away from two defenders and winning a free which he duly tapped over on five minutes. The lead only lasted two minutes before Cormac Costello got on the scoresheet from a free.

Two more from Mulroy would be cancelled out by efforts from Sean Bugler and Costello, leaving the teams all square by the end of the first quarter.

Up to this point Louth were looking strong around the middle, the likes of Grimes and Mulroy helping winning any loose balls from kickout and duly beginning attacks. Despite the presence of Brian Fenton and James McCarthy, this area belonged to Louth. For now at least.

However, the Dubs soon found clarity in the centre. Eight turnovers from Louth kickouts helping them on their way to 1-8 without reply.

Costello (3), Con O’Callaghan (2), Bugler (1) and Jack McCaffrey (2) all hit the target, but the biggest blow was a goal which was struck by Paul Mannion on 23 minutes.

From a Louth kickout Niall Sharkey lost possession and Dublin broke at speed down the channel. O’Callaghan eventually teeing up Mannion, who cushioned it home from close range.

To their credit, the Wee County showed heart and finished brightly, forcing four kickout turnovers of their own. It led to Mulroy ending their 21-minute spell without a score, before efforts from Grimes and substitute Craig Lennon reduced the gap to nine at the break, 1-12 to 0-6.

The Wee County came out of the blocks fast following the restart, Mulroy and Liam Jackson reducing the deficit to seven, but again a goal dashed their hopes of a comeback. Ciaran Kilkenny picking out James McCarthy on 46 minutes. The gap was now at 10. And it was only going to grow from there.

It was pretty much one way traffic now, as Dessie Farrell’s troops began coasting through the Louth defence. They were at their ruthless best as Bugler, Paddy Small and Colm Basquel added further goals. The final margin stretched to 21 by the final whistle.

Louth will now look to regroup ahead of what look’s to be a tough group in the All Ireland Series. Cork their opening fixture, before tougher tests away to Cork and at neutral venue against the current Sam Maguire Champions Kerry.  

Louth: James Califf; Dan Corcoran, Peter Lynch, Donal McKenny; Leonard Grey, Niall Sharkey, Ciaran Murphy; Tommy Durnin, Conor Early; Conall McKeever, Ciaran Downey (0-1), Conor Grimes (0-2); Daire McConnon, Sam Mulroy (0-10, 0-7 frees, 0-1 45’), Liam Jackson (0-1). Subs: Craig Lennon (0-1) for McConnon (26), Anthony Williams for Murphy (31), Conal McCaul for Jackson (40), Paul Matthews for Early (55), Ryan Burns for Corcoran (67).

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; Daire Newcombe, David Byrne, Lee Gannon; Brain Howard, John Small (0-1), Jack McCaffrey (0-2); Brian Fenton, James McCarthy (1-0); Niall Scully, Sean Bugler (1-3), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-3); Paul Mannion (1-0), Con O'Callaghan (0-4, 0-2 marks), Cormac Costello (0-6, 0-4 frees 0-1 45’). Subs Cian Murphy for McCaffrey (31), Paddy Small (1-0) for Scully (52), Dean Rock (0-1) for Costello (52), Colm Basquel (1-0) for Mannion (59), Sean McMahon (0-1) for Howard (63).

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)