Inside Track: Louth footballers are firing on all fronts

Let’s first take a look at the collective. Wednesday night, Louth under-20 footballers face Meath in the Leinster final at Newbridge. On the following night, the minors are out against Westmeath in the quarter-final at Hunterstown.

Then on next Sunday week, there’s the really big one, the seniors renewing acquaintances with Meath in a provincial final for the first time in 15 years.

And whisper it, away from the football field, the way could be clear soon for a sod to be turned on the new county grounds.

READ MORE: Lennon: There was a lot on the line for Louth

It’s a long time since it was as good on the football front. There are shots to be fired on all fronts, and if just one of them hits the bullseye, a first championship in 44 years will come to the county.

The under-21s were last to do it. The Pat McConnon-captained team beat Longford in the 1981 final, bringing the trophy commemorating a great Louth Gael, Séamus Flood, here for the third time.

That’s enough looking over the shoulder for now. Let’s focus on what’s coming up, paying particular attention to the seniors qualifying for a third successive Leinster final.

The second hurdle in making it that far was cleared on Sunday, Sam Mulroy leading his team to a three-point win in a tense tussle with Kildare at Tullamore’s O’Connor Park.

The performance’s had its beauty in the way in which at early six-point deficit was turned into a 1-11 to 0-10 half-time lead. It was a turnaround that changed serious concerns into unbridled delight.

Mulroy, back after a number of weeks in the treatment room, came in with a couple of two-pointers, Conall McKeever got a vital goal near the 35th minute, and proof, if it were really needed, that Craig Lennon is a player of All-Star quality was there for all to see.

Any thoughts, however, that enough had been done in the opening half were soon dispelled. Kildare were persistent challengers after the break, and as the game entered a crucial stage, they drew level.

It was said here last week that a team’s strength is in its subs. Never was that more forcibly borne out than in this game. With legs beginning to run much slower than before, Ger Brennan looked to his bench.

He made five substitutions – two were eye-catchers. Dara McDonnell made a big contribution to the midfield effort, and Liam Jackson tested the Kildare defence with some darting runs.

But it still needed scores on the board. There were a number, the crucial one coming from that great warhorse, Tommy Durnin.

Never one to shy away from trying for a two-pointer, the now-Ardee St Mary’s clubman launched a huge effort coming towards the end and was on the mark, his score pushing Louth’s lead from one to three points.

There were no scores after that, just lots of drama. Kildare pressed hard for the equaliser, and every time their full-forward, Darragh Kirwan, was in possession you feared it might come.

But through a combination of poor shooting and heroic defending – with goalie Niall McDonnell adding to a string of earlier excellent saves and Donal McKenny being in the right place at the right time – extra-time wasn’t deemed necessary.

Overall, it wasn’t a good day for the Kildare attack. Some great chances were wasted, leaving even some Louth supporters to opine their team had got out of jail.

Maybe, but had the decision gone against Louth, some of referee Brendan Griffin’s second half decisions would have come in for critical examination.

How the Kerryman didn’t award a free to Sam Mulroy after he’d been hauled to the ground near the end was a mystery for just about everyone on the terrace close to where it happened.

But let’s leave that and everything that has happened in the past in the background for the time being. There’s a huge fortnight coming up, with pride of place going to the game at Croke Park on next Sunday week.

The red-and-white flags and bunting have already begun to appear. And having escaped from the clutches Dublin have had on them – and everyone else in Leinster – for the past decade and a half, Meath, by winning Sunday’s other semi-final, are sure to have their long-silent supporters back in full voice. Let’s bring it on.