Inside Track: Supporters not lost for words, but still finding it all hard to absorb

Many words were spoken as Louth supporters swarmed on to Longford’s Pearse Park on Friday evening last, acclaiming yet another famous county team win. Chief among them was ‘unbelievable’.

Followers were in dreamland, many not really able to absorb all that had just happened over the previous hour or so, or over the past number of weeks.

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This win for the under-20s over Mayo, qualifying them for the All-Ireland final – going ahead at the Athletic Grounds, Armagh, a week from tomorrow – came just five days after the seniors had closed the gate on a 68-year gap.

And if that wasn’t enough, the minors were out against Offaly yesterday evening in the provincial final, they, too, hoping to bring a long losing sequence to a close.

Time to draw breath? Just about. The seniors are back on the road again on Saturday, playing Monaghan at Newbridge in the first of their three guaranteed All-Ireland qualifiers, the second of them – against Down, in Newry – scheduled for a week later.

It was history in the making at Pearse Park. By scoring a dramatic one-point win over the Connacht champions, the Fergal Reel-coached side gave the county a first-ever appearance in an All-Ireland under-20 (previously under-21) final.

Past Leinster winners were beaten at this stage of three occasions – in 1970, by Fermanagh, 1978 (Kerry), and 1981 (Galway).

In their attempt to straighten the record, Louth will face a highly-touted Tyrone side, whose semi-final win was over Kerry.

Mayo came from the West with a big reputation. Many in the line-up played in an All-Ireland under-17 final three years ago, and in conquering Roscommon a few weeks ago, brought the Connacht title to their county for the first time in seven years.

They were good, by far the best team Louth have so far met. They were dangerous on the break, and in a fascinating duel around the middle, Louth’s Seán Callaghan and James Maguire had to be at their very best against Diarmuid Duffy and Séamus Howard.

Though it wasn’t until late on that Mayo went to the front for the first time, the pendulum swung from one side to the other throughout. A blistering start had Louth in control early on, showing four points ahead at one stage.

Mayo drew level before Louth again sprinted ahead, coming up for the break, Pearse Grimes-Murphy scoring a goal to match the one Shane Lennon had bagged after just three minutes.

Grimes-Murphy was a deserving winner of the man-of-the-match award for all he contributed to the scoresheet, while Lennon left us to conclude the goal-scoring practice that went on out the back of his house, when he and his county senior team brother, All-Star Craig, were youngsters must have been intense.

It was again nip and tuck in the second half, Louth staying narrowly in front. That was until Mayo registered their second two-pointer, Colm Lynch’s attempt from just a yard short of the sideline straight from the Maurice Fitzgerald manual.

That put Mayo in front for the first time, and with the game well inside the final quarter, there were Louth fears the Westerners might kick on. It didn’t happen.

There were a couple of Louth two-pointers in a hectic last ten minutes, Grimes-Murphy claiming one and goalie, Tiarnán Markey, showing nerves of steel from a long distance free.

But Mayo wouldn’t go away. When they equalised in time added on, we had visions of our stay in Longford lasting longer than anticipated.

There was still some of the four minutes added by the ref to be played, and as this petered out, Adam Gillespie, one of the big Ardee St Mary’s representation, was as cool as his clubmate Markey had been, fisting the ball over from close range.

Louth weren’t as accomplished as they’d been against Meath, but then, Mayo were a step above anything Louth had met in Leinster.

A lot of faith had been placed in the full-forward line, but though always looking dangerous, the trio couldn’t make any inroads against their vigilant, tough-tackling Louth markers.

Fergal Reel and his sidekicks have pieced together a solid defence; the midfield duo are long-established, and regardless of how the forward line is composed, there’ll be a threat there which the Tyrone backs will find hard to contain.

And what are supporters now shouting, having come to terms with all that’s happening? Bring it on.