Inside Track: Minors pipped in attempt to give county a provincial treble

Passed in the shadow of the winning-post. Louth boys’ attempt to give the county a first-ever provincial football treble, adding the minor to the already-won under-20 and senior, was foiled by Offaly at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge, last week, the deciding scores not coming until well into time added on.

And it was the Offaly goalkeeper who emerged as his side’s hero, not by making crucial saves, but by launching a couple of deadly accurate free-kicks from beyond the arc.

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Louth were in front by a point as the 60th minute passed by. But there’d been stoppages over the previous half-hour, allowing the game to run on. It was the extra minutes that Jack Ryan got the chance to again test his kicking skills.

He’d already been successful with a couple from long distance, and with the angle perfect for a right-footer, the Doon clubman was a short price to hit the sweet spot.

He did it once and then a second time, turning the game away from Louth. It ended with the Faithful three points clear, 2-20 to 3-14.

Louth were attempting to become the first county to bring up the Leinster treble in the same year since 1986, Dublin the last to achieve it.

On a number of times throughout a rousing contest, Jonny Clerkin’s side looked to be on to the record, especially when they went five points clear in the second half.

But Offaly were gathering strength at that time, and you got the impression Louth would have to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Offaly were quick to reply in a high-scoring game, and with Louth floundering under intense pressure, those travelling to the game from these parts couldn’t wait for Carlow referee, James Foley, to blow his whistle for the last time.

Their side was a point clear. When he did, Louth were behind, left to regret first half wastage and Ryan’s free-taking.

With Tom Maguire imperious at midfield, and others around him on to breaking balls like lightened, most of the play took place in the Offaly half of the field in the opening half. Midfield dominance, however, wasn’t reflected on the scoreboard.

An 11-point return for the first 30 minutes was decent, but there should have been a lot more. Conal Kelly wasn’t as assured with his frees as he had been in the semi-final defeat of Dublin. He contributed to the wides tally of seven.

That came back to bite Louth in a second half, which again saw Maguire giving as fine an exhibition of fielding as you’re likely to see.

But though a half-time lead of two points was lengthened to five, goals coming from Jack Martin, Oisín Reidy and a Cillian McQuillan penalty at opportune times, there wasn’t the same energy, nor was the performance free of mistakes, some of them the basis for Offaly scores.

And you could also say referee Foley saw things much different from Louth fans on a number of occasions, especially with the red-carding of Conal Mannion very late in the game.

Several times, having awarded Offaly a free, he allowed play to continue for considerable time before calling play back when no advantage accrued. 

But we wonder, was he influenced by Louth’s very late arrival for the start of the second half? Offaly and the match officials were a long time in place before Louth emerged from the dressingroom.

“I never liked it,“ said a local retired club referee when queried. However, he stopped short of saying he would have sought retribution.

Lots of other after-match comment centred on the treatment Conal Kelly was subjected to whenever he shaped up for a free.

Only the young man, who carried more pressure into the game than was deserving, can say what affect the booing, jeering and foghorn-blowing had on him.

That aside, the boorish behaviour of a small cohort of midland mouths has no part in Gaelic football. Senior Offaly supporters around us on the terrace were not impressed.

Defeat is not the end of the line for Louth. Because of the way the competition is now framed, beaten provincial finalists go into the quarter-finals, which won’t be played until June.

A second chance is no more than this group of players deservers, in particular those who won’t be eligible to play in the grade next season.

They include Maguire and his midfield partner, Cillian McQuillan. Making normal progress, both will be big players on under-20 teams, and after that the seniors, hopefully perfect fits for Tommy Durnin’s boots.

Roscommon will provide quarter-final opposition, and if Louth progress there’s the possibility of a third meeting with Offaly this season.

When the sides last met – in the Leinster league section – the Young Reds won easily. In fact, Offaly lost twice in this series, but quite obviously have made significant progress in the meantime.