Inside Track: Roscommon come up with extra-time winner to deny Louth minors

Another ingredient has been added to the cocktail of Louth football teams’ championship season.

The minors’ All-Ireland quarter-final with Roscommon on Saturday lasted 20 minutes more that the statuary 70, making it the first tie of 2025 involving a Louth team to have extra-time.

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Sadly, from a Louth viewpoint, an enthralling tie didn’t yield a victory, rather a heartbreaking one-point defeat, 1-19 to 2-15. And with it went the county’s chance of making the last four for the first time since 1953.

On a number of occasions throughout the 80 minutes it looked as though Louth might do it, in particular early in the second half. That was after Tom Maguire added to a Conal Kelly two-pointer to leave his side ahead by 0-11 to 0-6.

Then again nearing the end of the hour, when Jonny Clerkin’s side led by two points. But again Roscommon were allowed back into it, the Connacht champions picking off the scores to make it 0-14 apiece.

Louth couldn’t have made a better start to each of the two periods of extra-time, finding the net twice. The first goal from Michael McGlew made it 1-14 to 0-14, and after Roscommon once again found a way back, Jack Martin put his name on one of the cheekiest scores you are likely to see, pushing his side one point clear.

It was their refusal to lie down that won the game for Roscommon. That plus the manner in which they made Louth’s talisman, Tom Maguire, a target from the very start.

When it seemed penalty-takers were going to come into focus, Louth, on the attack, had a shot blocked down. The ball was swept to the other end of the field, and with just seconds remaining Dara Curran fired over the winner.

The game’s final paragraph was a painful reminder to Louth supporters of what had happened in Newry the previous weekend, an attack being foiled by a block-down.

There almost certainly would have been a draw in Pairc Esler’s senior match had Tommy Durnin got in his kick – this time there could have been a winner, or, at worst, the game going to a shoot-out.

Roscommon had obviously done their homework, concentrating how best to nullify the threat Tom Maguire was likely to pose.

As happened in the Leinster final, the Westerners conceded the kick-out, encouraging Louth goalkeeper, Senon Connolly, to go short. In this way, Maguire would be limited in his chances to display his undoubted aerial prowess.

Fine and dandy had it been left like that, but it wasn’t. The game was no more than a few minutes in progress when Maguire, double-marked, was felled by a blow to the ribs. After receiving attention he continued, but clearly wasn’t able to make the contribution expected of him.

(Your writer had still to see the light of day when Louth seniors played Roscommon in the 1943 All-Ireland semi-final, but has read, and commented upon, the manner in which Peter Corr, scorer of 1-8 in Louth’s Leinster final win, was taken out of it early on.

Concussed, he was clearly unable to do himself justice after that, scoring just one point and missing several scoreable frees. All of that came back to mind as Maguire received attention.)

To make matters worse for the midfielder, he put in a rash tackle just before the end of the first half and was black-carded by Cavan referee, Pat Clarke, who seemed to be out of his debt in a game of this importance, twice having to take guidance from a linesman and making some decision that were difficult to understand.

It was during Maguire’s absence that Roscommon turned a goal deficit into a two-point lead. But like the opposition, Louth wouldn’t give up the chase, and early in the second period of extra-time got a tremendous boost.

After worming his way in from the right, Jack Martin was given a clear view of goals, but when most were expecting him to unleash a piledriver, he neatly flicked the ball to the corner of the net, wrong-footing goalkeeper Cian Trimble. It put Louth back a point in front.

This goal was worthy of being a match winner, but there were other scores to come, and by claiming most of them, Roscommon got the prize.

Had they been beaten, the Rossies would point to their many missed chances. They had 11 wides in ordinary time, and more following the second change-over.

For Louth’s part, there was a a stinging shot that came off the crossbar, the late block-down, and, crucially, Tom Maguire being hampered in his bid to reproduce Leinster Championship heroics.

The Louth players were, understandably, crestfallen, not only with the result, but also the campaign finishing with no trophy to put on show.

They had their pocket picked in the Leinster final, Offaly coming with a couple of two-pointers in time added on. Now this defeat by the minimum margin.

They can take consolation from playing a huge part in arguably the best championship season the county has had.

A number of them will be going to war in this grade again next season, while others could make the under-20 squad in their bid to retain their provincial title and contest the All-Ireland final.