Inside Track: Offaly tactics off and on the field worked in minor final

It’s said that Offaly did their homework ahead of meeting Louth minors in the provincial final at Newbridge’s St Conleth’s Park, which at one stage vied with Grattan Park, Inniskeen, for the title of Louth’s home from home, but in the end was the burial place of many hopes and dreams.

The Tricolours would have known of Conall Kelly’s prowess from place-kicks. They had probably someone at The Naul to see the Dreadnots player give an exhibition in the rout of Dublin in the semis, kicking frees from all distances and angles.

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So, how do you counter the threat? Get as many youngsters as possible, have them placed by behind the goals Kelly would be kicking into, and give him the ‘bird’ every time he faced up to a kick. That’s how.

Boo-boys, they call them, and no credit to their orchestrators. The ploy worked. The young man wasn’t as sure-footed as usual.

It was a surprise that evening to see Offaly conceding the kick-out. This encouraged Louth goalie, Senon Connolly, to ‘go short’ instead of trying to find either Tom Maguire and Cillian McQuillan, who between them had the measure of their opponents, especially in the air.

Despite all of that – plus Carlow referee, James Foley, pointing just one way most of the times he awarded a second half free – Louth led by five points inside the final quarter, set fare, it seemed, to give the county an unprecedented three titles in the one year.

But there was nothing there to stop Offaly when they worked up a head of steam late on. They had a hero in goalkeeper, Jack Flynn, whose two late two-pointers made the difference in the end.

If the heartbreak of that defeat wasn’t enough for players, management and supporters to endure, worse was to come in the All-Ireland quarter-finals, for which Louth qualified as provincial finalists.

The game with Roscommon was at Cavan’s Breffni Park, and it went to extra-time. When penalties looked to be in the offing. Roscommon nailed a winning point. It was a game Louth could have won, but didn’t.

There’s a carry-over to the next year, Conall Kelly among those who’ll again be in the jersey. One year older and much wiser, Colin’s son will be better equipped to face whatever’s thrown at him.