Inside Track: Sam’s good at penalties, but could he hit the bar with one?

Sam Mulroy is better than good with free-kicks, and is also known to have put away quite a few penalties. We saw him at his best in the recent championship and earlier in the season, the league.

But how good would the Louth captain be at hitting the crossbar from the spot?

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Anyone that can do that would be in with a favourite’s chance of claiming the prize in one of the disciplines that’s part of the Éamon Carroll Memorial Challenge, taking place tonight.

Each year since 2017 – with the exception of the Covid years – we, that’s our clan, have been staging this day-long event. Not on our own, mind you, but with enormous help from Bellurgan FC and St Patrick’s GFC.

Indeed, the idea of staging it came from the indefatigable Martin Finnegan, of the Bellurgan club. We’d been sponsoring a greyhound competition in the name of Éamon and his late uncle, Paddy Carroll, at the Dundalk Stadium, when Martin came up with the idea of building something around the night of the final.

It was then that the Challenge was born. It’s a four-person event, contestants having to display their talents at golf, free-taking, finding winners at the greyhound racing, and, as mentioned, penalty taking.

In the case of the latter – to be held in Bellurgan’s Flynn Park at 2 in the afternoon – points are awarded for putting the ball in the net. But it would be more profitable if the kicker could hit the crossbar. Could Sam manage that?

And while the action is unfolding there, further up the road in the Pat’s grounds, another team member will be taking frees. Among those keeping an eye on things there is someone who wasn’t too bad with the dead ball during his illustrious career, All-Star Paddy Keenan.

First golfers out over 9 holes at the Ballymascanlon Hotel course will have a 12 noon start.

When all the on-field action is complete, it will be over to The Lumpers, in Ravensdale, for some grub and refreshments. From there it will be on to the greyhound track for racing, the highlight of which will be the Éamon & Paddy Carroll Memorial final, worth €2,600 to the winner.

Tickets will be available throughout the day for a draw, which takes place at the dog track. Your writer can vouch for it, the prizes, donated by individuals and businesses in town and in the promoting clubs’ area, are attractive.

All money raised will go to a local cause. Last year’s beneficiary was Dundalk Women’s Aid. We’re looking forward to a fun-filled day.