Inside Track: It might be a bonanza for west of the county

A week or more later than usual, Inside Track is coming up with its idea of a Louth championship treble. The junior took off just over a week ago, and there were further matches last weekend, as well as the openers in the intermediate.

All teams involved in the two competitions are still standing, but for some, the prospects of advancing to the knock-out stages are not good, while others can look forward with hope.

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The curtain goes up on the senior this weekend, and if most attention is focusing on St Mary’s, it’s easy to understand why. Cathal Murray’s men are going for a four-in-a-row, a feat last achieved by Newtown Blues in the first half of the 1960s.

The Cooley Kickhams team of the 1970s were strongly fancied to follow their once keen rivals into the record books; but having done the treble, the green-and-golds got turned over by Young Irelands at St Brigid’s Park, just before the turn into the ‘80s.

If Mary’s are odds-on to again lift the Joe Ward Cup, you’d have to think there wouldn’t be a fancy price about their near neighbours, John Mitchel’s, doing the business in junior, if there was betting on it.

Mitchel’s blazed a trail in the league in the first half of the season, wrapping up the title with matches still to be played. They routed Dowdallshill in their first championship outing, but that was to be expected.

The ‘Hill are having a torrid time of it, on a winless run that covers this season and the two before that. If there was a prize for endurance, the St Brigid’s Park outfit would win it hands down.

O’Connell’s, Oliver Plunkets, Glyde Rangers and Naomh Finbarra always come into the reckoning for Christy Bellew Cup honours, and can be expected to give a good account of themselves.

Still, having got everything right so far this season, and being razor-keen to atone for last year’s defeat by Wolfe Tones in the final, Mitchel’s are that wee bit ahead of the rest.

The intermediate is, as always, a conundrum. More teams can be ruled in that out, and as those among the outsiders consider their prospects, they can take heart from Dundalk Gaels’ win last year.

The Ramparts side had finished in the bottom half of the league, in danger of being relegated, when they went in search of a fifth Seamus Flood Cup win.

But turning over a new leaf, they got a run going which didn’t end until Hunterstown Rovers were taken care of in a replayed final. Hunterstown competed in this year’s senior league and fared only moderately.

They were, however, campaigning without county players, Ryan Burns and Michael Reid. With this duo involved, they can be confidently expected to emerge from their group.

Mattock Rangers, second to Gaels in the league, and since then winning promotion to next season’s Cardinal O’Donnell Cup, should make it through, along with Kilkerley Emmets from Group 3.

The other team involved, Clan na Gael, have probably the greater incentive than any of the other 11 in the competition to get a result.

Already doomed to play in the junior league next year, the Castletown men must at least avoid relegation to qualify for the 2026 IFC.

Take your pick from St Kevin’s, Young Irelands and Glen Emmets in Group 1. Two qualify for the knock-out stage, and it could be any two of them.

Same goes for Group 2, O’Rahilly’s, St Bride’s and Stabannon Parnells, the runners here. You’d have to think Bride’s will be in the duo to advance.

There’s a saying in horse racing that goes, “Eclipse first, the rest nowhere.” Eclipse was a thoroughbred that ran in 18 races and won all of them, most times by a wide margin, thus giving rise to the above.

Is it a case of “St Mary’s first, the rest nowhere” in the senior championship, the rest only running for place money?

Say that around Louth Village, or up in Monasterboice, or anywhere were the other nine teams are based, and the more polite might just say, “We’ll see.” Others might use language of the street in telling you where to go.

St Mochta’s, two-time winners of the league in the last three seasons, championship runners-up – to Naomh Mairtín – in 2021, and unlucky not to qualify for last year’s final, have reason to be confident to give it a real go.

St Joseph’s didn’t come up to standard in that league final. But they are better than that, and can be fancied to reach the last eight and maybe go further.

Are Mairtíns a light of other days? Don’t bet on the beaten finalists in the two years not being around at the business end. The inclusion of county players will bring about an improvement on league form.

And bear in mind, no team has been involved on the big day more often over the past decade, the title making its way to Monasterboice on two occasions.

The others will have their supporters, but like those mentioned, beating St Mary’s could be the key to winning the title.

A question to conclude: Could it happen, the three titles going to St Mary’s and two of their neighbours? Hunterstown, Mitchel’s and the senior title-holders are taken to do the treble.