Inside Track: Long-odds favourites now among the also-rans

Inside Track’s Louth championship treble took an early nosedive, the docket carrying the three teams consigned to the wastepaper basket even before their competitions covered the first furlong.

John Mitchel’s, seen as something of a banker for junior, were first to go. It was then the turn of senior favourites, St Mary’s, to take a mouthful of dust.

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The third choice, Hunterstown Rovers, are still standing, but face a stern test in their bid to reach the intermediate final for the second year running.

No, not a good year on the punting front, but the south west of the county, where IT’s three were based – and still are – can still find a place among the winners.

If Hunterstown don’t make the final, their neighbours, Mattock Rangers, will. Drogheda has a strong representation in Newtown Blues (senior semi-final) and junior finalists, Oliver Plunkets; Dreadnots, also chasing the Joe Ward, are in from the seaside, and Stabannon Parnells (intermediate semi-final) and Glyde Rangers (junior final) are flying the flag for mid-Louth.

Clan na Gael are the only Dundalk team certain of having another big game. They take on Stabannon Parnells, but could be joined Gaels, if the Ramparts side was successful against St Fechin’s on Sunday night.

St Patrick’s were the only peninsula representatives, going into last weekend’s matches. They were due to meet the team from the top of Tullyesker Hill, Naomh Mairtín, in senior. (See elsewhere on these pages to see how the two senior quarter-final replays panned out.)

The junior final goes ahead next Sunday in Castlebellingham’s Grove. That wouldn’t be the venue had O’Connell’s beaten Oliver Plunkets in a battle of the maroons last Sunday week. They nearly did.

With a replay staring, Stephen Keeley claimed the winner for Plunkets, bringing a tight and well-contested tie to a close. A place in the last round maintains a Plunkets’ resurgence.

It’s 11 years since they had charge of the Christy Bellew Cup. In that time, Conor Early emerged as their top player, winning recognition from the county team management.

It was a bad blow to the club when the big midfielder transferred to Na Fianna in Dublin. But since regrouping, Plunkets have made significant progress, underlined by winning a place in Sunday’s final.

While Plunkets lost a key player, their opponents at The Grove next Sunday welcome back one of theirs. Niall Sharkey was a vital cog in the Glyde Rangers team that won this title two years ago, and was also one of the pivotal figures in the Louth defence.

His departure to Australia was sorely felt by club and county; but now he’s back, hoping to play a big part in his side’s bid to make a return to intermediate after a year’s absence.

There was a similarity in Glyde and Plunkets’ semi-final victory, both having to wait until the very last minute to clinch it. Tadhg Kellett did the business for the sky-blues.

Don’t be surprised if the final is another game that’s not decided until late on.