Inside Track: This is our sign: 25 – SAM – LH

The cheer that went up was loud and long. Myself and one of the next generation were in unison. Midway through our excitement, the phone rang and was picked up. Thinking it was another family member, we continued bellowing.

“You’re happy”, said ‘Muckle’ McKeown. My former Louth team colleague was on from Cork, where he’s been living since leaving Drogheda.

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We had had a chat earlier in the day, covering the usual topics, politics and football. There was, as nearly always when we get on the end of the phone, reminiscing on games past. Foremost, however, was the All-Stars.

“What do you think,” ‘Muckle’ asked, Sam Mulroy, of course, the main one in question, with time also spent on Craig Lennon and Ryan Burns’ chances.

“I think he’s nailed on,” I said, and went further to say that the others in the full-forward line would be David Clifford, and Michael Murphy. No great prizes for that.

“He’s had a great year, captaining the Leinster final-winning team, and among the country’s top championship scorers.” ‘Muckle’ was convinced.

The Naomh Mairtín clubman didn’t let us down, just as he didn’t throughout the year. And much further back. Rarely has he had a poor game since first making his inter-county debut, leading by example when he took over the captaincy, and, for what he is best known, deadly accurate from play and placed kicks.

Think back to the championship, in particular the provincial final. He was ice-cool as he faced up to a penalty, and then, after making a mistake that led to Meath regaining the initiative, recovering his composure to claim a two-pointer, putting his side back in a lead that was added to by the county’s 2024 All-Star, Craig Lennon.

Though Louth didn’t see beyond the All-Ireland quarter-finals, Mulroy still finished near the top of the championship table, even though he had just six outings compared to David Clifford’s nine. He was third overall, and filled the same position in the two-pointer list.

This honour, coming just a year after Lennon won his, and Paddy Keenan claimed the county’s first, in 2010, is a tremendous boost for the county. It should act as an incentive to youngsters, and make club players all the more keen to win promotion to county teams.

Mulroy would probably be first to acknowledge the help he has garnered from his club and county team colleagues. Naomh Máirtín are on a high, while the mark county teams, from under-16 to senior, have made this year as a unit is arguably the best ever.

The seniors ended a 68-year drought by winning the Delaney Cup. Among the captain’s colleagues were other recent-year All-Star nominees along with the two winners, Tommy Durnin, Donal McKenny and Ryan Burns.

There were others unlucky not to get on the extended list, while many more had regular places on the county team.

All provided valuable support to the side’s chief scorer and now the proud possessor of one of the game’s most cherished awards.

It’s been exceptional for Mulroy, and his 2025 story may have a few chapters left. Along with his exploits in the red jersey, he has won a third senior county championship medal, and as a result of that victory, Máirtíns have qualified for the Leinster Club Championship.

No surprise if the man with the winning touch gets a special reception when he makes it onto Drogheda’s Gaelic Grounds on Sunday next for his club’s quarter-final with Laois champions, Portarlington.

He’s already been acclaimed by his club, many hundreds turning out in Monasterboice last Saturday afternoon to welcome home their hero.