Inside Track: Minors go close to bringing up the treble

What a treble it would have been had the county minors done the business. To be represented in all three of the province’s three finals was a rare achievement, and to win two of them was exceptional. But just think of what the celebrations would have been like had the three trophies made their way here.

For a long time in their meeting with Offaly, it looked as if the minors were going to make their contribution. Five points up midway through the second half, the team managed by Jonny Clerkin was being chaired home.

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But then the wheels came off. Benefitting from some dubious decisions, Offaly took off, and having on call a goalkeeper who found it easy to convert long-distance kicks, some of them from difficult angles, they got to the front and stayed there.

It was a defeat those who had seen the Louth tyros demolish a hugely fancied Dublin team in the semi-final hard to stomach.

That evening in Naul, supporters witnessed the best performance in years by a minor side, and it was disappointing that it wasn’t followed by a title win.

There was more agony to follow. By reaching the provincial final, Louth qualified for the All-Ireland quarter-finals and a meeting with Roscommon in Cavan.

This went to extra time, and with drawing to an end, the sides were still level. A Louth attempt at a point was blocked, before play switched to the other end. Roscommon got a chance, and they took it. One point between them at the finish.