Inside Track: Louth team for Sunday’s league opener unlikely to show many changes from last year

There was a time when previews of an upcoming Louth seniors’ match would centre mostly on the the make up of the team.

The selectors would usually meet on the Tuesday night before match day, and then make their decision public via the local newspapers. (Local radio had still to make it on to the airwaves.)

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Comments would range from, “So and so is unlucky not to be retained”, to something like, “This is the youngster’s first game. It will be interesting to see if he can transfer club form to the county team.”

It made the hacks’ job easier, and at the same time provided supporters with talking points to be shared, in many cases, over a few pints.

A story. The Louth team was selected for a league away game a good few years ago. However, having travelled to the far-off venue, the entourage found the pitch covered by a blanket of snow. Game off.

As it happened, there was a game the following Sunday, and when it seemed the same team would be named, one hopeful found he’d been dropped. What had he done in the meantime to deserve the chop? Caught smoking a Woodbine after training? Who knows?

But that kind of erratic behaviour wasn’t unknown when selectors were in charge. Making a case for a fellow clubman wasn’t unknown.

The composition of teams is rarely, if ever, put into the public domain nowadays. And even if you were privy to what’s to appear on the match programme, there’d be no guarantee that there wouldn’t be changes.

It could be all designed to keep the opposition in the dark, but the way the game is now played, no-one can be sure of who’ll be marking who.

It’s all different from when the goalkeeper stayed at home, and was fronted by three full-backs, the sturdier the better.

There’d be three half-backs, and the same number of half-forwards and full-forwards. The two midfielders were the only ones allowed some freedom, but daren’t any of the others leave their pitch, except perhaps the two wing half-backs.

They’d have a licence to go forward if they were good at taking long-range points, and if they scored, it would be a dagger to the heart of the opposition, especially in a tight game. Stephen White was good at it.

This point about teams not being available is made as Louth prepare for their National League Division Two opener this weekend. It’s a match with Offaly in Tullamore, and there’s just no knowing how the team will line out.

New manager, Gavin Devlin, has overseen at least four games in recent times. There were challenges with Monaghan and Armagh, and, since then, a McGeough Cup meeting with Down and an O’Byrne Cup outing against Westmeath.

Some of those who featured in the challenges didn’t make it onto the trimmed-down panel, the exact composition of which is not known.

However, many of those who contributed to 2025’s memorable season are certain to be included on the first fifteen, and could be joined by some of the under-20 team that reached last year’s All-Ireland final.

Among the latter are Tadhg McDonnell, Seán Callaghan and Padraig Tinnelly, all of whom were named in the grade’s national 2025 team of the year.

Since then, McDonnell and Callaghan have been chosen – by their colleagues and management – as the joint-winners of the Louth award.

Sunday’s tie could well be the most crucial of Louth’s seven matches. A win would be a huge morale-booster ahead of the games with Kildare, Meath, Cork and the three Ulster teams, Tyrone, Cavan and Derry. Defeat, and the task ahead will carry jeopardy.

And while retaining the Leinster title is foremost in most Louth minds, getting results in the league can’t be underestimated.

Positions at the end of it will decide where counties, other than provincial winners, play in the championship, the All-Ireland series or the Tailteann Cup.

Rivalry at O‘Connor Park won’t be confined to the field of play. Pacing the sideline will be two former brothers-in-arms, Devlin and Offaly’s joint-manager Mickey Harte.

The pair formed a most successful partnership when calling the shots in their native Tyrone, and after that, here in this county.

They were still in tow when switching allegiance to Derry, but after that went belly-up, they went their separate ways, with Devlin reacquainting with Louth as an overseer of underage football, and, last year, helping with the running of the minor team.

Harte guided Offaly to promotion from Division Three.