Inside Track: Louth hit the heights in the defeat of Tyrone

Following Louth this season is like being aboard a rollercoaster. The National League Division Two campaign is just over the halfway mark, but already there has been a mixture of highs and lows.

The important thing is, however, that having at one stage spent some time taking a backward glance, now there’s an anticipation of what’s ahead.

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There was the expected win over Offaly in the opening round – consensus was that if Louth were to retain their place in the second tier, there would have to be that win in Tullamore, and after that defeat of Cavan and Kildare.

The match with Cork brought huge disappointment, leaving many deflated going into the meeting with Meath at Croke Park.

Nothing that happened in the first half of that tie lifted the gloom, but then came a magnificent fightback that would have yielded a win had Jack Flynn not picked up a dividend from the gamble he took in the last minute.

And so to Ardee on Sunday last. Doubts about the meeting with Tyrone going ahead due to the weather were dispelled: Herculean work by the Ardee club had Páirc Mhuire playable.

The sod was heavy, but no different than the many others housing games over the weekend.

Could the upward trajectory continue after the Croke Park encourager? Yes.

Taking on a team fancied by one pundit to be among the championship frontrunners this summer, and buoyed by a win last time out, Louth came up with a performance as good as anything we’ve seen since the Division Two clincher with Donegal back in 2007.

Inside Track can remember that one, but not the last time Louth beat Tyrone in either a league or championship match.

There was the draw with the then-Mickey Harte managed side in a 2009 championship match in Navan, Tyrone, defending their All-Ireland crown.

The replay, in Omagh, went to the home side, and Healy Park was again the venue for another All-Ireland qualifier that ended in defeat for Louth, marking the end of Paddy Keenan and Shane Lennon’s inter-county careers.

Talk about highs and lows. There were few in the Ardee crowd that gave Louth much chance at half-time in Sunday’s match.

Having played with a strong wind in their favour, the Reds were just three points to the good. Not nearly enough, was the popular opinion.

Thirty-five minutes later, the smiles were back. Showing a fighting spirit that could only be admired, Louth not only maintained their lead but added to it.

Tyrone had all their name players on call – those who didn’t make the first fifteen were given game-time in the second half.

None of the combinations pieced together by manager, Malachy O’Rourke, could find a way past Louth after Kieran McArdle had come up with the game’s first point, a score followed by the deftest of Ciaran Downey lobs to beat Niall Morgan all hands down for the only goal.

With the game still in the balance, Sam Mulroy came in with two points, and man-of-the-match, Craig Lennon, got one. It left the final score 1-15 to 0-13, Louth winning by five and confining Tyrone to the same number in a wind-assisted second half.

If Louth made a contribution to their defeat the previous weekend, it has to be said Tyrone didn’t do themselves much good in this game.

Several chances were spurned in the second half, the much-acclaimed Darragh Canavan and the young man who did Louth so much damage in last year’s under-20 All-Ireland final, Eoin McElholm, accounting for some of them.

But credit the Louth defence. It was back-to-the-wall stuff for long stretches after the break, Tyrone having all the advantages shooting into the town goals.

Used to creating space, the experienced Mattie Donnelly and the others had their opportunities limited, Louth tackling like, yes, Tamil Tigers.

Midfield, a problem area for Louth in previous games, was more productive this time without dominating. Conor Grimes, having one of his best outings in red, won a lot of clean ball, and in the opening half claimed a valuable two-pointer.

Sam Mulroy got another, and over the hour, boosted his league tally by 0-7. The team captain remains an integral part of the set-up, as does Craig Lennon.

While others might choose to go sideways, give the ball to the Mochta’s man and if he sees a gap in the other’s defence, he’ll go through it. He came in with two points.

Niall McDonnell kept a good goal, as they say, and in front of him had resolute defenders in Dónal McKenny, Tadhg McDonnell and young Pádraic Tinnelly, who’s improving with every outing, showing maturity beyond his age.

It was always reassuring to see Ciaran Downey on the ball. Like Lennon, he’s not slow to take the direct route to goals and has the speed to find a way past defenders.

Cork referee, David Murnane, didn’t endear himself to home supporters. And right enough, a number of his decisions were hard to fathom.

Another issue commented upon was the capping of the attendance to 2,500. Páirc Mhuire had many empty spaces, behind the road goals in particular, and it’s surely time for a reassessment.

Louth’s match with Derry in a few weeks’ time is due to be played there, and this will be a day the home side will need as many voices as possible shouting them on.

Some of those who have been vociferous in the past couldn’t get a ticket for Sunday.

Before the Derry match, on next Saturday evening, Louth’s clash with Cavan is coming up. It’s at Breffni Park, where the home side got the verdict in last year’s corresponding fixture.

Could this be another high for Louth? If it is, the unthinkable of a few weeks ago could be on, promotion to the top division.