Louth GAA club | Captain Callaghan savours special day for Máirtíns

Naomh Máirtín captain Eoghan Callaghan was beaming with joy after lifting the Joe Ward Cup at the Integral GAA Grounds on Sunday afternoon.

His side put in their best performance of the season with victory over Newtown Blues to secure the Anchor Tours Louth Senior Football Championship and round off a dream day for the club, with the minors also crowned county champions.

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Callaghan scored two points and was named Man of the Match after an influential display. He said, “It’s special, it's been a brilliant day.

“As I said in my speech there, the amount of work that's going on in the club as a whole, and probably as captain this year, I've been able to see that a little bit more.

“The structures that are in place and look, it doesn't work out every time. We've lost a few championship finals now, but they make it extra special when they come off and you get over the line.

“But for us this year, U16's top level championship, a Minor A championship and a Senior A championship as well. It can't get much better than that, so we're over the moon obviously.”

The Jocks looked in control from the start and never let the Blues settle.

“We've been chatting a lot over the last couple of weeks, every day we've been trying to say we left a bit behind us there, and we probably need more going into the next game.

“I thought today was probably our best performance all year, and that's a credit to the group that we saved that for the most important day when there's a cup on the line and another championship on the line.

“We're over the line. I think we managed the game well. Even when they came at us, I think we managed to kind of stop their momentum and kind of calm it down and get on the ball and start spraying it again.

“It was a good day all round. We knew it was obviously going to be an unbelievable challenge from the Blues, and we're just thrilled to get a third championship back to Monasterboice.”

The captain admitted their tactical approach and decision-making, particularly against the strong first-half wind, were important.

“We probably did, and they were with the wind in the first half. I won the toss and a few lads were saying should we went against the wind in the first half because the Blues start really quickly in all their games.

“They've serious two-point shooters, so we kind of knew that. I was already thinking that if we were against the wind, it means we have to be at it right from the start.

“You can keep going there with the two-point threats with a wind, so I think we were able to just get a foothold in the game and really have that kind of focus and mentality to attack it a little bit if that makes sense.”

Every player delivered when it mattered most.

“Big time, it was probably our best performance all around, and from each individual perspective, as well, it was probably everyone's best game.

“But it doesn't work out like that a lot of the time, and today for us to be able to do it was just incredible.”

With recent heartbreak in the last couple of finals and the loss of several important players, this victory carried extra importance.

“Big time, we've lost a lot of lads through retirements and real leaders for us as well, and then obviously we've lost three or four lads like serious players.

“I'll give them a mention because I think it's worth it, like John Clutterbuck, Conor Morgan, Conor Whelan, and Mark McCullough, these players are really good and really important for us over the past number of years.

“So to be able to step up and have everyone to lift their game a little bit, it makes it special as well, but look, we're still thinking of those boys as well.

“I'm sure they're shouting us on, and look, we're a club and we're a community and everything, so it's nice to do it all together.”

Attention will soon turn to the AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship after Callaghan and his teammates celebrate this Joe Ward Cup.

“From our history in Leinster, no easy draw, we know that we've unfinished business. We let ourselves down in our last campaign in Leinster.

“So we'll definitely be trying to focus on it, we won't be focusing on it over the next few days, that's for sure. It'll take a while and maybe get back on Thursday or Friday, but the next few days we'll definitely enjoy ourselves.”

The captain's return proved vital after battling back from injury earlier in the year.

“Yeah, probably it's just great to be able to put the head down and I just stuck at it and did rehab properly for the first time ever, which is probably a good thing.

“Great physios, Mick Fanning, Conor Healy, there is a great physio for us and Sean O'Hanlon, special mention to help me get back.

“But then as soon as you get back, you're mad for action, you're hungry, so it's great to be back, but just really loving it and enjoying the football.”