Inside Track: Louth club team has yet to win senior provincial title

Louth’s recent-year resurgence hasn’t been reflected in the club competition. In the three years in succession in which the county has appeared in the provincial final, only St Mary’s have made an impression.

That was two years ago, when, after beating Naomh Mairtín in the county final, Cathal Murray’s side made it all the way to the last stage.

Cuala were in opposition, and led by Con O’Callaghan, the Dublin champions opened up a wide gap in the first half, and were still well ahead into the third quarter.

Mary’s, however, staged a tremendous fightback, and, when just one point adrift, had a couple of chances of levelling it. They weren’t taken.

It was when Cuala went on to win the All-Ireland that the real merit of the Mary’s performance was seen.

That was the second time that a Louth team beaten in the Leinster final saw their conquerors go on to win the All-Ireland. Cooley Kickhams came up against UCD in Drogheda in 1973, but went down narrowly.

It has to be said that UCD, the Dublin champions, were a club team in name only. Included were inter-county players from all over the country, some of them All-Ireland and All-Stars winners, the likes of Kerry’s John O’Keeffe and Kevin Kilmurray, Offaly. Louth’s Benny Gaughran also lined out.

Cooley again made the final three years later, and this time were beaten by Portlaoise.

Newtown Blues lost to the Offaly title-holders in the first final, in 1971, and then 31 years later, Mattock Rangers, playing the competition for the first time, put up a fine performance to reach the final. The Meath champions, Dunshaughlin, carried too many big guns for the Collon boys.

That’s five finalists and no winners. Three of the deciders were played in Croke Park, while Geraldines, competing in the 1982 competition, also had a run-out at headquarters, taking on Ballymun Kickhams in an early round tie.

It’s been better for this county’s representatives in intermediate. The four teams to reach the final all recorded wins, Dundalk Gaels, in the initial competition in 2003, Geraldines 12 years later, and then Seán O’Mahony’s twelve months after that. Mattock Rangers completed the quartet in 2019.

None, however, went on to contest the All-Ireland final. O’Mahony’s went closest, losing narrowly to Roscommon’s St Croan’s.

European Cup duty prevented Lamine Yamal from lining out with Barcelona Gaels in their Leinster junior championship match with Naomh Finbarra the weekend before last.

The Spanish World Cup star would need to have been at his very best for his side to get the better of the Louth champions.

Seriously, the eight-point win was the Togher side’s first at provincial level, and they now move on hoping to emulate Young Irelands, the only Louth team to win the provincial title.

Four other teams from here made the final, St Mochta’s, 2009, St Fechin’s, 2011, Hunterstown Rovers, 2018, and Glyde Rangers, three years ago.

Given the dominance they exercised for long periods on the county scene, it’s surprising that neither Clan na Gael nor St Patrick’s, and, more latterly, Naomh Mairtín, made an impression in the province’s senior competition.