Louth county football team explained

Louth
Crest:150px
Sport:Football
Irish:Lughbhadh
An Lú
Nickname:The Wee County[1]
County Board:Louth GAA
Manager:Ger Brennan
Home Venues:Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda
Sfc:All-Ireland (QF) / Leinster (F) in 2024
Last Championship Title:1957
Nfl Division:2 (6th in 2024)
Last League Title:None
Pattern La1:_whiteline
Pattern B1:_thinredstripes
Pattern Ra1:_whiteline
Pattern Sh1:_red_stripes
Pattern So1:_3_stripes_white
Leftarm1:ff0000
Body1:ee0000
Rightarm1:FF0000
Shorts1:FFFFFF
Socks1:FF0000
Current:2024 Louth county football team season

The Louth county football team represents Louth in men's Gaelic football and is governed by Louth GAA, the county board of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The team competes in the three major annual inter-county competitions; the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the Leinster Senior Football Championship and the National Football League.

Louth's home ground is Drogheda Park, Drogheda. The team's manager is Ger Brennan.

The team last won the Leinster Senior Championship in 1957, the All-Ireland Senior Championship in 1957 and has never won the National League.

History

The earliest recorded inter-county football match took place in 1712 when Louth faced Meath at Slane.[2] A fragment of a poem from 1806 records a football match between Louth and Fermanagh at Inniskeen, Co Monaghan.

Louth won their first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1910 under unusual circumstances when their opponents, Kerry, refused to travel to Dublin as the Great Southern and Western Railway would not sell tickets to their fans at reduced rates.

When Louth GAA sent the team into training in Dundalk for the 1913 Croke Memorial replay under a soccer trainer from Belfast, the move caused more than a ripple through the Association. For thirty years full-time training in bursts of a week or so before a big match were common. After that the two or three times a week gatherings became more popular.

Between 1945 and 1953 Louth and Meath met 13 times. The crowds got bigger and bigger each time as they played draw after draw in the Championship. The attendance of 42,858 at a thrilling 1951 replay remained a record for a provincial match other than a final for forty years the four match series between Meath and Dublin in 1991. The rivalry with Meath has never fizzled out, as witnessed by a stirring Leinster SFC semi-final in 1998. Nor has controversy, as witnessed by Graham Geraghty's "wide" 45th minute point.

In 1957 showband star Dermot O'Brien was late for the All-Ireland SFC final and joined the team when the parade was completed. Prior to the game O'Brien had captained the side in the semi-final success, when the regular captain Patsy Coleman had been injured very early in the season, leaving O'Brien to resume his previous role as captain. Coleman today still has the match ball. O'Brien played a key role as Louth beat Cork with the help of a goal from Sean Cunningham with five minutes to go. As both Cork and Louth wear Red and White, on that day Louth wore the green of Leinster, while Cork wore the blue of Munster. Dermot O'Brien died on 22 May 2007.

Eamonn McEneaney was manager from 2006 to 2009 and guided them to their most recent success, the O'Byrne Cup when they defeated DCU in the 2009 final played in the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda.

On 27 June 2010, Louth reached their first Leinster SFC final in 50 years. During the decider, which was played on 11 July that year, anger and controversy erupted when, during the 74th minute of the match against Meath, a goal was awarded by the referee after brief consultation with only one of the match umpires (although close circuit camera evidence shown on RTÉ Two's coverage of the game proved that the ball was carried over the line by a Meath player). However, Meath received the 2010 Leinster Title and the cup. More on that below.

2010 Leinster SFC final

See main article: 2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship final. On 11 July 2010, Louth reached the Leinster SFC final, where they took on neighbours Meath. Meath won what was a highly controversial match. Deep into injury time in the 74th minute of the match, the referee awarded a highly contentious goal to Meath. He did so after a brief consultation with only one of the match umpires, although television coverage of the game showed that the ball had been carried over the line by Meath player Joe Sherdian. Prior to the referee's decision, Meath were trailing Louth by one point. The referee blew his whistle shortly afterwards. The "goal" proved to be the decisive score.

Irate Louth fans stormed the pitch and commenced a process of chasing and physically assaulting the referee,[3] [4] [5] who had to be led away by a Garda escort in scenes broadcast to a live television audience. Other scenes of violence saw bottles being hurled from a stand, one striking a steward who fell to the ground[3] [6] and Meath substitute Mark Ward was hit by a Louth fan.[7]

The situation led to much media debate in the days that followed, the violence was condemned and there were many calls in the national media for the game to be replayed (including from former Meath players Trevor Giles and Bernard Flynn). GAA President Christy Cooney said the events were a "watershed" and one where the "circumstances were bizarre. I have never seen circumstances like it as long as I have been a member of this Association".[8] He promised life bans for those who assaulted the referee.[9] The day after the match the GAA released a statement confirming that Sludden admitted he had made an error.[10] The GAA also stated that the rules left it powerless to offer a replay and that this would be decided by Meath.[10] Following a Meath County Board meeting it emerged that, in his match report, the referee had originally blown for a penalty for Meath but when the ball ended up in the net he decided to award the "goal" instead. The county board decided not to offer a replay and judged that that would be "the end of the matter".[11] This decision was met in some quarters with mixed feelings and commented upon in one national newspaper, the Evening Herald, by three times All-Ireland winning manager Mickey Harte who said the Meath county board was even more culpable because their officers had time to form a considered opinion. In the statement, the Louth County Board spoke of the enormous sense of injustice which was being felt in Louth GAA. They also questioned the referee's official report saying it was contrary to Playing Rules where he indicated in his report that he blew the whistle for a penalty, but then changed his mind and awarded a goal instead. The referee also wrote that "he made a terrible mistake".

Louth County board referred to Rule 6.41 Award //facts of game: The award of the game rests with the committee / council in charge acting on the referees report.

In doing so the Louth County Board intimated that the committee/council in charge erred in leaving the matter to Meath County Board to offer a replay without seeking clarification from the referee in relation to his match report and his statement that "he made a terrible mistake".

The debate concerning which team were official winners of the game is now over, with Meath recorded in the annals of history as the victors. However, numerous TV replays show that the Meath "goal" was indisputably a technical foul with regard to the Playing Rules of Gaelic football, as quoted below and as outlined in the GAA Official Guide. Also Paddy Keenan (St Patrick's) is the only Louth All-Star. - Part 2.

2010 All-Ireland SFC Qualifiers

Louth exited the All-Ireland SFC on 24 July when defeated fairly convincingly by Dublin in the last qualifier round by 2-14 to 0-13.

Since 2010

Fitzpatrick quit as Louth senior manager in 2012 after three years in the role.[12]

Aidan O'Rourke was appointed as Fitzpatrick's successor in October 2012.[13] O'Rourke left the role in mid-2014.[14]

Former player Colin Kelly then managed Louth for three years. He led Louth to successive promotions in the National Football League in 2016 and 2017, though Louth did not make any championship impact during his time in charge.[15]

Louth appointed former minor manager Wayne Kierans as senior team manager on a two-year term in October 2018.[16]

Louth was relegated to Division 4 in 2020.

Louth did not renew Kierans's contract.[17] [18]

In November 2020, Mickey Harte was appointed manager for an expected three-year period.[19] Gavin Devlin was appointed assistant.[20]

During the 2021 season, Harte brought Louth up to Division 3. He then won Division 3 in the 2022 season. He brought Louth to a first Leinster final since 2010 in the 2023 season.

Harte resigned in September 2023 and subsequently took over as manager of the Derry senior footballers. County board chairman Peter Fitzpatrick announced former Dublin inter-county player Ger Brennan as Louth's new manager on 2 October.[21] In the 2024 season, Louth reached a second consecutive Leinster final for the first time since 1958 and defeated Meath in the championship for the first time since 1975.[22]

Current panel

INJ Player has had an injury which has affected recent involvement with the county team.
RET Player has since retired from the county team.
WD Player has since withdrawn from the county team due to a non-injury issue.

Current management team

Managerial history

YearName
1968–72Dundalk Young Irelands
1972–75Jimmy MulroyNewtown Blues
1975–76Jack SmithNewtown Blues
1976–80Management committeeLouth
1980–82Frank LynchGeraldines
1982–84Jimmy MulroyNewtown Blues
1984–85Frank FaganDundalk Young Irelands
1985Management committeeLouth
1985–87Mickey Whelan
1987–91Frank LynchGeraldines
1991–94Declan Smyth
1994–97Paul KennyDundalk Gaels
1997–2001Paddy ClarkeMattock Rangers/Stabannon Parnells
2001–03Paddy Carr
2003–05Val Andrews
2005–09Eamonn McEneaney
2009–12Peter FitzpatrickClan na Gael
2012–14Aidan O'Rourke
2014–17Colin KellyDreadnots
2017–18Pete McGrath
2018–20Wayne KieransO'Connells
2020–23Mickey Harte
2023–Ger Brennan

Players

All Stars

2010: Paddy Keenan

Internationals

Two Louth players have represented Ireland versus Australia in the International Rules Series in recent years, Paddy Keenan and Ciarán Byrne.[24]

Team of the Millennium

The team below was chosen from a list of 75 nominees by the County Board in February 2000. Their aim was to select the best 15 players who had ever played for Louth in their respective positions, since the foundation of the GAA in 1884 up to the Millennium year, 2000.[25] [26]

Goalkeeper
Gerry Farrell
(Cooley Kickhams)

Right corner backFull backLeft corner back
Jack Bell
(St Mary's)
Eddie Boyle
(Cooley Kickhams)
Jim Tuft
(Dundalk Young Irelands)

Right half backCentre backLeft half back
Seán Boyle
(Cooley Kickhams/St Mary's)
Jim McArdle
(Dundalk Young Irelands/Roche Emmets)
Stephen White
(Cooley Kickhams/Dundalk Young Irelands)

Midfield
Jim Thornton Snr
(Cooley Kickhams)
Jack Regan
(Dundalk Gaels)

Right half forwardCentre forwardLeft half forward
Kevin Beahan
(St Mary's)
Jim "Sogger" Quigley
(Dundalk Young Irelands)
Frank Lynch
(Geraldines)

Right corner forwardFull forwardLeft corner forward
Ollie Halpin
(St Magdalene's)
Jimmy McDonnell
(Darver Volunteers)
Frank Fagan
(Dundalk Young Irelands)

Captains

Below are the team captains (1948–):

NameYear(s)Club
Jim Quigley 1948Dundalk Young Irelands
Seán Boyle 1949St Mary's
Tom Conlon1950Stabannon Parnells
Stephen White1951 Dundalk Young Irelands
Paddy Markey1952 St Mary's
Jack Regan1953–54 Dundalk Gaels
Tom Conlon1955 Stabannon Parnells
Paddy McArdle 1956 St Mary's
1957–58 St Mary's
Jim McArdle 1959 Roche Emmets
John McArdle1960 Clan na Gael
1961
1962–65 Newtown Blues
Muckle McKeown 1966 O'Raghallaighs
Liam Leech 1967 Newtown Blues
1968 Geraldines
Michael Rice 1969 St Mary's
Frank Clarke 1970 Newtown Blues
Danny Nugent 1971 Newtown Blues
Jim Thornton 1972 Cooley Kickhams
1973 Clan na Gael
Leslie Toal 1974 Clan na Gael
Danny Nugent 1975 Newtown Blues
1976 Civil Service
Peadar Gallagher 1977 Cooley Kickhams
Gerry Farrell 1978 Cooley Kickhams
J. P. O'Kane 1979 Kilkerley Emmets
Michael McCabe 1980–81 Dundalk Young Irelands
Matt McDermott 1982 St Fechin's
Jimmy McDonnell 1983 Geraldines
Matt McDermott 1984–85 St Fechin's
Eugene Judge 1986–87 Newtown Blues
1988 Clan na Gael
Richie Culhane 1989 Newtown Blues
Kevin O'Hanlon 1990 Clan na Gael
Stephen Melia 1991 John Mitchels
1992 Clan na Gael
NameYear(s)Club
David Reilly 1993 Stabannon Parnells
1994 Clan na Gael
Stephen Melia 1995 John Mitchels
Seamus O'Hanlon 1996–97 Clan na Gael
Gareth O'Neill 1998–99 Simonstown Gaels
Nicky Malone 2000–01 Lann Léire
Martin Farrelly 2002 Lann Léire
2003 St Bride's
Ollie McDonnell 2004 St Joseph's
Mark Stanfield 2005 O'Connells
Martin Farrelly 2006 St Joseph's
Peter McGinnity 2007
Colin Goss 2008 St Patrick's
2009–14 St Patrick's
Adrian Reid 2015–16 Mattock Rangers
Pádraig Rath 2017 Dreadnots
Andy McDonnell 2018 Newtown Blues
Bevan Duffy 2019–20 St Fechin's
2021– Naomh Máirtín

Honours

National

Provincial

Notes and References

  1. News: Monaghan survive late Louth scare. RTÉ. 16 July 2005. 14-man Louth hit the last five scores of a tempestuous All-Ireland SFC qualifier clash with Monaghan tonight, but the Wee men were left cursing a poor opening at Breffni Park..
  2. http://www.the-kingdom.ie/news/story/?trs=cwsnkfauoj{{dead link|date=May 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  3. News: Rough justice for heartbroken Louth. 11 July 2010. The Irish Times. 11 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121021122502/http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2010/0711/1224274490689.html. 21 October 2012.
  4. News: Referee is attacked in Croke Park . 11 July 2010 . RTÉ . 11 July 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100712234014/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2010/0711/crokerpark_meath_louth.html . 12 July 2010 .
  5. News: Reid, Philip. Dark clouds cast over Louth's big day in the sun. 12 July 2010. The Irish Times. 12 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20101009000153/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2010/0712/1224274518576.html. 9 October 2010.
  6. News: Keys, Colm. McHale, Michael. amp. Meath call for extra time over Louth replay bid. 13 July 2010. Irish Independent. 13 July 2010. live. https://archive.today/20130108004530/http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/meath-call-for-extra-time-over-louth-replay-bid-2255978.html. 8 January 2013.
  7. News: 10 Key questions after Sunday's chaotic scenes at Croker. 13 July 2010. Irish Independent. 13 July 2010. live. https://archive.today/20130111155028/http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/10-key-questions-after-sundays-chaotic-scenes-at-croker-2255907.html. 11 January 2013.
  8. News: Cooney - Leinster final a watershed for GAA . 16 July 2010 . RTÉ . 16 July 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100717195114/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2010/0716/cooney.html . 17 July 2010 .
  9. News: Foley, Cliona. We will impose life bans: Cooney. 17 July 2010. Irish Independent. 17 July 2010. live. https://archive.today/20120802073852/http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/we-will-impose-life-bans-cooney-2262817.html. 2 August 2012.
  10. News: Referee admits error in awarding Meath goal . 12 July 2010 . RTÉ. 12 July 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100714155354/http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/2010/0712/meath_louth1.html . 14 July 2010 .
  11. News: Meath decide against offering replay. 13 July 2010. The Irish Times. 13 July 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20121021164540/http://www.irishtimes.com/sports/gaa/2010/0713/1224274613334.html. 21 October 2012.
  12. News: Fitzpatrick quits as Louth manager. 15 February 2011. The Irish Times. 30 July 2012.
  13. News: Aidan O'Rourke named as new Louth manager on a two-year term — Mick O'Dowd ratified as Meath boss. RTÉ. 8 October 2012. 8 October 2012.
  14. News: Aidan O'Rourke steps down as Louth football manager. The42.ie. 4 July 2014.
  15. News: Colin Kelly appointed as new Wicklow manager. RTÉ. 15 October 2021.
  16. News: Louth announce Wayne Kierans as new football manager. RTÉ Sport.
  17. News: Louth 'will not be offering Wayne Kierans a third year' in charge as hunt for new manager begins. Irish Independent. 6 November 2020.
  18. News: Louth GAA end Wayne Kierans' reign as football manager. RTÉ Sport. 6 November 2020.
  19. Web site: Mickey Harte takes on role as Louth manager. 24 November 2020. The 42. 24 November 2020.
  20. News: Peter Fitzpatrick insists Mickey Harte can pump life into Wee County. RTÉ. 24 November 2020.
  21. News: Former Dublin star Ger Brennan assembles impressive backroom team after being confirmed as Louth manager. Irish Independent. 2 October 2023.
  22. Web site: Louth power past tragedy-hit Meath to earn first championship win over Royals since 1975. 25 May 2024. Irish Independent.
  23. Web site: Louth GAA chairman Peter Fitzpatrick denies 'taking a bit of a chance' by appointing Ger Brennan as senior team manager. The Argus. 3 October 2023.
  24. Web site: Sportsfile - Ireland v Australia - Irish Daily Mail International Rules Series 1st Test - 467438. Sportsfile. sportsfile.com. 4 May 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20161202235357/http://www.sportsfile.com/id/467438/. 2 December 2016.
  25. News: Louth team of the Millennium. Drogheda Independent. 21 January 2000.
  26. News: Louth team of Millennium. Drogheda Independent. 18 February 2000.
  27. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2022/0402/1289965-louth-defeat-limerick-to-claim-division-3-honours/ Louth defeat Limerick to claim Division 3 honours in Allianz Football League
  28. Web site: Louth and Longford stats ahead of O'Byrne Cup final. The Argus. 20 January 2023.