Louth
Sport:Football
Irish:Lughbhadh
An Lú
Nickname(s):The Wee County[1]
County board:Louth GAA
Manager:Mickey Harte
Home venue(s): Gaelic Grounds, Drogheda
Recent competitive record
Current All-Ireland status:Leinster (QF) in 2022
Last championship title:1957
Current NFL Division:2
Last league title:None
First colours

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 Mickey Harte.

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 team of 1913, All-Ireland champions

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 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 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. Both Ardee men tossed a coin to see who would captain the team. O'Brien won the toss. 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. Dermot O'Brien died on 21 May 2007. 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.

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 Senior Championship Final in 50 years. During the Leinster Final 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 the RTÉ Two 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. Louth have been represented by two players in the International Rules versus Australia in recent years, Paddy Keenan and Ciaran Byrne.[3]

2010 Leinster Football Final

On 11 July 2010, Louth reached the Leinster Senior Football Championship 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,[4][5][6] 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[4][7] and Meath substitute Mark Ward was hit by a Louth fan.[8]

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).[9] 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".[10] He promised life bans for those who assaulted the referee.[11] The day after the match the GAA released a statement confirming that Sludden admitted he had made an error.[12] The GAA also stated that the rules left it powerless to offer a replay and that this would be decided by Meath.[12] 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".[13] 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.[14] 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.Patricks) is the only Louth All-Star. - Part 2.[15]

Rules of Foul Play

RULE 4 - TECHNICAL FOULS 4.12 For a player attacking a goal to carry the ball

over opponents’ goal-line.

2010 All-Ireland Qualifiers

Louth exited the All-Ireland championship on 24 July when defeated fairly convincingly by Dublin in the last qualifier round by 2-14 to 0-13.[16]

Since 2010

Fitzpatrick quit as Louth senior manager in 2012 after three years in the role.[17]

Aidan O'Rourke was appointed as Fitzpatrick's successor in October 2012.[18] O'Rourke left the role in mid-2014.[19]

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.[20]

Louth appointed former minor manager Wayne Kierans as senior team manager on a two-year term in October 2018.[21]

Louth was relegated to Division 4 in 2020.

Louth did not renew Kierans's contract.[22][23]

In November 2020, Mickey Harte was appointed manager for an expected three-year period.[24] Gavin Devlin was appointed assistant.[25]

Mickey Harte resigned in September 2023 and subsequently took over as manager of the Derry senior footballers. Former Dublin inter-county player Ger Brennan was announced as the new Louth manager by county board chairman Peter Fitzpatrick on 2 October.[26]

Current panel

as per 2023 Leinster Senior Football Championship semi-final against Offaly, 30 April 2023

No. Player Position Club
1 James Califf Goalkeeper Dreadnots
2 Jack Murphy Right corner back St Patrick's
3 Peter Lynch Full back Roche Emmets
4 Donal McKenny Left corner back St Mary's
5 Leonard Grey Right half back St Patrick's
6 Niall Sharkey Centre back Glyde Rangers
7 Anthony Williams Left half back Dreadnots
8 Conor Early Midfield Na Fianna (Dublin)
9 Ciarán Murphy Midfield St Patrick's
10 Liam Jackson Right half forward St Mary's
11 Ciarán Downey Centre forward Newtown Blues
12 Conal McKeever Left half forward Clan na Gael
13 Dáire McConnon Right corner forward St Mary's
14 Sam Mulroy Full forward Naomh Máirtín
15 Conor Grimes Left corner forward Glen Emmets
No. Player Position Club
16 Peter McStravick Goalkeeper Dundalk Young Irelands
17 Ryan Burns Left corner forward Hunterstown Rovers
18 Alan Connor Left corner back Newtown Blues
19 Bevan Duffy Midfield St Fechin's
20 Tommy Durnin Midfield Inniskeen Grattans
21 Ciarán Keenan Right half forward St Mary's
22 Jay Hughes Right corner forward Dreadnots
23 Craig Lennon Left half forward St Mochta's
24 Conal McCaul Right half forward St Joseph's
25 Tom Jackson Left corner forward St Mary's
26 Dan Corcoran Right corner back Geraldines
27 Dermot Campbell Full back Dreadnots
28 Oisín McGuinness Left half forward St Joseph's
29 Paul Matthews Midfield St Fechin's
30 Dylan McKeown Full forward Dundalk Gaels

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

Peter Fitzpatrick, pictured here in 2015, managed Louth to the 2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final and, later, as Louth County Board chairman, appointed Mickey Harte as manager in 2020.
Year Name Club/County
1968–72 Stephen White Dundalk Young Irelands
1972–75 Jimmy Mulroy Newtown Blues
1975–76 Jack Smith Newtown Blues
1976–80 Management committee Louth
1980–82 Frank Lynch Geraldines
1982–84 Jimmy Mulroy Newtown Blues
1984–85 Frank Fagan Dundalk Young Irelands
1985 Management committee Louth
1985–87 Mickey Whelan   
1987–91 Frank Lynch Geraldines
1991–94 Declan Smyth   
1994–97 Paul Kenny Dundalk Gaels
1997–2001 Paddy Clarke Mattock Rangers/Stabannon Parnells
2001–03 Paddy Carr   
2003–05 Val Andrews   
2005–09 Eamonn McEneaney   
2009–12 Peter Fitzpatrick Clan na Gael
2012–14 Aidan O'Rourke   
2014–17 Colin Kelly Dreadnots
2017–18 Pete McGrath   
2018–20 Wayne Kierans O'Connells
2020–23 Mickey Harte   
2023– Ger Brennan   

Players

Notable players

All Stars

2010: Paddy Keenan

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.[28][29]


Goalkeeper
Gerry Farrell
(Cooley Kickhams)

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

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

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

Captains (1948 - )

Name Year(s) Club
Jim Quigley1948Dundalk Young Irelands
Seán Boyle1949St Mary's
Tom Conlon1950Stabannon Parnells
Stephen White1951Dundalk Young Irelands
Paddy Markey1952St Mary's
Jack Regan1953-54Dundalk Gaels
Tom Conlon1955Stabannon Parnells
Paddy McArdle1956St Mary's
Dermot O'Brien1957-58St Mary's
Jim McArdle1959Roche Emmets
John McArdle1960Clan na Gael
Kevin Beahan1961St Mary's
Jimmy Mulroy1962-65Newtown Blues
Muckle McKeown1966O'Raghallaighs
Liam Leech1967Newtown Blues
Frank Lynch1968Geraldines
Michael Rice1969St Mary's
Frank Clarke1970Newtown Blues
Danny Nugent1971Newtown Blues
Jim Thornton1972Cooley Kickhams
Benny Gaughran1973Clan na Gael
Leslie Toal1974Clan na Gael
Danny Nugent1975Newtown Blues
Benny Gaughran1976Civil Service
Peadar Gallagher1977Cooley Kickhams
Gerry Farrell1978Cooley Kickhams
J.P. O'Kane1979Kilkerley Emmets
Michael McCabe1980-81Dundalk Young Irelands
Matt McDermott1982St Fechin's
Jimmy McDonnell1983Geraldines
Matt McDermott1984-85St Fechin's
Eugene Judge1986-87Newtown Blues
Peter Fitzpatrick1988Clan na Gael
Richie Culhane1989Newtown Blues
Kevin O'Hanlon1990Clan na Gael
Stephen Melia1991John Mitchels
Stefan White1992Clan na Gael
Name Year(s) Club
David Reilly1993Stabannon Parnells
Peter Fitzpatrick1994Clan na Gael
Stephen Melia1995John Mitchels
Seamus O'Hanlon1996-97Clan na Gael
Gareth O'Neill1998-99Simonstown Gaels
Nicky Malone2000-01Lann Léire
Martin Farrelly2002Lann Léire
Aaron Hoey2003St Bride's
Ollie McDonnell2004St Joseph's
Mark Stanfield2005O'Connells
Martin Farrelly2006St Joseph's
Peter McGinnity2007Dundalk Gaels
Colin Goss2008St Patrick's
Paddy Keenan2009-14St Patrick's
Adrian Reid2015-16Mattock Rangers
Pádraig Rath2017Dreadnots
Andy McDonnell2018Newtown Blues
Bevan Duffy2019-20St Fechin's
Sam Mulroy2021 -Naomh Máirtín

Honours

National

Provincial

References

  1. "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%5B%5D
  3. Sportsfile. "Sportsfile - Ireland v Australia - Irish Daily Mail International Rules Series 1st Test - 467438". sportsfile.com. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. 1 2 "Rough justice for heartbroken Louth". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. 11 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  5. "Referee is attacked in Croke Park". RTÉ Sport. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 11 July 2010. Archived from the original on 12 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  6. Reid, Philip (12 July 2010). "Dark clouds cast over Louth's big day in the sun". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Archived from the original on 9 October 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  7. Keys, Colm & McHale, Michael (13 July 2010). "Meath call for extra time over Louth replay bid". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  8. "10 Key questions after Sunday's chaotic scenes at Croker". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. 13 July 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  9. Irish Examiner (12 July 2010), Giles calls for replay, archived from the original on 20 October 2012, retrieved 12 July 2010
  10. "Cooney - Leinster final a watershed for GAA". RTÉ Sport. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 16 July 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 16 July 2010.
  11. Foley, Cliona (17 July 2010). "We will impose life bans: Cooney". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Referee admits error in awarding Meath goal". RTÉ Sport. Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 12 July 2010. Archived from the original on 14 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  13. "Meath decide against offering replay". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. 13 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 October 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2010.
  14. Mickey Harte-Evening Herald (16 July 2010), Harte ire with royal 'replay - Decision not to offer refixture the biggest error of all, retrieved 16 July 2010
  15. GAA (16 July 2010), Gaelic Athletic Association. Official Guide- Part 2, archived from the original on 30 January 2020, retrieved 16 July 2010
  16. Damian Lawlor - Irish Independent (26 July 2010), O'Gara crushes hope of Louth retribution, retrieved 26 July 2010
  17. "Fitzpatrick quits as Louth manager". The Irish Times. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 15 February 2011.
  18. "Aidan O'Rourke named as new Louth manager on a two-year term — Mick O'Dowd ratified as Meath boss". RTÉ. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  19. "Aidan O'Rourke steps down as Louth football manager". The42.ie. 4 July 2014.
  20. "Colin Kelly appointed as new Wicklow manager". RTÉ. 15 October 2021.
  21. "Louth announce Wayne Kierans as new football manager". RTÉ Sport.
  22. "Louth 'will not be offering Wayne Kierans a third year' in charge as hunt for new manager begins". Irish Independent. 6 November 2020.
  23. "Louth GAA end Wayne Kierans' reign as football manager". RTÉ Sport. 6 November 2020.
  24. "Mickey Harte takes on role as Louth manager". The 42. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  25. "Peter Fitzpatrick insists Mickey Harte can pump life into Wee County". RTÉ. 24 November 2020.
  26. "Former Dublin star Ger Brennan assembles impressive backroom team after being confirmed as Louth manager". Irish Independent. 2 October 2023.
  27. "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.
  28. "Louth team of the Millennium". Drogheda Independent. 21 January 2000.
  29. "Louth team of Millennium". Drogheda Independent. 18 February 2000.
  30. "Louth and Longford stats ahead of O'Byrne Cup final". The Argus. 20 January 2023.
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