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Louth land Leinster crown to end 68-year famine

Updated / Sunday, 11 May 2025 21:09

Captain Sam Mulroy and All-Star Craig Lennon struck the crucial late scores as Louth made history at Croke Park, claiming their first Leinster SFC title since 1957.

Mulroy finished with 1-07 and slotted the first of his team's three first-half goals but it was his long-range two-point free in the 65th minute that will be remembered most.

Trailing by a point after a Mathew Costello Meath goal, Mulroy took on the weight of responsibility by kicking the two-pointer from all of 47 metres out.

That put Ger Brennan's side a point ahead and Lennon, who'd also earlier scored a terrific goal, added a last-minute point to ensure his county's 68-year wait for glory is over.

It's success for Louth at the third attempt following final defeats to Dublin in 2023 and 2024. And the landmark success in front of 65,786 - the largest Leinster final crowd since 2017 - draws a line under their infamous 2010 provincial final loss to Meath.

Having already claimed the Leinster U-20 title, and with the county's minors also through to their final against Offaly, there is the distinct possibility of the north-easterners sensationally taking all three flagship football titles in the province.

The seniors will advance now to Group 3 of the All-Ireland SFC, along with Clare, Monaghan and Down, and will play Monaghan first on May 24/25.

As for Meath, all is not lost, though they will slot into a tricky looking All-Ireland group with Munster champions Kerry, Roscommon and Cork.

Robbie Brennan's Royals, who defeated Dublin at the semi-final stage, played in fits and starts and were ultimately overwhelmed in the final 20 minutes as Louth dominated the crucial middle third.

Aside from Mulroy, Tommy Durnin came strongly into the game for Louth, as did Ciaran Downey and Lennon while sub Ciaran 'Kiki' Keenan added vital dynamism after his introduction.

Jordan Morris did likewise for Meath when he came on as a surprise second-half substitute.

The Kingscourt man was a late addition to the matchday squad, wearing number 23 and replacing Ronan Jones who is understood to have aggravated a hamstring injury.

Morris, a Sigerson Cup All-Star earlier this year, suffered a suspected season-ending knee injury in the league loss to Louth just seven weeks ago.

But he recovered in double quick time and was an 11th hour inclusion among the subs along with Dunshaughlin's Conor Gray.

Veteran Bevan Duffy replaced Paul Matthews in the only change to Louth's lineup from the side that took out Kildare at the semi-final stage.

Duffy lined up at midfield next to Andy McDonnell, the only player across both squads who also featured in the 2010 final.

Meath won that encounter but started cautiously this time, carefully recycling the ball on the edge of the arc until a two-point shooting opportunity arose.

The strategy worked in previous games though it all looked a little cautious initially as they waited and waited for just the right time to strike.

Meath led 0-05 to 0-02 after 17 minutes and somehow hit the interval still ahead but, in the meantime, Louth scored three goals as the game suddenly burst into life.

Mulroy, fit again after a quick recovery from a hamstring injury, slotted a 20th minute penalty after Kieran McArdle was felled by Donal Keogan.

Ryan Burns grabbed Louth's second, rifling low beyond Billy Hogan in the Meath goals after a terrific bit of setup play by Lennon.

Lennon then took centre stage himself just before half-time with Louth's third goal, finding a gap between Keogan and Jack Flynn and darting through before sniping to the net.

The problem for Louth was that they didn't score enough points initially and Meath, well, they filled their boots at the Davin End.

The Royals came alive between the 29th and 33rd minutes with seven unanswered points, pinning Louth back with a strong press on their kick-out.

Ruairi Kinsella nailed a two-pointer and a single during the blitz while Eoghan Frayne and James Conlon scored too, leaving Meath with a narrow 0-13 to 3-03 half-time lead.

Meath stretched their advantage to three in the third quarter when Morris came on and sniped a point in his first play, 0-18 to 3-6.

But as Louth gained a stranglehold at midfield and pressed Meath in this time at the Davin End, so too came the scores for them.

Conor Grimes and Mulroy reeled off three points between them to level the game in the 53rd minute, 0-18 to 3-9.

Then Downey put Louth ahead for the first time since the 30th minute and Mulroy, off his weaker left foot, kicked a beauty to leave two in it, 3-11 to 0-18.

With 10 minutes to go, it was Louth's game to lose - and they almost did.

They coughed up a turnover at midfield and Morris strode clear before freeing Costello who turned onto his right foot and slammed to the net.

Meath were 1-18 to 3-11 up but couldn't hold on and Mulroy's two-point free conversion - for what Meath fans claimed was a soft foul - nudged Louth a point ahead again.

Lennon then got on the end of the most patient of Louth moves on the right side to kick the insurance score in the 70th minute.

Louth: Niall McDonnell; Donal McKenny, Dermot Campbell, Daire Nally; Craig Lennon (1-01), Peter Lynch, Conal McKeever; Tommy Durnin, Bevan Duffy (0-01); Andy McDonnell, Sam Mulroy (1-07, 1-00 pen, 1 tpf, 0-02f, 0-01 45), Conor Grimes (0-01); Ryan Burns (1-03, 1 tp), Ciaran Downey (0-01), Kieran McArdle.

Subs: Ciaran Keenan for McArdle 45, Paul Matthews for McDonnell 46, Ciaran Byrne for Burns 62, Dara McDonnell for Duffy 65, Emmet Carolan for Nally 70.

Meath: Billy Hogan (0-04, 2 tpf); Seamus Lavin, Sean Raffety, Brian O'Halloran; Donal Keogan (0-01), Sean Coffey (0-01), Ciaran Caulfield; Jack Flynn, Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Ruairi Kinsella (0-04, 1 tp), Mathew Costello (1-01); James Conlon (0-01), Keith Curtis (0-01), Eoghan Frayne (0-04, 0-02f).

Subs: Jordan Morris (0-01) for Curtis 45, Shane Walsh for Duke 53, Aaron Lynch for Kinsella 62, Daithi McGowan for Conlon 68.

Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan).

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