NFL DIVISION THREE FINAL: Louth 1-15 Westmeath 0-13:AT LONG last there is a happy ending for Louth football in a final at Croke Park. Louth returned to Croke Park last Saturday night to what they still consider 'the scene of the crime' of their controversial defeat by Meath in the Leinster final.
But after losing three finals in 18 months – they also ceded two O’Byrne Cup deciders – the Wee County got to march up the steps of the Hogan Stand and claim silverware as the new Allianz Division Three league champions.
They kept their composure to come from behind and overhaul Westmeath and then cleverly run the clock down.
“It’s always nice to come to Croke Park and win a trophy and we did that and I think the people from Louth are happy,” said coach Peter Fitzpatrick. “Just do me one favour – what happened last year in the Leinster final is over and done with now. That was as good as winning any Leinster title.
“With 10 minutes to go we were a point behind and I said ‘please don’t let this happen again’. But I’ve always said they’ve something in them. We lost three players to Australia, we lost Shane Lennon and a few more lads – but this team never gave up.
“We said no matter what we’d just keep attacking and attacking and in fairness, it was the best 10 minutes football I’ve seen from Louth in a long time. It was the longest two minutes of injury-time ever. Even though we were five points up with my luck in the last 18 months and losing three finals . . . it was great to get the monkey off my back,” he added.
The breakthrough came courtesy of substitute JP Rooney. A player who once got a trial at Arsenal, he showed why when he dribbled soccer style and clipped a shot in the 60th minute that Westmeath keeper Gary Connaughton couldn’t hold and which fell into the path of Ronan Carroll to crash the ball to the net.
Until that point Westmeath had looked in control and after 45 minutes they were 0-11 to 0-7 in front. But a Herculean second-half effort from captain and man-of-the-match Paddy Keenan and some epic high fielding from Brian Donnelly turned the tide for Louth.
And once they got themselves into a strong position this one didn’t slip from their grasp.
Westmeath, the team that lost 15 league games in a row prior to clinching this promotion, had looked the better team early on with under-21 star Conor Lynam causing havoc at full forward and good support coming from Denis Glennon and Paul Greville. They led 0-7 to 0-6 at half time.
With Dessie Dolan away on holidays this trio carried the scoring burden but when it came to the crunch in the second half, their finishing deserted them. Louth established a grip at midfield and Westmeath were unable to stop the rot with sub Derek Maguire kicking two crucial points, wing back Ray Finnegan inspirational and full forward Carroll finishing with 1-3.
LOUTH:S Connor; E McAuley, A Hoey, G Hoey; R Finnegan (0-1), D Finnegan, L Shevlin (0-1); P Keenan (0-3, 0-2 frees), B Donnelly (0-2); D Crilly, M Brennan, A McDonnell (0-1); P Smith (0-1), R Carroll (1-3), A Reid (0-1). Subs:J Carr for G Hoey, D Maguire (0-2) for M Brennan (both half-time), S Fitzpatrick for McAuley (52 mins), JP Rooney for P Smith (58 mins).
WESTMEATH:G Connaughton; F Boyle, K Gavin, J Gaffey; G Egan, A Finnan, D Harte; B Murtagh, D Corroon; P Sharry, David Glennon, C Lynam (0-5, 0-1 free); P Greville (0-5, 0-1 free), J Dolan, Denis Glennon (0-3). Subs:K Maguire for Gaffey, K Martin for Finnan (both 51 mins), S Quinn for Harte (64 mins), M Curley for Sharry (66 mins).
Referee:R Hickey (Clare).
