12-05-2025
Louth fans celebrate as Wee County lifts Leinster title to end 68-year wait
Nearly 66,000 fans packed into Croke Park yesterday to watch Louth overcome arch rivals Meath to clinch their first Leinster Senior title in nearly seven decades.
In a pulsating match, the men from the Wee County came from behind to lift the Delaney Cup for the first time since 1957 when they went on to win the All-Ireland final after defeating Cork.
The win for Louth is more than a historic victory. It will also exorcise the ghost that has haunted the county since their controversial defeat to Meath 15 years ago.
It was third time lucky for Louth after two previous defeats in a row in the Leinster final.
Afterwards, manager Ger Brennan said winning the Leinster title with Louth is up there with any All-Ireland medal he pickedup with Dublin as a player.
Although there is fierce rivalry between the neighbouring North East counties both sets of fans mingled together on the terraces with many of them knowing each other.
Louth fan Eric Kelly from Drogheda said: 'It was some match and I thought Meath were going to do it again as they seemed to have the better of the play.
'But it was the goals that won it and it's such a relief after all those years of waiting. I'm with a load of Meath fans and it's all friendly rivalry but it's great that we're taking the cup back to Louth.
'This makes up for the disappointment when we thought we won it back in 2010 but that's another story.'
The clash was billed as the third Battle of the Boyne, the previous two being the one involving King Billy in 1690 and the even more controversial one at Croke Park in 2010.
Yesterday's encounter was a rerun of the infamous Leinster final when Meath beat Louth with that never-to-be-forgotten last minute goal that never was.
It was also the first time since that Joe Sheridan infamous goal 15 years ago a county that isn't Dublin lifted the Delaney Cup.
Both counties have suffered at the hands of the Dubs in subsequent years with Meath losing five finals since 2010 while the Wee County have been beaten in the last two Leinster finals.
Meath were brimming with confidence going into the clash after ending Dublin's 14-reign as provincial champions but Louth manager Ger Brennan had other ideas. 'Sixty-eight years is a long bloody time not to win a decent piece of silverware', he said after his side received the trophy.
He added: 'I'm delighted for the people of Louth… it was a wonderful effort for everyone involved in Louth GAA. I'm thrilled for everyone.'
The defeat to Meath in 2010 was so controversial it warranted a documentary with many Louth fans claiming it still haunted their everyday lives.
Former manager Peter Fitzpatrick recently said it was a match that changed his life as there wasn't a day since then that it 'doesn't cross my mind'. Before the match he said: 'So, in that regard it's important for Louth to try to put some of the ghosts from that match to rest.'
Alan Morris from Doneycarney, Co Meath, said he was disappointed to lose but happy for the Louth supporters.
He added: 'It was a great game and it's hard to take a defeat but I wish Louth well.
'I stayed on to see the trophy presented to the Louth players and some of the fans were in tears. That's why you couldn't begrudge them the win to them after all those years.'
The sun may have shone during the final but weather bosses said heavy downpours will batter Ireland before the good weather returns with temperatures to hit 21C in parts of the country tomorrow.
Elsewhere, RTE star Miriam O'Callaghan beamed in yellow as she hosted Breast Cancer Ireland's Race Day at Leopardstown yesterday.
The glamorous fundraising event saw almost 400 friends and supporters of the Breast Cancer Ireland community gather together for the annual racing event to help raise vital funding to support their critical research, education and awareness programmes.
Among the crowds, included Virgin Media host Elaine Crowley and influencer Georgie Crawford. Meanwhile, thousands of fitness and wellness enthusiasts descended on Kilmainham over the weekend for WellFest.
Elsewhere on Saturday, hundreds gathered for Celtic fire festival Bealtaine, marking the beginning of summer in Co Westmeath.
