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Sunday World
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Sunday World
Pat Spillane: My GAA pecking order before the serious business begins
The provincial championships have been a revelation and I can't wait for the next phase of the race for Sam 10 May 2025; Michael Murphy of Donegal in action against Jarly Óg Burns of Armagh during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Armagh and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 11 May 2025; Louth players celebrate after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Louth and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 11 May 2025; Sam Mulroy of Louth scores his side's first goal, a penalty, during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Louth and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 11 May 2025; Bevan Duffy of Louth with his daughter Lydia, age 5, after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Louth and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 10 May 2025; Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, left, and Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney after the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Armagh and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile The 2025 senior football championship is the competition that keeps on giving. Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee remit from Jarlath Burns was to make Gaelic football the most enjoyable amateur game to play and watch. And, boy, they are coming close to achieving that goal. The smile is back on players' faces; they're enjoying it. While supporters keep telling me they've fallen in love with Gaelic football again. That's great to hear. Early in the championship, we got a cracker between Kerry and Cork, the best game in the championship, and maybe the best match for a couple of years. The following week it was bettered by Armagh and Tyrone. Two weeks ago, even better again in the Connacht final between Galway and Mayo. And last week we wondered, just wondered, would the Ulster final throw up a great match. And it surely did. A classic. A really enjoyable game from start to finish. One of the best Ulster finals of all time? Perhaps. It is certainly a contender. I could regurgitate what I've written in the last few weeks telling you what makes a great sporting contest. But I will just use one stat from the final in Clones. Seventy-eight shots at goal in 80 minutes That's entertainment, that's a serious match. Let's have a deeper look at that great Ulster final. I will start with the losers. Two weeks ago I said there were four counties in contention for Sam: Galway, Kerry, Armagh and Donegal. That hasn't changed. Armagh lost nothing in defeat. They had a lot of positives to fall back on. Their attack got off seven more shots than Donegal in normal time, 36 to 29. They showed great character coming from seven points down three times and going ahead on one of those occasions. They had huge impact from the bench with five points, so they are building a strong panel. In the second half they played with a quicker tempo, and I believe this suits Armagh. And remember, this is an Armagh team that didn't have Joe McElroy, Aaron McKay and Rian O'Neill, who will be available in the coming weeks. They hit the woodwork three times and don't forget that stupid rule, where a goalie who touches a two-point effort negates it. It cost Oisín O'Neill a point which would have won the game for them in normal time. They also left two goal chances behind them – yet only lost by a point. The negatives? Three of Armagh's forwards didn't score from play. Playmaker Rory Grugan was anonymous. Their lack of goalscoring continues to haunt them, with none scored in the last two championship matches. I am going to say this about Armagh, but it also applies to Donegal, and even Louth. Zonal defending could cost them in Croke Park. The lack of a kicking game in transition could come back to bite them in the big matches. But would I rule Armagh out of retaining their All-Ireland? Not on the basis of their last result. They're still a serious bidder. I looked at Donegal and wrote down two words – McGuinness and belief. This is a group that believes in their manager and the system, and that is what carried them over the line. Michael Murphy catches the ball ahead of Jarly Óg Burns. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile I was particularly taken by their first-half performance, especially in attack. They showed more variety in their attacking play than normal. They went long to Michael Murphy. They were attempting more two-pointers. And they were carrying the ball through the centre. Their shooting efficiency in that first half was top class – 75 per cent. Also impressive was the range of their scorers, 12 different names on the scoring sheet. They are a team that works in bursts. When they get that strong midfield motoring and go at you, they hammer the hammer and make you pay. In the first half they went on a burst, outscoring Armagh 0-7 to 0-1. Likewise in the second half, just after half-time, they outscored Armagh 1-3 to 0-0. And, of course, Shaun Patton's kick-outs were hugely influential, like exocet missiles. But you know, even though they retained the title, there was something about the latest performance that raised a few doubts in my head that maybe Donegal are not the finished article. In the second half they stuck to the process and embarked on a pattern of recycling and recycling some more, and not taking the low percentage shot. They reverted to old habits. It was very unDonegal-like too that they failed to see out the game in normal time when they were leading. And with Murphy and Patrick McBrearty, I wonder will a lack of pace go against them in Croke Park. I'm not sure they will have the legs. And again there is that nagging concern that applies to the other counties mentioned, the reliance on zonal defending which leaves the threat of being exposed. There is an absence of a kicking game in transition, the way Kerry move the ball, for example. Donegal just about fell over the line, but they left me with more questions than answers. Even though I tipped Donegal to win, they are not, in my eyes, All-Ireland favourites. And that brings me to the Leinster final. Boy, was I happy for Louth. It's karma after the injustice of 2010. Seeing the tears of joy on the faces of the Louth supporters and their celebrations afterwards just emphasised how important sport is as an escape valve. How important it is as a means of uniting people in a county. And I know it's an old cliche, but you can dare to dream and yes, dreams can come true. It goes back to something I've said for years. There are 15 footballers in every county as good as the rest. If you get belief and commitment from them, then the sky is the limit. I was thrilled for those Louth players. Why did they win? Very simple. Experience, composure and game management. You can never disregard how important experience is. This was their third consecutive Leinster final. They've played the likes of Kerry in the championship in the last two years. There's a lot of learning from those days. Louth manager Ger Brennan and selector Niall Moyna. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile And there is no doubt that Ger Brennan and his team took those lessons on board. But it was their composure and game management in the clutch moments and in the closing stages that really stood out. They should have been beaten in the Kildare match, but when the game was level in the last five minutes, they outscored the Lilywhites 0-3 to 0-0. The latest match was no different. Three points down with 25 minutes to go, they showed the calm needed to take control. That was really noticeable in a fascinating period of the game which lasted seven minutes and 14 seconds. It began with Louth forward Bevan Duffy forcing a turnover off Aaron Lynch. For the rest of the game, in that seven minutes and 14 seconds that remained, only one Meath player touched the ball again. Louth strung together 81 passes and got three points in that spell. And in one sequence of play they kept the ball almost four minutes, strung together nearly 60 passes and took the ball into the tackle 13 times without losing it. Now that's serious coaching. And it ended up with a Ciaran Lennon point. But there were other factors. Defensively, they were very well organised. They got the bodies back in place and cut off the supply line to James Conlon. But what I really liked was that they were innovative in defending outside the arc to stop Meath's two-point shooting, which was their forte in earlier wins. Meath had 16 two-pointers in the championship going into the game but only scored one from play. Louth's kick-outs, meanwhile, mined 3-7 out of their 3-14. And then there was Sam Mulroy. Great teams and players never let the heads drop when things go wrong. And Mulroy was the classic example of that. He kicked four wides after half-time and in his next three shots he scored four points. That is the performance of a class footballer. But in statistical terms, here is the simple explanation why Louth won. In the first half, with 50pc possession, they got off a mere 10 shots. In the second half, they got off 18 shots. Finally, there is an old saying, goals win matches. You look at the provincial finals in Munster, Kerry scoring four to none from Clare, Donegal netting twice compared to zero from Armagh, and Louth getting three to one from Meath. That's a big factor too. And that brings me to Meath's display. They were only beaten by two points, but they didn't score their usual rate of two-pointers from play. Their lack of goals continues to be an issue. But the most damning stat is just five scores in the second half and one score in the last 23 minutes. You are not going to win a provincial final with that. It was a memorable occasion with Louth winning, a great atmosphere and what a crowd. But let's not over-gild the lily. For long spells, notably in the first half, it was fairly pedestrian, dull and with a governing policy of safety first. For a game with little physical intensity, there were numerous turnovers coming from unforced errors. Will Louth or Meath go on to win the All-Ireland? Sadly, no. My rankings, for what they're worth before the serious business begins, are as follows: 1. Kerry; 2. Galway; 3. Donegal; 4. Armagh; 5. Dublin; 6. Mayo. Cork are a dark horse outside of that top six – they won't win the All-Ireland but could cause a shock or two in the coming weeks. Sadly, Louth and Meath are not in that company. Normally, I have something negative to say. And we could pick out Leinster final referee Martin McNally, who had a brilliant performance, giving a handy free to Mulroy for that crucial late two-pointer. And while the new rules have been a revelation, the scourge of hand-passing and keeping the ball is still there. Lastly, the melee after the match in Clones was nasty and severe punishment must be handed out. There can be no place for that on any GAA field. But you know what? I am going to be positive. The provincial championships – shock-horror – have been a revelation. Three of the four finals have been absorbing – Ulster, Connacht and Leinster. I can't wait for the next phase. Roll on the next few weeks because I believe it's only going to get better. My glass is half full for the first time in many years. I'm on a high.
Sunday World
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Sunday World
Pat Spillane: The best is yet to come
The provincial championships have been a revelation and I can't wait for the next phase of the race for Sam 10 May 2025; Michael Murphy of Donegal in action against Jarly Óg Burns of Armagh during the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Armagh and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 11 May 2025; Louth players celebrate after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Louth and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 11 May 2025; Sam Mulroy of Louth scores his side's first goal, a penalty, during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Louth and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 11 May 2025; Bevan Duffy of Louth with his daughter Lydia, age 5, after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Louth and Meath at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile 10 May 2025; Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, left, and Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney after the Ulster GAA Football Senior Championship final match between Armagh and Donegal at St Tiernach's Park in Clones, Monaghan. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile The 2025 senior football championship is the competition that keeps on giving. Jim Gavin's Football Review Committee remit from Jarlath Burns was to make Gaelic football the most enjoyable amateur game to play and watch. And, boy, they are coming close to achieving that goal. The smile is back on players' faces; they're enjoying it. While supporters keep telling me they've fallen in love with Gaelic football again. That's great to hear. Early in the championship, we got a cracker between Kerry and Cork, the best game in the championship, and maybe the best match for a couple of years. The following week it was bettered by Armagh and Tyrone. Two weeks ago, even better again in the Connacht final between Galway and Mayo. And last week we wondered, just wondered, would the Ulster final throw up a great match. And it surely did. A classic. A really enjoyable game from start to finish. One of the best Ulster finals of all time? Perhaps. It is certainly a contender. I could regurgitate what I've written in the last few weeks telling you what makes a great sporting contest. But I will just use one stat from last weekend's final in Clones. Seventy-eight shots at goal in 80 minutes That's entertainment, that's a serious match. Let's have a deeper look at that great Ulster final. I will start with the losers. Two weeks ago I said there were four counties in contention for Sam: Galway, Kerry, Armagh and Donegal. That hasn't changed. Armagh lost nothing in defeat. They had a lot of positives to fall back on. Their attack got off seven more shots than Donegal in normal time, 36 to 29. They showed great character coming from seven points down three times and going ahead on one of those occasions. They had huge impact from the bench with five points, so they are building a strong panel. In the second half they played with a quicker tempo, and I believe this suits Armagh. And remember, this is an Armagh team that didn't have Joe McElroy, Aaron McKay and Rian O'Neill, who will be available in the coming weeks. They hit the woodwork three times and don't forget that stupid rule, where a goalie who touches a two-point effort negates it. It cost Oisín O'Neill a point which would have won the game for them in normal time. They also left two goal chances behind them – yet only lost by a point. The negatives? Three of Armagh's forwards didn't score from play. Playmaker Rory Grugan was anonymous. Their lack of goalscoring continues to haunt them, with none scored in the last two championship matches. I am going to say this about Armagh, but it also applies to Donegal, and even Louth. Zonal defending could cost them in Croke Park. The lack of a kicking game in transition could come back to bite them in the big matches. But would I rule Armagh out of retaining their All-Ireland? Not on the basis of last weekend. They're still a serious bidder. I looked at Donegal and wrote down two words – McGuinness and belief. This is a group that believes in their manager and the system, and that is what carried them over the line. Michael Murphy catches the ball ahead of Jarly Óg Burns. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile I was particularly taken by their first-half performance, especially in attack. They showed more variety in their attacking play than normal. They went long to Michael Murphy. They were attempting more two-pointers. And they were carrying the ball through the centre. Their shooting efficiency in that first half was top class – 75 per cent. Also impressive was the range of their scorers, 12 different names on the scoring sheet. They are a team that works in bursts. When they get that strong midfield motoring and go at you, they hammer the hammer and make you pay. In the first half they went on a burst, outscoring Armagh 0-7 to 0-1. Likewise in the second half, just after half-time, they outscored Armagh 1-3 to 0-0. And, of course, Shaun Patton's kick-outs were hugely influential, like exocet missiles. But you know, even though they retained the title, there was something about last weekend's performances that raised a few doubts in my head that maybe Donegal are not the finished article. In the second half they stuck to the process and embarked on a pattern of recycling and recycling some more, and not taking the low percentage shot. They reverted to old habits. It was very unDonegal-like too that they failed to see out the game in normal time when they were leading. And with Murphy and Patrick McBrearty, I wonder will a lack of pace go against them in Croke Park. I'm not sure they will have the legs. And again there is that nagging concern that applies to the other counties mentioned, the reliance on zonal defending which leaves the threat of being exposed. There is an absence of a kicking game in transition, the way Kerry move the ball, for example. Donegal just about fell over the line, but they left me with more questions than answers. Even though I tipped Donegal to win, they are not, in my eyes, All-Ireland favourites. And that brings me to the Leinster final. Boy, was I happy for Louth. It's karma after the injustice of 2010. Seeing the tears of joy on the faces of the Louth supporters and their celebrations afterwards just emphasised how important sport is as an escape valve. How important it is as a means of uniting people in a county. And I know it's an old cliche, but you can dare to dream and yes, dreams can come true. It goes back to something I've said for years. There are 15 footballers in every county as good as the rest. If you get belief and commitment from them, then the sky is the limit. I was thrilled for those Louth players. Why did they win? Very simple. Experience, composure and game management. You can never disregard how important experience is. This was their third consecutive Leinster final. They've played the likes of Kerry in the championship in the last two years. There's a lot of learning from those days. Louth manager Ger Brennan and selector Niall Moyna. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile And there is no doubt that Ger Brennan and his team took those lessons on board. But it was their composure and game management in the clutch moments and in the closing stages that really stood out. They should have been beaten in the Kildare match, but when the game was level in the last five minutes, they outscored the Lilywhites 0-3 to 0-0. Last Sunday was no different. Three points down with 25 minutes to go, they showed the calm needed to take control. That was really noticeable in a fascinating period of the game which lasted seven minutes and 14 seconds. It began with Louth forward Bevan Duffy forcing a turnover off Aaron Lynch. For the rest of the game, in that seven minutes and 14 seconds that remained, only one Meath player touched the ball again. Louth strung together 81 passes and got three points in that spell. And in one sequence of play they kept the ball almost four minutes, strung together nearly 60 passes and took the ball into the tackle 13 times without losing it. Now that's serious coaching. And it ended up with a Ciaran Lennon point. But there were other factors. Defensively, they were very well organised. They got the bodies back in place and cut off the supply line to James Conlon. But what I really liked was that they were innovative in defending outside the arc to stop Meath's two-point shooting, which was their forte in earlier wins. Meath had 16 two-pointers in the championship going into the game but only scored one from play last Sunday. Louth's kick-outs, meanwhile, mined 3-7 out of their 3-14. And then there was Sam Mulroy. Great teams and players never let the heads drop when things go wrong. And Mulroy was the classic example of that. He kicked four wides after half-time and in his next three shots he scored four points. That is the performance of a class footballer. But in statistical terms, here is the simple explanation why Louth won. In the first half, with 50pc possession, they got off a mere 10 shots. In the second half, they got off 18 shots. Finally, there is an old saying, goals win matches. You look at the provincial finals in Munster, Kerry scoring four to none from Clare, Donegal netting twice compared to zero from Armagh, and Louth getting three to one from Meath. That's a big factor too. And that brings me to Meath's display. They were only beaten by two points, but they didn't score their usual rate of two-pointers from play. Their lack of goals continues to be an issue. But the most damning stat is just five scores in the second half and one score in the last 23 minutes. You are not going to win a provincial final with that. It was a memorable occasion with Louth winning, a great atmosphere and what a crowd. But let's not over-gild the lily. For long spells, notably in the first half, it was fairly pedestrian, dull and with a governing policy of safety first. For a game with little physical intensity, there were numerous turnovers coming from unforced errors. Will Louth or Meath go on to win the All-Ireland? Sadly, no. My rankings, for what they're worth before the serious business begins, are as follows: 1. Kerry; 2. Galway; 3. Donegal; 4. Armagh; 5. Dublin; 6. Mayo. Cork are a dark horse outside of that top six – they won't win the All-Ireland but could cause a shock or two in the coming weeks. Sadly, Louth and Meath are not in that company. Normally, I have something negative to say. And we could pick out Leinster final referee Martin McNally, who had a brilliant performance, giving a handy free to Mulroy for that crucial late two-pointer. And while the new rules have been a revelation, the scourge of hand-passing and keeping the ball is still there. Lastly, the melee after the match in Clones was nasty and severe punishment must be handed out. There can be no place for that on any GAA field. But you know what? I am going to be positive. The provincial championships – shock-horror – have been a revelation. Three of the four finals have been absorbing – Ulster, Connacht and Leinster. I can't wait for the next phase. Roll on the next few weeks because I believe it's only going to get better. My glass is half full for the first time in many years. I'm on a high.
Extra.ie
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Louth's ‘Why not us?' attitude should be adopted by every team in the country
It felt like a liberation in Croke Park on Sunday, and not just because Louth bridged a painful 68-year gap. It was also about a moribund provincial championship coming back to life in vivid colour. For two decades, Dublin's dominance has had Leinster football in a vice-grip, strangling it. But this impressive group from the Wee County have changed all that. Perhaps, the most salient point made by Sam Mulroy after he led Louth to glory was 'why not us?' And maybe that should be a motto for every other team in the country. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big and, if a county gets its house in order, and ensures that everyone is pulling in the same direction, they can do special things. Sam Mulroy of Louth celebrates scoring his side's first goal, a penalty, during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 'We could have just went on, not believing that we couldn't do it. If nothing changes, nothing will change,' Mulroy explained. 'I suppose we set out on this journey a good few years and we took it step by step and we had setbacks, but this group is very resilient and you are stacking evidence for yourself that you can do something special. Why not us? Why not? That was in the back of my head for years.' There was no promise of better days in Mulroy's early days with Louth. He was a raw 19-year-old when he was part of a team that was crushed by 10 points by Tipperary in a qualifier back in 2017. A couple of years later, he was the only Louth player on the scoresheet as they were beaten by Longford in the Leinster championship. Louth captain Sam Mulroy lifts the Delaney cup. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Given the county's history of failure, it could have been easy to fall into the trap of thinking that this was just Louth's place in the world. But Mulroy always had grand ambitions and a few years ago, the likes of former Wee County boss Peter Fitzpatrick became county chairman with an ambition of harnessing the potential within the county. The first thing to do was convince Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin to take charge of the team. There were two years of clear progress but, under Ger Brennan, there have been even greater strides. 'This is down to dedication and effort and people demanding more of themselves. People coming in, like Ger, demanding more of us – they have seen the bigger picture and told us we can do it. Louth players celebrate after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile 'Ger always says they have two legs and two arms, just like us. It was just a case of bringing everyone to a certain level, upping the ante and going after what we had to go after. 'Young people in Louth want to play for Louth and that is massive – it is from the top down, when the senior team is doing well, it spreads down to the other teams.' Every other team in the country should now be thinking the same was as Louth. Why not us? Craig Lennon of Louth celebrates kicking a late point. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Just because they have been down in the past, it doesn't mean they have to remain there. Louth should not just be the inspiration, but the template for smaller counties now. But they don't have to stop here. As Brennan pointed out in Croke Park, the team can win more. And the Delaney Cup wasn't the only prize on offer on Sunday. Louth's composure and calmness in keeping the ball for the final few minutes also secured them a slightly easier group in the All-Ireland series. While Meath have Cork, Kerry and Roscommon to contend with, the Wee County has the more manageable trio of Monaghan, Clare and Down. Now all that is left to decide is where Louth's home game against the Farney County will be played. Louth had been going across the county boundary to play games in Kavanagh Country, but they won't host Monaghan in Inniskeen. Navan would seem a safe bet, although Brennan suggested that they could play it in Croker as part of a double-header. Louth manager Ger Brennan. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile Having got the taste of success at headquarters, it is clear that he wants more of it. That would probably mean Dublin hurlers agreeing to move their home game against Galway that weekend out of Parnell Park and that's unlikely to happen. Getting a home ground – they have been using Ardee too for league games – is vital for Louth footballers to take the next step. There are plans to build a state-of-the-art stadium outside Dundalk but, for now, the Wee County have to lead a nomadic existence. Not that it has affected them over the past few years. Conor Grimes, left, and Ryan Burns of Louth celebrate. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile In the past, it would have been an easy excuse for any of the team's failings. But this is a different Louth team, driven forward by the likes of Mulroy, Craig Lennon and Tommy Durnin. Maybe, other counties should wonder: 'why not us?'
The Irish Sun
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Dean Rock hails Ger Brennan for bringing Louth ‘back to the pinnacle' as he credits former team-mate for his ‘sacrifice'
DUBLIN legend Dean Rock has paid tribute to Louth boss Ger Brennan after he guided the Wee County to a long-awaited Leinster SFC breakthrough. Speaking on 2 Dublin icon Dean Rock hailed his former team-mmate for his success with Louth Credit: rte sport 2 Louth manager Ger Brennan celebrates after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship final match against Meath The comes after they finally got over the line once again in a Leinster SFC final after their win over It was the their And Dublin icon Rock says that his former Sky Blue team-mate has impressed since taking over following Mickey Harte's surprise departure two years ago. Louth defeated Dublin in the Leinster semi before yesterday's triumph over Meath at GAA HQ. read more on gaa Speaking He said: "I can only imagine the time, sacrifice and energy he's put into Louth football over the last two years. "From the outside looking in, when he took over the job - replacing Mickey Harte. It was one that people wondered how much further Louth could go. "To be fair to him, he's improved this Louth team hugely. They've gone from being the second best team in Leinster to being the best team in Leinster. "He deserves a huge amount of credit [but] he'd be quite humble in trying to pass on the credit to the players and the support team around him. "But he himself deserves a huge amount of credit for bringing Louth back to the pinnacle." Gardai investigating as GAA fans engage in brawl in shop For Rock - who picked up eight All-Ireland medals alongside his 12 Leinster titles with Dublin - Louth's breakthrough doesn't look like a one-off. The Ballymun Kickhams' ace pointed towards Louth's success at underage level. He added: "They're developing a really strong culture in Louth and that's been reflected in the success of the U17, U20 - and now the senior team."
The Irish Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Eoghan Frayne warns Meath ‘have to be even better' in Leinster SFC final vs Louth following ‘surreal' win over Dublin
EOGHAN FRAYNE knows that Meath's dream Leinster SFC semi-final win over Dublin could turn into a nightmare against Louth. The 2 Meath captain Eoghan Frayne at Oldbridge House, Battle of the Boyne Visitor Centre in Drogheda, Meath during a media event for the 2025 Leinster GAA Senior Football Championship Final Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile 2 Eoghan Frayne of Meath celebrates after the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final win over Dublin Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile It was the Dubs' first provincial loss since the last-four defeat to Meath in 2010, when Frayne was just SEVEN years old. Now aged 22, he starred with 0-11 in the shock of the year that blew the Leinster SFC open. But after controversially losing the 2010 decider to the Royals, Louth will be gunning for revenge in Sunday's Croke Park showpiece, which is set to draw more than 50,000 fans. Frayne said: 'Hopefully kids around Meath see us beating Dublin and say, 'I want to play for Meath some day'. 'They start to dream then, it gives you hope. Read More on GAA 'That's definitely important for the next generation of Meath players. It was a bit surreal. 'Before the game we had belief that we could win and when it actually happens it's probably a different feeling. 'It's pure joy, it was unreal — probably celebrated a bit too much at the end. 'It's hard to put into words. I'm only in the panel three years but for a few older lads, they've been getting hammered nearly every year. Most read in GAA Football 'I haven't felt that but I'd say that's tough going. I was more happy for them than for me.' The Wee County ended a 49-year wait to beat Meath in Championship football in last year's All-Ireland series and sent them packing again to survive in Division 2 of the NFL in March. 'It's a failure on the camogie association' - RTE GAA pundits don't sit on fence over 'no-brainer' skorts saga And Frayne knows Ger Brennan's men can spoil the party as they chase a first Leinster SFC title since 1957. The Summerhill man said: 'Louth have some serious footballers and it's going to take an even better performance than we gave against Dublin to beat them. 'They obviously had our number the last two times in Inniskeen and I don't think they have a weakness all over the field. 'They're strong all around and they have obviously a few key lads, like Sam Mulroy and a few others that will take minding. 'They've had our number and they have just been up for it. 'They've deserved to win the last two times. 'We can't have any complaints about the last two times they have beaten us. 'Hopefully now we can right the wrongs of the last two times.'
