Louth v Meath as it happened: Wee County win first Leinster title in 68 years
That’s all from me, enjoy your night Louth fans! Malachy Clerkin’s report to follow on the Irish Times website.For the first time in 68 years, a Louth captain lifts the Leinster SFC trophy📱 Updates - https://t.co/vsnMWatoug📺 Watch - https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN pic.twitter.com/B454qExS9K — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025More people at this Leinster final (65,786) than the last two combined (63,227). — Malachy Clerkin (@MalachyClerkin) May 11, 2025FT: Louth 3-14 Meath 1-18Louth have won their first Leinster SFC title since 1957📱 Updates - https://t.co/vsnMWatoug📺 Watch - https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN pic.twitter.com/9ufPzs70ka — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025Sam Mulroy on RTÉ: It means absolutely everything to me and the people of Louth. We’ve been on the end of the Dublin train last few years. That experience of playing here, it’s tiring, it’s a big pitch. Across the board, the composure, everyone played their part.Louth’s Sam Mulroy celebrates scoring a penalty. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho70 mins: Meath can’t get the ball, the hooter goes, they kick it out!Louth are Leinster football champions!Full-time: Louth 3-14 Meath 1-18Scenes of jubilation as the Wee County win Leinster for the first time since 1957.69 mins: Louth refuse to give the ball away, Meath chasing frantically after them. They go to the other side of the pitch and Lennon with an acre of space scores an easy point!Louth 3-14 Meath 1-1868 mins: Louth going for a slow, long build-up again, Meath chasing them but not able to get a hand on it as of yet.Louth 3-13 Meath 1-1866 mins: A tense finish ahead here, one point between the teams. Can Louth find another gear and win their first Leinster title in 68 years? Or will it be heartbreak again?Tight call for a free conceded by O’Hallorn just outside the arc sets up the chance for Mulroy. A big run-up of seven or eight steps, off the ground, straight over the two-pointer! Louth ahead.Louth 3-13 Meath 1-1862 mins: Meath running out of ideas a bit as Morris gets crowded out and Louth progress with another spell of possession, but Meath turn the ball over... Goal for Meath! Meath fly forward and Morris feeds Costello who beats the defender and slots it low past the keeper. Their first score in 15 minutes.Meath have re-taken the lead in the Leinster SFC final after Matthew Costello's goal📱 Updates - https://t.co/vsnMWatoug📺 Watch - https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN pic.twitter.com/BNIIbWcckJ — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025Louth 3-11 Meath 1-1860 mins: Louth have been the better team this half and are keeping the ball well, then Mulroy makes it 1-5 on the day after a long build-up, he scores beautifully off his left.Louth 3-11 Meath 0-1857 mins: Meath try to respond with a snapshot by Kinsella but goes wide. Then Louth take the lead! Nice shimmy by Downey and then fine shot.Louth 3-10 Meath 0-1854 mins: Can’t keep Mulroy down for too long! After four wides at the start of the half, he scores a beautiful point from play after cutting inside, from a good distance just inside the arc. Louth dominating midfield now.Louth 3-9 Meath 0-1851 mins: Lovely flick up and finish from a tight angle for a point by Grimes to reduce the deficit to two points. Grimes goes again and hits it high but drops short and goes out for a 45. Mulroy scores it to bring it within one.Louth 3-8 Meath 0-1848 mins: Point scored by Mulroy from a free brings it back to two points. Sub Jordan Morris, a late call-up to the panel, shows his quality and gets a good point.Louth 3-6 Meath 0-1845 mins: Great two-pointer by Burns after nothing was happening for Louth, big momentum booster. But Keogan slaloms through to score a point after sloppy play to put Meath back three ahead.Louth 3-5 Meath 0-1742 mins: Louth punished for wasting time giving the ball back and the ball goes well up the pitch to two-point range, which Hogan splits the posts. Mulroy misses another one from a 45, six wides for Louth.Louth 3-3 Meath 0-1640 mins: Another miss by Mulroy, this time for a difficult long-distance free off the ground. Another under hit shot is gathered by the Meath keeper. Then Meath punish them, Costello dummying and then scoring off his left.Louth 3-3 Meath 0-14Second half is under way...37 mins: An early miss by Louth from Mulroy from distance.Louth 3-3 Meath 0-1335 mins: Goal for Louth! What a brilliant goal, Craig Lennon finds a gap and runs through then blasts one into the top corner. Wow!Half-time: Louth 3-3 Meath 0-13Two goals and 10 points in the last 20 minutes of that half. Thrilling stuff! Meath ahead by a point, but all to play for. That Lennon goal was magic.HT: Meath 0-13 Louth 3-03Just as Meath were getting a grip of the game, Louth got a third goal of the first half📱 Updates - https://t.co/vsnMWatoug📺 Watch - https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN pic.twitter.com/3XNu5C3OVu — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 202534 mins: Then a goal chance by Louth they can’t convert, hard to keep up now after a slow start! Another point by Meath, Kinsella has been on fire today... and another seven without replay as Frayne scores. Meath blowing them away in this spell!Louth 2-3 Meath 0-1331 mins: Frayne scores his third point of the game, a free by the captain. Then a superb two-pointer by Kinsella, great kick from distance. Back level... then Meath with the kickout and Meath lead as Flynn powers through and gives to Conlon to score. What a turnaround. Then Coffey pops up with one from centre half back. Five points in short succession.Louth 2-3 Meath 0-1128 mins: Great defending by Louth turns the ball over after a long Meath attack, Conlon getting stuck with numbers around him.Louth 2-3 Meath 0-624 mins: McArdle wins a free after a foul by Costello. Mulroy knocks it over to level the scores again.Another goal for Louth! Ryan Burns comes off the wing, takes a low shot that takes a deflection, powerful low shot but keeper possibly could have done better. Louth ahead by three all of a sudden.Louth have a second goal in the Leinster SFC final as Ryan Burns fires the ball in📱 Updates - https://t.co/vsnMWatoug📺 Watch - https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN pic.twitter.com/ke1YNGKDqe — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025Louth 2-3 Meath 0-621 mins: Penalty for Louth! Durnin played McCardle in, who was knocked off the ball when shooting. Might be some contests over if it was enough to deserve a penalty by Keogan.Goal for Louth! Mulroy slots it away.Sam Mulroy scores a penalty for Louth in the nip-and-tuck first half of the Leinster SFC final📱 Updates - https://t.co/vsnMWatoug📺 Watch - https://t.co/AKAre5FHdN pic.twitter.com/HzfludYm4g — The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2025Then Meath go back ahead with a good finish through Curtis.Louth 1-2 Meath 0-618 mins: After Meath’s long build-up, Duke hits it wide. Then a two-pointer for Meath. Conlon fouled outside the arc and Billy Hogan comes up and comfortably makes it straight over the posts from distance. A wide then from Conlon from a makeable angle.Louth 0-2 Meath 0-515 mins: A slow build-up by Louth and long possession play but the Meath defence easily deals with them. Then Meath do the same, cagey few minutes.Louth 0-2 Meath 0-311 mins: A second point for Louth, Duffy with a good point. Frayne then nearly scored a two-pointer but the goalkeeper knocks it over to be a one-pointer. Frayne then scores another through a free.Louth 0-2 Meath 0-38 mins: Kinsella overlaps and scores a nicely taken point to level the scores. Duke then has an attempt from distance but pulls it wide.Louth 0-1 Meath 0-15 mins: A long-distance point attempt missed by Mulroy and it’s still no score until Ryan Burns finally gets the first score just five minutes with a sharp shot.Louth 0-1 Meath 0-02 mins: Early possession for Meath and then they work the ball in, Conlon took a shot but missed and went back for the mark. Keith Curtis miskicks and Louth escape.Louth 0-0 Meath 0-0Late change to the Louth team as Bevan Duffy starts. About to start.Louth: Niall McDonnell; Daire Nally, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Conall McKeever, Peter Lynch, Craig Lennon; Tommy Durnin, Andy McDonnell; Bevan Duffy, Ciaran Downey, Conor Grimes; Kieran McArdle, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns.Subs: Tiarnan Markey, Liam Jackson, Anthony Williams Emmets Carolan, Ciaran Byrne, Dara McDonnell, Dan Corcoran, Conor Brannigan, Ciaran Keenan, Dylan McKeown, Paul Mathews.Meath: Billy Hogan; Seamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Brian O’Halloran; Donal Keogan, Seán Coffey, Ciarán Caulfield; Jack Flynn, Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Ruairí Kinsella, Keith Curtis; Mathew Costello, James Conlon, Eoghan Frayne (capt).Subs: Seán Brennan, Shane Walsh, Ronan Ryan, Adam O’Neill, Daithí McGowan, Cillian O’Sullivan, James McEntee, Ronan Jones, Aaron Lynch, Eoin Harkin, Cathal HickeySeán Moran’s pre-match prediction:Is it possible that in the publicity flash of Meath deposing Dublin, Louth‘s win over Kildare has been slightly undervalued? There were overwhelmingly second-best to Kildare in the first half of their semi-final, but found a way to wrest back the initiative.Ger Brennan’s team are notably stronger than in March’s league match with the return of captain Sam Mulroy and All Star Craig Lennon, whereas Meath have lost their key forward Jordan Morris. That’s just the bare bones of it, however.The defeat of Dublin was a great statement of self-confidence as, to be fair, was the accomplished turnaround against a useful Offaly side in the quarter-final. They have looked a lot more adept at kicking two-pointers in the championship and their pace in attack shredded Dublin.Matthew Costello and James Conlon were excellent and the psychological lift should be profound. But there is also the comedown after such performances and the fact that Louth are facing the occasion for a third year, having reduced the margins on Dublin 12 months ago.Louth, buoyant after great under-age displays, have simply been better than Meath in recent meetings and can make that count.Verdict: LouthMeath manager Robbie Brennan and Seán Coffey. Photograph: Tom Maher/InphoSome full-time results, big win for Carlow away to Fermanagh, 3-18 to 2-18 in the Tailteann Cup. A comfortable win for Westmeath over Antrim, while Tyrone are through to the All-Ireland under-20 final with a win over Kerry by six points.Gordon Manning spoke to Peter Fitzpatrick, the former Louth manager, who said that Leinster final in 2010 changed his life.“After all these years, there’s probably still not a day goes by that it doesn’t cross my mind. It is brought up by people in conversation with me all the time. Some of us will be linked to that game forever.“So, in that regard it’s important for Louth to try to put some of the ghosts from that match to rest this Sunday.”[ Peter Fitzpatrick: ‘Joe should have told the truth at the time in 2010, he knew it wasn’t a goal’Opens in new window ]Here was the clip of that incident in 2010:Some of the other games on today, Sligo lead Tipperary in the Tailteann Cup final stages, 2-13 to 2-9, heading to the conclusion there after a 1.30pm throw-in. The rest started at 2pm, Fermanagh behind at home to Carlow 2-12 to 2-8 after 43 minutes the most eye-catching. Tyrone five points ahead in the under-20s All-Ireland semi-final. Nice goal in that one:30 nóim #KERvTYR@Kerry_Official 0-08 (8)@TyroneGAALive 2-08 (14)Cúl! Féach ar sin mar chríoch ó Noah Grimes- dochreidte 🤯Tyrone with a magical goal just before half-time!BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺 #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/hlSLQPNK0s — Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) May 11, 2025Leinster SFC final:Meath v Louth, Croke Park, 4.15pmJoe McDonagh Cup:Laois v Kerry, O’Moore Park, 4pmTailteann Cup:Sligo 2-15 Tipperary 2-10 FT, TubbercurryWestmeath 4-21 Antrim 1-16 FT, Mick Neville Park, RathkealeFermanagh 2-18 Carlow 3-18 FT, Brewster ParkAll-Ireland under-20s semi-final:Kerry 0-14 Tyrone 2-14 FT, O’Moore ParkHello and welcome to live coverage of the Leinster football final between Louth and Meath from Croke Park. Throw-in is at 4.15pm. This is the first provincial decider without Dublin since 2010 and Meath’s surprise defeat of the Dubs in the semi-final may have saved the Leinster championship. There is certainly a different buzz about the final this time, especially as it is a rerun of the controversial Leinster final of 2010 and the last minute Joe Sheridan goal that left Louth fans so aggrieved. “Daylight robbery” as RTÉ commentary said at the time. Certainly adds some spice to proceedings today.Louth: Niall McDonnell; Daire Nally, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny; Conall McKeever, Peter Lynch, Craig Lennon; Tommy Durnin, Andy McDonnell; Paul Mathews, Ciaran Downey, Conor Grimes; Kieran McArdle, Sam Mulroy, Ryan Burns.Subs: Tiarnan Markey, Liam Jackson, Anthony Williams Emmets Carolan, Ciaran Byrne, Dara McDonnell, Dan Corcoran, Conor Brannigan, Ciaran Keenan, Dylan McKeown, Bevan Duffy.Meath: Billy Hogan; Seamus Lavin, Seán Rafferty, Brian O’Halloran; Donal Keogan, Seán Coffey, Ciarán Caulfield; Jack Flynn, Bryan Menton; Conor Duke, Ruairí Kinsella, Keith Curtis; Mathew Costello, James Conlon, Eoghan Frayne (capt).Subs: Seán Brennan, Shane Walsh, Ronan Ryan, Adam O’Neill, Daithí McGowan, Cillian O’Sullivan, James McEntee, Ronan Jones, Aaron Lynch, Eoin Harkin, Cathal HickeyReferee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
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