Louth savour their day in the sun

Ian Exits have invariably been in haste in recent years, and the feeling of victory has been all but forgotten.

Yesterday was very different. Beating Offaly for the Division Two title of the football league is probably their biggest honour since winning the football championship outright some 43 years ago. And what they achieved here is likely to be remembered for just as long.

Louth carried the underdog tag happily, but the only side to beat them en route to this final were Offaly themselves. Here, they ripped through the stone walls and steel bars that Offaly have erected throughout their unbeaten league run to score a goal and 13 points - all from play - and give their championship ambitions further substance.

"We've a long history of disappointments in Croke Park," admitted Louth manager Paddy Clarke afterwards, limping with a strained calf muscle suffered when jumping around at the final whistle. "So to win something here was vital for us. We were afraid to put pressure on the lads all week but this result means so much to them."

True, team efforts don't come much better than this. The full forwards hunted tirelessly for scores, with J P Rooney most significant. Mark Stanfield was equally persistent at wing forward alongside the influential Nicky Malone. Defensively, key men Stephen Melia and Aaron Hoey rarely put a foot wrong.

And then there was wing back Simon Gerard. He'd barely make a lightweight, but seemed to have more reserves of strength than anyone else on display. It proved critical when, some 20 minutes into the second half and with Louth still chasing an Offaly lead, he popped in the goal that not only proved the decisive score but lifted Louth's self-belief to unbeatable levels.

Before that, the lead had changed regularly. Ciaran McManus made full use of Offaly's frees and Cillian Farrell, an early replacement in the forwards, was their most potent from play. Still, there were some early signs that Offaly's defence could be put on the ropes as Stanfield and Darren Kirwan took their chances well. The sides were level at 0-6 apiece after half an hour, but Offaly then started to edge the possession. Vinny Claffey claimed his first point and two more from McManus left them three points clear at the break.

"We were still fairly settled at half-time," noted Clarke. "And it was good to play against the wind in the second half, we really attacked more."

Offaly just about kept their noses in front while Louth, as so often had been the case in the past, started shooting way too many wides. Crucially though, Martin Farrelly and Cathal O'Hanlon brought the gap to the minimum and the game was still on.

The goal certainly decided the matter. Oliver McDonnell floated the ball in from the right and both Gerard and Rooney took on goalkeeper Padraig Kelly in the jump for the ball. The smallest and lightest man won, and the ball was pushed into the net.

Most of Offaly's shooting from then on either fell short or was off target. They could only manage one more free from McManus as the Louth backs successfully defended every run that approached goal.

Reflecting on his side's display, Offaly manager Padraig Nolan reckoned "they only played in patches" and certainly wasn't happy with their scoring chances. "Louth were the team that wanted to win it in the end," he added. "But we'll have to pick ourselves up now and get ready for the championship."

Before departing, Clarke paid special tribute to midfielder Aidan O'Neill - a late withdrawal because of a family bereavement: "He was the man that would always pull us through. And we dedicate this to him." Next up for Louth is the championship opener with Kildare on June 11th. That can't come fast enough. The venue again is Croke Park, and they're a little more used to the place now.

LOUTH: C Nally; B Phillips, S Melia, B Reilly; P McGinnity (0-1), A Hoey, S Gerard (1-0); S O'Hanlon, M Farrelly (0-2); M Stanfield (0-4), N Malone (capt), O McDonnell; D Reilly (0-1), D Kirwan (0-1), J P Rooney (0-3). Subs: C O'Hanlon (0-1) for Reilly (33 mins); P McGuigan for O'Hanlon (half-time); C Grimes for Kirwan (55 mins); O'Hanlon for McDonnell (65 mins).

OFFALY: P Kelly; C Daly, B Malone, J Brady; J Kilmurray, S Grennan (capt), F Cullen; J Grennan, R Mooney; C Quinn (0-2, both frees), V Claffey, (0-1), C McManus (0-5, all frees); P Keelaghan, R Malone (0-1), D Connolly. Subs: C Farrell (0-4) for Keelaghan (18 mins); J Ryan for Malone (55 mins); B Mooney for Connolly (60 mins); D Ryan for Quinn (70 mins).

Referee: B Crowe (Cavan).