Pete McGrath has dismissed suggestions that his decision to step down as Louth manager was prompted by the Down post becoming vacant.

McGrath's departure from the Wee County hot seat was confirmed last night, just 48 hours after Eamonn Burns stepped down in the Mourne County. However, the 1991 and '94 All-Ireland winning Down manager insists he had made his mind up to quit Louth a fortnight ago and that his decision was in no way linked to developments in his native county.

"I'll put one thing to bed - my decision in my mind precedes Eamonn's decision to step down from Down by a number of weeks," McGrath told the Irish News.

"I said to myself: 'Eamonn resigned on Tuesday and I know if the decision of mine comes out now, people will say 'he's left Louth to come to Down', but that is not the rationale at all.

"If Eamonn hadn't gone, my decision was made in my mind a couple of weeks ago. People can put two and two together, but what they'll be getting is five, not four. The Down thing is a completely separate issue." 

Be sure to follow the hoganstand.com match tracker this weekend for all the live action from the All-Ireland football and hurling qualifiers and the Leinster SHC final replay.

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