It was yet another hard luck story as Louth's minor footballers exited the 2006 Leinster MFC by virtue of an agonizing 0-14 to 1-10 quarter-final defeat to Laois at O'Moore Park on Saturday May 13. The Wee County - whose 'reward' for topping the preliminary group was this AWAY meeting with the province's undisputed underage specialists - manfully clawed back a seven-point interval deficit but just failed to get back on level terms. Defeats don't come much more frustrating. As the top side in the preliminary group (on points difference) following a series of round-robin matches against Longford, Wexford and Wicklow, Louth were handed a nightmare 2006 Leinster MFC quarter-final tie away to Laois. The team - expertly drilled by manager Gerry Cumiskey, selectors Aidan Berrill, Rosemary Coyle and Andy Quinn as well as trainer 'Shorty' Treanor - travelled to the Portlaoise venue on the second weekend of May full of conviction, but fell only marginally short. The series of events that led to Louth facing Laois in the first place were bizarre in the extreme. The Reds defeated Longford in their first outing, then eased past Wexford, However, a one-point defeat to Wicklow in their third and final round-robin match looked almost like a blessing in disguise as it would almost certainly mean a home quarter-final against Offaly (the prize for group runners-up) rather than the treacherous trek to Portlaoise (the prize for topping the group). Of course, things didn't work out like that: Longford defeated Wicklow in the last preliminary group match, which meant that there were three teams on four points apiece. The winners (Louth) were determined by points difference, while a play-off was arranged to determine who would finish second. Strange manoeuvrings and the Wee County certainly drew the short straw. Anyway, there was nothing they could do but travel to Laois' den and give it their best shot, which the U18s certainly did. They were very unlucky to lose. In the run-up to the championship quarter-final, Louth took on Monaghan in the Ronan Byrne Cup final at Pairc Eamoin in Lordship on May Bank Holiday Monday. Shorn of the services of key men Aidan O'Brien and Patrick Lynch, they fell to a 1-13 to 1-7 defeat to their neighbours but nobody was overly despondent as all eyes were on the May 13 date with Laois. Louth's second-half revival was stunning and they deserved at the very least a draw. Indeed, they might well have snatched victory but for an unfortunate bobble that denied substitute Derek Maguire a certain goal late on. Instead, the ball sailed over the bar for a point. The visitors tore into the defending champions upon the resumption and the relieved cheer from the home support at the long whistle told its own story. Kevin McArdle was a major threat throughout and his movement off the ball as well as his accuracy from placed balls provided the platform for Louth's gutsy efforts. Despite three first-half points from McArdle, the Wee County trailed badly at the break, 0-10 to 0-3. A switch of goalkeeper, with Sean Connolly replacing Stephen Rice, was instigated during the break in an attempt to improve the kicking-out and first-half sub Derek Maguire knocked over a quick point before McArdle was hauled to the ground inside the square in the 35th minute. The No.15 steadied himself and calmly slotted the ball to the net from the resultant penalty to bring his side back into contention, 0-10 to 1-4. Laois pointed but had wing back Richard Ryan sent off for a second bookable offence twenty minutes from the end. When McArdle pointed the free, there were just three points in it again. Connolly palmed a shot over the bar for another Laois point and the hosts had two more to lead 0-13 to 1-5 with ten minute left. Louth then upped it and landed four points in as many minutes. McArdle kickstarted the revival with a couple of frees and Maguire couldn't believe it when he only pointed as a cruel bobble denied him a goal. Jason Clarke's point made it 0-13 to 1-9 and set up a grandstand finale. Dreadnots clubman Patrick Lynch missed the target with an attempted leveller and Laois registered a free before McArdle got Louth's last score of the 2006 Leinster minor football championship. Players and management remained on the O'Moore Park pitch for a long time after the final whistle, trying to come to terms with the shattering defeat, but they had done themselves proud and proved that they can mix it with the best in the province. All 20 players who took part in this match threw everything at Laois. This crop has every reason to look ahead to the 2009 U21 championship with confidence. The Louth minors opened their programme for the year against Longford in the Leinster minor league at Drumlish on Saturday January 28, losing an enjoyable match by 2-11 to 2-8. Next up was Westmeath at Drogheda on February 4 and the Wee County went under again, this time by 1-12 to 1-6. Two defeats effectively spelt the end of Louth's involvement in the league competition but the championship is always the one that counts. Louth's minor footballers recorded a huge victory over Longford in the Leinster MFC (preliminary phase) at Drogheda on Saturday March 25. The Wee County were in relentless form at the Gaelic Grounds and Gerry Cumiskey's charges hit the net five times as they tore the midlanders apart, 5-8 to 0-12. Brian Duffy got the first goal after seven minutes to make it 1-2 to 0-1. Even though Longford closed within a point, the Wee County pulled away with further three-pointers from Derek Mulligan and Patrick Lynch to lead by 3-5 to 0-7 at the break. Dundalk Gaels clubman Kevin McArdle added two more goals in the second half as Louth took a massive step towards the Leinster championship proper. Louth recorded their second successive victory in the preliminary group when the defeated Wexford by 2-9 to 0-3 at Enniscorthy on Saturday April 8 to move to the brink of a place in the provincial competition proper. Patrick Lynch kept up his great goalscoring form with a three-pointer either side of the interval. Leading by 1-4 to 0-2 at the break, the Wee County more than doubled their tally thereafter while the hosts could muster just one additional point. Louth travelled to Arklow for their third and final round-robin game against Wicklow and fell to a surprise 1-13 to 2-9 defeat, with goals from Patrick Lynch and Cian Smith. Despite this setback, the Wee County still had the very dubious honour of being named as group winners, which meant a tricky trek to the midlands… Louth, 2006 Leinster MFC quarter-finalists V Laois on May 13: Stephen Rice; Sean McMahon, Gareth Moran, Gerard Hoey; Aiden O'Brien, Padraig Rath, Paul Berrill; Brian Donnelly, Brian Duffy; Ronan Costello, Patrick Lynch, Jason Clarke; Derek Mulligan, Padraic Smith, Kevin McArdle. Subs: Derek Maguire (22), Derek Moran (27), Sean Connolly (h/t), Cian Smith (37), Sean Cumiskey (57) Tweet

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