There was a great deal of hope surrounding the Louth U21 football team in 2006 and they went into the Leinster championship full of confidence following a useful early-season, three-game workout in the inaugural Shamrock Cup. Unfortunately, the side never fulfilled its true potential and, after dumping Wicklow, bowed out of contention at the hands of Laois in Dundalk in early March. The Shamrock Cup, organized by the Cremartin club in Monaghan, provided vital match practice at this level and offered the team a chance to click. Louth played three games in the new competition and the evidence suggested that this bunch of players was capable of building on what they'd achieved at minor level under Paddy Oliver in 2003. Louth were in the same group as neighbours Meath, Armagh and Monaghan for their Shamrock Cup fling, drawing the opener against the Orchard County before going down by a point to the Royals in Duleek. Despite being shorn of their considerable contingent of county seniors, the Reds recorded a morale-boosting 0-17 to 1-10 defeat of the manager's native county in Round Three. With as many as eleven players who tasted intercounty U21 fare in 2005 available again and the bones of an excellent minor side from three years ago (many of whom were already figuring with the Louth seniors), the Wee County U21s approached the year in quietly optimistic mood. Unfortunately, things never quite took off. The form against Wicklow was poor enough and the lads only showed flashes of their true worth in the second half of the Laois game. In that match, a deadly-looking full forward line of Shane Lennon, Trevor O'Brien and Colm Judge managed just a point between them. That statistic tells its own story… Despite what manager Eamonn McEneaney admitted was a below-par display, three-goal Louth qualified for the quarter-final stage of the 2006 Leinster U21 football championship when they defeated Wicklow by 3-7 to 0-7 in Drogheda on Sunday February 19. The Wee County had been close to claiming Leinster minor glory with this crop three years earlier but, on the evidence of this opening-round performance, didn't quite hit the ground running in '06. Still they got the win that lined up a crack at underage specialists Laois - and that was all that really mattered for now. Cooley's Brian White, Trevor O'Brien of Glyde Rangers and Kilkerley's Shane Lennon bagged the all-important majors that sealed passage to the province's last eight. Despite dominating early exchanges, the hosts managed only three scores in the first half and led narrowly at the interval, 1-2 to 0-4. With Louth struggling to shake off some close-marking Garden County attention, the hosts received a boost with the red-carding of influential midfielder Tomas Wafer for an elbow on Hugh McGinn, but corner forward Colm Judge soon followed the Wicklow player to the line for a second yellow. The reduction in numbers seemed to suit Louth, who suddenly had more time on the ball and extra space to operate in. Ronan Carroll set up Lennon for a rasping goal. O'Brien's late goal was preceded by points from O'Brien himself, White (free) and substitute Derek Crilly as the winners assumed complete control in the vital closing stages. At the final whistle, the three clinically-dispatched majors were the difference between the teams. The winners started impressively and, with the assistance of a cross wind, enjoyed plenty of early possession. However, they were unable to convert territorial superiority into scores and three first-half scores from 16 attempts represents a poor return at any level. Colm Judge had a hand in all three scores: the Blues player was fouled in the first move of the game and Brian White pointed; he notched Louth's first score from play to level the game after ten minutes; and he also crossed the ball for White to knock to the net after 16 minutes. However, despite a succession of opportunities, Louth were unable to score again in the second quarter and the rout never materialised. Wicklow clung in there and, with greater economy in front of goal, trailed by just a point at the interval. After Jimmy Murray extended Louth's lead on the resumption, the quality of the game deteriorated. Wicklow drew level and we witnessed a flurry of yellow cards, mainly due to the visitors' determination to shake the Wee County up. After the two reds, Louth assumed control. Wicklow had lost a key man in midfield, while Louth in contrast made great use of the extra space up front. Lennon's goal was a scorcher and three quick points followed from the dominant side. With Wicklow restricted to just one score in the closing 20 minutes, Louth created three more good goal chances, with O'Brien making the most of the first of two to come his way. It was a stern, physical test for Louth and they came through with their championship hopes still intact. They would have to up the ante against Laois, however. The Louth team that defeated Wicklow in the first round of the 2006 Leinster U21 football championship: Neil Gallagher; Stephen Fitzpatrick, Peter Osbourne, Sean Gilsenan; Conor Sheridan, Michael Fanning, John O'Brien; Ronan Carroll, Robert Leavy; James Murray (0-1), Hugh McGinn (0-1), Brian White (1-2); Trevor O'Brien (1-1), Shane Lennon (1-0), Colm Judge (0-1). Subs: Emmet Duffy, Derek Crilly (0-1), Andrew Tinley, Alan Kirk To their credit, the team put in a stellar display against Laois at the Ramparts on Saturday March 4 and could consider themselves mightily unfortunate to emerge on the wrong end of a 1-11 to 0-9 scoreline. Louth delivered a much-improved performance against a side fancied to go all the way. In the end, the scoring power of county seniors Donie Brennan and Colm Kelly (Stradbally) proved too much for the hosts, however. Despite playing against the wind, Laois had the better of the opening half-hour. With scores from Brian White (2) and Robert Leavy, Louth led by three points to one after nine minutes but, crucially, their next flag wasn't raised until Ronan Carroll popped one over in first-half injury time. A more fluent Laois side luckily hit the front when Kelly converted a very soft 14th-minute penalty - a jammy score that would have a major bearing on the outcome of this provincial quarter-final. Louth never got back on terms in the ensuing three quarters and can justifiably look to the soft 'peno' as a turning point and defining moment in their year. Having faced the wind, Laois went on to lead by 1-5 to 0-4 at the break. They had only two wides in the first half, while Louth chalked up seven. The writing was on the wall, stating that it just wasn't going to be the Wee County's day. The O'Moore lads got the first point of the second half and Louth almost grabbed a goal through a fisted Trevor O'Brien effort. A reorganized Louth defence, with Conor Sheridan at full back, got on top and Hugh McGinn reduced the arrears to four points on 38 minutes. Substitute Derek Crilly points with his first touch and Colm Judge ensured a thrilling finish with a point at the midway stage of the half. Ronan Carroll cancelled out a Laois point as the match went right down to the wire. Two trademark Brennan breakaway points steadied the visitors and John O'Brian came within inches of a Louth goal before firing over a good point. As Louth pressed for the goal they needed, Shane Lennon almost placed Michael Fanning with a quick free. Unlucky. The next two points arrived courtesy of Laois' ruthless corner forwards as the O'Moore County claimed a five-point win that doesn't come close to telling the story of this match. Louth deserved to be closer at the long whistle but could probably concede that Laois, despite the element of fortune surrounding their penalty goal, were the slightly better team on the day. The Louth U21 side beaten by Laois in the 2006 Leinster championship quarter-final: Neil Gallagher (Cooley Kickhams); Stephen Fitzpatrick (Clan na Gael), Peter Osborne (Sean McDermotts), Sean Gilsenan (Mattock Rangers); Conor Sheridan (Glyde Rangers), Michael Fanning (Naomh Mairtin), John O'Brien (Sean O'Mahonys, 0-1); Ronan Carroll (St Marys 0-2), Robert Leavy (St Marys, 0-1); James Murray (Newtown Blues), Hugh McGinn (Newtown Blues), Brian White (Cooley Kickhams, 0-2); Trevor O'Brien (Glyde Rangers), Shane Lennon (Kilkerley Emmets), Colm Judge (Newtown Blues, 0-1). Subs: Darragh Greene, Emmet Duffy, Derek Crilly (0-1). 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