It was a bit of a mixed bag from the county's senior footballers in '07. Despite some promising signs, they failed to sparkle in the league and slipped two rungs to Division Three. In the Leinster championship, the Reds saw off Wicklow at the third attempt but then succumbed disappointingly to Wexford at the provincial quarter-final stage. However, pride was restored by three superb qualifier performances as Louth came tantalisingly close to dramatically clinching a place in the All-Ireland series. Louth were dubbed back-door heroes by one of the national newspapers following their unlucky two-point Round Three qualifier defeat to Cork at Portlaoise on Saturday July 21 2007. While such a tag may be slightly sensationalist, there's no denying that the Wee County earned their stripes during their qualifier adventure. In those games against Limerick, Kildare and Cork, Eamonn McEneaney's charges set their summer alight and transformed an otherwise fairly mundane season into something memorable, commendable and worthwhile. Let's make no bones about it: the Leinster campaign was a disaster. While the three-game marathon against Micko's Wicklow was entertaining and the victory at the end came as a huge relief, it counted for nothing when Louth failed to deliver in the quarter-final against Wexford. The Reds produced their best front-door performance in the second half of the third Wicklow game but, otherwise, the team never really clicked in Leinster, which was disappointing. The defections that followed were a blessing in disguise as the players who took their place - Colin Judge being a prime example - actually injected new life into Louth football with their unquenchable heart, spirit, passion and determination. It must also be said that the qualifier draws were not kind to Louth - from three games, two were played away from home and the third at a neutral venue. Cork In spite of Louth's brave effort - in their seventh championship outing of the summer - it was Cork who advanced to the last eight of the senior football championship with a 0-16 to 0-14 victory at O'Moore Park. Two-thousand-and-seven marked the 50th anniversary of Louth's historic 1957 All-Ireland final victory over Cork and, poignantly, the Portlaoise Round Three qualifier clash was the first knockout meeting of these two counties since that famous Croke Park occasion. This time, the Rebels effectively won the game in the second half, getting on top when they started to run at Louth rather than persisting with high balls in to their beanpole full forward Michael Cussen, which had proved totally ineffective in the first half thanks to the vigilance of full back Colin Goss and goalkeeper Stuart Reynolds. The Wee County gave as good as they got for long spells and they led by three points early in the second half before running out of steam as the exertions of a long season eventually took their toll. Louth were also left aggrieved as a number of soft frees went against them at vital stages. Eamonn McEneaney's spirited troops delivered an exceptional first-half display to lead by 0-9 to 0-8 at the interval. Cork looked to be cruising as they cantered 0-6 to 0-3 ahead within 13 minutes but the Wee County took control and outscored Billy Morgan's men by 0-6 to 0-2 in the remaining 22 minutes of the half. Derek Kavanagh fired Cork ahead inside 20 seconds but Louth were level on two minutes when Brian White calmly slotted over a free after Colin Judge had been pushed in the back. When Louth No.14 Shane Lennon was knocked over as he tried to get to Paddy Keenan's high delivery, the Reds earned another free which Aaron Hoey converted with his ever-dependable left peg from almost square in front of the posts. Donncha O'Connor levelled with a seventh-minute Cork free and the Munster men went back ahead when Ciaran O'Connor ran the full length of the field from corner back to knock over an inspirational point. Judge and James Masters traded wonderful left-footed points from distance but Cork then took control with two points to lead by double scores, 0-6 to 0-3, after 13 minutes. White clipped over a close-in free and Louth were back within the minimum when Hoey sent over a great 20th-minute point from play. Brides clubman Hoey then levelled the scores for the fourth time with the Wee County's third successive point. Louth went back ahead thanks to a beautiful Ronan Carroll point on the run off his left boot. Louth led by two for the first time on 28 minutes as nippy corner man Judge gave O'Connor the run-around before dropping over a nice score with his weaker right foot. Lennon's radar-like finish from 40 metres closed Louth's first-half account after Farrelly had picked Cork's pocket in the engine room and the short whistle sounded with Louth holding a surprise one-point lead, 0-9 to 0-8. Cork would match their first-half tally in the second half but, crucially, Louth managed only five scores in the second 35 minutes as they ran out of belief. The Wee County replaced White with Darren Clarke at the break but Cork drew first blood. Louth responded with three quick points - a lovely left-footed score from distance by Lennon and frees from Clarke and Mark Stanfield. Pearse O'Neill pulled a point back and Cork almost took the lead when Masters arrived in a one-on-one with Reynolds. Incredibly, the Louth goalie produced a stunning save from Masters' snapshot to divert the ball over the crossbar. But the Rebels were level in the 45th minute when McMahon clipped their third score in quick succession: 0-12 apiece. Masters popped the Leesiders back in front three minutes later from a decidedly fortuitous free and he added another free on 53 minutes. Cork had another point on 57 to lead by three but Hoey replied instantly with a super strike. But Masters converted another very soft free and the Rebels led by three points with an hour played, 0-16 to 0-13. Clarke pirouetted to register his second point with two minutes left but Louth, who had managed only two points in the closing 25 minutes, were a beaten team. Louth, 2007 Round Three qualifier V Cork: S Reynolds; A Page, C Goss, J Neary; J O'Brien, M Fanning, P McGinnity; P Keenan, R Carroll (0-1); B White (0-2), M Farrelly, M Stanfield (0-1); A Hoey (0-4), S Lennon (0-2), C Judge (0-2). Subs: D Clarke (0-2) for White, D Finnegan for McGinnity, R Finnegan for Farrelly, JJ Quigley for Stanfield, J Murray for Judge. Kildare Seven days earlier, on the evening of July 14, new-look Louth produced an exceptional display to inflict a thorough 1-16 to 1-10 second-round qualifier defeat on Kildare at Newbridge. This was a scintillating performance from the Wee County, who had clearly put their early-season difficulties behind them. Rampant Louth took control of the second quarter to lead by double scores at the break: 0-10 to 0-5. The Lilywhites struck first but Louth levelled with two points - Aaron Hoey (free) and John O'Brien - in as many minutes. After James Kavanagh and Doyle (45) made it 0-3 to 0-2 in Kildare's favour, the match took a decided swing in the Reds' favour as they tagged on six successive points to lead by five, in the process holding the hosts scoreless for 17 minutes. Mark Stanfield, Colin Judge and Brian White were amongst the scorers for Eamonn McEneaney's rejuvenated team as they tore 0-8 to 0-3 ahead with half an hour played. Kildare backs Emmet Bolton and Eamonn Callaghan raided forward to supply scores but Louth had time for further scores from Paddy Keenan - a stunner from 45 metres - and White (45) to take a commanding five-point interval advantage. On the resumption, Kildare stuck twice to claw back within three. However, Louth responded in consummate style with three in a row - two from Aaron Hoey and White's fourth score - to lead 0-13 to 0-7 at the three-quarters stage. After Hoey, Shane Lennon and Ronan Carroll boomed over three more super Louth points, the visitors led by 0-16 to 0-8 with only a few minutes left. John Doyle converted two frees and a penalty to close the gap to potentially just one score, 0-16 to 1-10, and when word went out that there would be five added minutes, the home support began to dream. But it was Louth who broke upfield for a pleasing, killer goal. The commanding Lennon placed outstanding midfielder Keenan, who slammed the ball past Enda Murphy to end Kildare's year and send Louth through to the last twelve in the country. Limerick The first display of Louth's newfound belief came at the Gaelic Grounds in Limerick on July 7 when they produced a stunning finish to dump Limerick out of the championship with an amazing 0-14 to 0-13 victory. The hosts looked to be home and hosed when leading by three points ten minutes from the end but Louth turned the game on its head following the introduction of Darren Clarke, who had an extraordinary impact. In hindsight, one can't help but wonder how different the year might have been had the St Marys clubman not been injured for much of the SFC. A thrilling encounter had a fitting climax when Wee County veteran Mark Stanfield clipped over the winning point in the fourth minute of added time. Though Limerick drew first blood with an early point, Louth recovered well to lead by two points to one after eight minutes, with Colm Judge and Martin Farrelly on target. Brian White slotted over a free to put two between the teams after nine minutes. But Ger Collins' second point and one from Timmy Carroll soon had the Shannonsiders level. Despite playing against the wind, the Wee County restored their two-point cushion with scores from Mark Stanfield and Aaron Hoey. Kilkerley clubman Shane Lennon was causing Limerick all sorts of problems at full forward. Louth led by 0-5 to 0-3 with three-quarters of the match left. Mike Reidy pulled one back for Limerick and White and Mick Crowley traded frees before the outstanding Lennon saw his great score cancelled out by John Galvin. Louth's bench were left infuriated when they were denied a clear penalty just before the break. The scores were level at the interval, 0-7 apiece. Hoey's free wasn't enough to prevent Limerick from taking a 0-9 to 0-8 advantage on the restart but Lennon replied to level again. Limerick seemed destined for the next round when they opened up a three-point gap with a trio of converted Reidy frees but, buoyed by the introduction of Ardee man Clarke, the Reds came back with three in as many minutes from substitute Sean O'Neill, the inspirational Clarke himself and Stanfield. It was 0-12 apiece with five minutes left - familiar territory for Louth after their tight finishes in Leinster. Clarke sent the Wee County ahead but Reidy was on hand to pop over Limerick's 13th score. In the fourth minute of added time, Stanfield split the Limerick posts for the final time after super work from Lennon and Clarke. That was the winning score as gutsy Louth progressed with a magnificently spirited win against difficult opponents in awful conditions. Wexford Louth exited the Leinster championship unexpectedly when the lost to Wexford by 0-16 to 2-8 at Croke Park on Sunday June 17. The Reds had the benefit of three outings against Wicklow, while Wexford 'enjoyed' a ten-week lay-off since the end of the national football league, but it was the Model men who found their rhythm to earn a two-point win. Louth got a perfect start when John O'Brien drove the ball to the net in the third minute - the perfect response to Mattie Forde's opening point - but it was all Wexford in the first quarter and Paul Bealin's more direct side led 0-6 to 1-0 after twelve minutes. JP Rooney pointed a 17th-minute free and the Naomh Mairtin clubman also netted nine minutes later after Mark Stanfield's penalty rebounded off a post. Paddy Keenan got the losers' only other score of a disappointing half that ended with Wexford very much in the ascendancy, 0-12 to 2-2. Twelve scores against four tells its own story. As the match degenerated into a scrap, only two points arrived in the first 15 minutes of the second half. Wexford got both of them. Louth played their best football in the last quarter and points from half-time substitutes Darren Clarke (2) and Shane Lennon as well as an Aaron Hoey effort made the comeback look possible. Paddy Keenan and Clark added more scores to the Louth tally but they ran out of time. While manager Eamonn McEneaney must have been frustrated by the lack of injury time played, he must also have wondered how his team could score six times in the fourth quarter but only four times in the opening 50 minutes. Instead of a provincial semi-final joust with Laois, Louth had to prepare themselves for the first round of the qualifiers. This after playing FOUR games - only one less than the great Louth team of 50 years earlier required to lift Sam! Indeed, the spirit of '57 certainly wasn't in evidence when seven players withdrew from the squad in the wake of the Wexford defeat, forcing a complete reshuffled of the deck at a vital stage in the season. Unbelievable stuff. Wicklow Louth played the Garden County three times in as many weeks in the first round of the Leinster SFC, before finally emerging with a comprehensive 13-point victory at the third time of asking. Two second-half goals from veterans Mark Stanfield and JP Rooney inside a definitive five-minute spell finally broke the underdogs and gave the Reds a comfortable 2-18 to 0-11 win at Croker on Sunday June 3 After 230 minutes of football, Louth were easy winners. Who was it that said football is a funny old game? The Wee County attack was unstoppable early on and JP Rooney (free), Aaron Hoey and Mark Stanfield all found the target in impressive style before Wicklow replied with four successive scores to lead by one after ten minutes. Aaron Hoey and Rooney pointed as the scores remained tied at 0-5 apiece and Louth had further points from Hoey and Stanfield to take a narrow 0-7 to 0-6 lead into the interval. It was the first time in the three games that the Reds led at the break but there was no sign yet of the extent to which they would cut loose. Paddy Keenan began the massacre with a hat-trick of points to catapult the Wee County into a 0-10 to 0-6 lead with just four minutes of the second half played. When Rooney found the net 16 minutes in, the victors suddenly held a 1-11 to 0-8 lead. The issue was settled once Stanfield got his fist to the ball for Louth's second goal. The return of John O'Brien, who got injured in the first minute of the original meeting, was a major contributory factor as Louth finally got a Croke Park victory under their belts. Pt I The original encounter was also played at HQ, on May 20, where an injury-time Tommy Gill free gave Wicklow a 0-14 to 1-11 share of the spoils. This was a real topsy-turvy match and Louth were in trouble for long periods. They looked to be on the verge of exit until Ronan Carroll's 66th-minute goal handed them a lifeline. Darren Clarke followed up with what seemed like a wining point before Gill made sure there would have to be a replay. Wicklow registered the first three points and deservedly led by 0-9 to 0-7 at the break. The dominant underdogs had doubled their lead by the hour mark - 0-13 to 0-9 - but Aaron Hoey's free was followed by those scores from Carroll, Clarke and Gill in a grandstand finale. Pt 2 The first replay at Parnell Park on May 27 finished level after both normal and extra time: Louth 1-9, Wicklow 0-12. This time it was midfielder Tommy Walsh who struck the late leveller for the Garden men. Both teams struggled in the first half of normal time and James Stafford's point gave Wicklow a 0-5 to 0-4 interval cushion. Louth had levelled at 0-7 apiece by early in the fourth quarter thanks to Ronan Carroll, Shane Lennon and Aaron Hoey. Wicklow saw Tommy Gill sent off nine minutes from the end, at which stage they led by 0-8 to 0-7. Louth almost nicked it with points from JP Rooney and David Reid but JP Dalton forced extra time with an injury-time Wicklow minor. Restored to the full complement, Wicklow got the only two points of the first half of extra time and Louth managed just a solitary score in the entire added 20 minutes. That 88th-minute goal from substitute Nicky McDonnell had the Wee County on the cusp of victory but they would have to wait another seven days for their provincial quarter-final pass as former Carlow player Walsh levelled in the dying seconds. But Louth's season was far from over: they would play five more games in the 2007 senior football championship, losing twice and winning at Croke Park, St Conleth's Park and the Gaelic Grounds. Tweet

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