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Are Louth Best Placed To Challenge Dublin?

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Leinster is dead, we know that and it has been for a long while. The dubs will win it in 2021 but with Mickey Harte taking over at Louth, are they now best placed to give Dublin their closest contest in leinster in the next few years ahead of Kildare and Meath ? I think with Louths plans to build a new ground in Dundalk and the arrival of MH, alot of potential want away players could be persuaded to give it a bash and will be potentially very excited about the future and have alot more to be hopeful and upbeat about. You can see a vision and its bold.

I like Louth. I've tonnes of time for them and I'd like if they were the ones to give it a good rattle cause the others have been brutal let's be honest.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13650 - 18/01/2021 13:40:04    2327922

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Absolutely no chance! Mickey is not a miracle worker. I like Louth and hope to see them make big strides under Mickey but Louth is very much a soccer county still. Much like the rest of us they are never going to be able to compete with Dublin for the next ten years at least

Meath10 (Meath) - Posts: 183 - 18/01/2021 13:45:07    2327925

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Replying To waynoI:  "Leinster is dead, we know that and it has been for a long while. The dubs will win it in 2021 but with Mickey Harte taking over at Louth, are they now best placed to give Dublin their closest contest in leinster in the next few years ahead of Kildare and Meath ? I think with Louths plans to build a new ground in Dundalk and the arrival of MH, alot of potential want away players could be persuaded to give it a bash and will be potentially very excited about the future and have alot more to be hopeful and upbeat about. You can see a vision and its bold.

I like Louth. I've tonnes of time for them and I'd like if they were the ones to give it a good rattle cause the others have been brutal let's be honest."
No chance

hurlorhurley (Wexford) - Posts: 1660 - 18/01/2021 14:05:11    2327928

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Replying To waynoI:  "Leinster is dead, we know that and it has been for a long while. The dubs will win it in 2021 but with Mickey Harte taking over at Louth, are they now best placed to give Dublin their closest contest in leinster in the next few years ahead of Kildare and Meath ? I think with Louths plans to build a new ground in Dundalk and the arrival of MH, alot of potential want away players could be persuaded to give it a bash and will be potentially very excited about the future and have alot more to be hopeful and upbeat about. You can see a vision and its bold.

I like Louth. I've tonnes of time for them and I'd like if they were the ones to give it a good rattle cause the others have been brutal let's be honest."
awe you're dead right Waynol

Louth for Sam 21 should be trending on Twitter

Louth are primed and ready to take it to the Dubs big time. Just like Kildare and Laois under Micko and Westmeath under Paidi the next former big name will lead the Dubs on a merry dance. Things are only starting now with their new ground, they'll take over GAA and every child in Drogheda, Ardee, Castlebellingham and Dundalk will be pulling on the jersey in no time. Mickey is the man to lead them to the promised land of a first Leinster title in 64 years.

They're gonna hammer their ould enemy to the west in Meath, then onto face the might of Kildare and show them who's boss and onto the Dirty Dubs and show them what dirt is all about with the whipping their gonna put on the jackeens.... and sure everyone else will just surrender then and give them Sam

Look in all seriousness Mickey will have a tough job on his hands. Promotion to division 2 and a leinster semi final would be marked achievement for them based on their current predicament.

One of the biggest issues they have had in the wee county is keeping a consistent panel together of their absolute best players and even at that they're hard pressed to get to a Leinster semi final. Louth has always been a soccer county and will continue to be as such. Louth is a county that needs to have a look at all levels of their county game as they rarely if ever threaten at underage. They need to build things up from that base. Get lads and girls into the Louth jersey, get interested in playing for their county and winning at underage level and then hopefully some players come through into the senior ranks that you can build a team around. I do believe they have some great facilities at their centre of excellence but they need to start getting through some players from it.

Even in their most successful period the mid ninties they could never get past a Leinster Semi final (no fault of their own they'd strong Dublin, Meath, Kildare and Offaly times around then too) . Success and results on the pitch will get people interested and want to pull on the jersey. They've some talented young players and if they can build from that with a great manager like Mickey Harte then they guys coming in after Mickey should reap the benefit. Whomever they have on line to replace Mickey cos its not going to last forever should already be on board and working with the team. Glean what they can from Mickey but working with the panel of players in developing a @Louth@ style of play that can be used for the next 5-8 years.

I wish them well, apart from when they play Meath of course and would be good to have several strong Leinster teams that could start getting to super 8's etc and beating teams from other provinces on a more regular basis. Its the only way that leinster teams will progress.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 18/01/2021 14:17:24    2327932

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Cant see a Micky team beating Dublin at this stage, we've come up against his systems to often and sprung the trap to many times.

That said i think his aim will be to definitely take on Meath, Westmeath and Kildare and have a right good go through the second second tier if they dont reach a provincial and qualifiers if they do. Big question i would think is whether Meath, Westmeath and Kildare (or indeed other counties) would be able to break down a Micky system the way the Dubs have. Louth may also see some of their players returning and have some very decent underage. Will all depend on which side of the draw they end up on initially.

I think this appointment may have significant substance to it, compared to other "big name" managerial appointments some other Leinster counties have a tendency to do.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 18/01/2021 14:17:40    2327933

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I have no doubt MH will improve Louth but challenge the Dubs at the moment? No way. Louth have a tiny population and with recession on the way more lads will immigrate. Smaller counties need all their players to have any chance. A great appointment for Louth and I expect improvement no doubt but no Leinster championship yet.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3667 - 18/01/2021 14:25:14    2327936

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I'd give them a better chance than the rest now..kildare a close second as well, the rest no chance...

Galwaymaster9 (Galway) - Posts: 391 - 18/01/2021 14:33:19    2327940

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I'm the proudest of Meathmen and that means I often ran into issues with relating to Louth GAA fans. Enough said. I lived in the Dundalk area for several years in the last decade and witnessed the club scene firsthand. I can honestly hand-on-heart say that the talent was incrementally there, and often there were individuals of all ages (16/17 up to 30 odd) who were very good players. There was a very invested core of support also. However general interest and structure in Joe Citizen wasn't there. It was a very chaotic set-up and players did often mix and match their football with soccer, and more often chose soccer. I disagree that Louth has a tiny population, it certainly doesen't. Dundalk is saturated with a very cosmopolitan population, as close to a city as a place can get in Ireland without being a city. The issues are purely tradition and culture based, and these issues are difficult to breakdown in life. GAA isnt a huge organisation in Louth, unlike many other Leinster counties. The county is very small but its population centres are large, which creates issues for the urban club such as retention, identity and the community factor. I always felt these pre-requisites were lost on Louth GAA and they have to compete with Dundalk FC and to a lesser extent Drogheda Utd. Many in Drogheda support Meath also dont forget. They absolutely can challenge everyone in Leinster, bar Dublin, and the Harte factor is a new ingredient to the mix but he isnt a magician. It remains to be seen what they'll acheive. I predict 2/3 good showings yearly in the league between now and 2024/25, maybe hitting Division 2, and perhaps a 4/5 game run in the championship in one of those years. Agree with whats above as well, they'll have Meath in their crosshairs. Beating Meath in the championship would mean the world for Louth irregardless of circumstances. I wish them all the best.

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 18/01/2021 15:21:02    2327948

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Replying To waynoI:  "Leinster is dead, we know that and it has been for a long while. The dubs will win it in 2021 but with Mickey Harte taking over at Louth, are they now best placed to give Dublin their closest contest in leinster in the next few years ahead of Kildare and Meath ? I think with Louths plans to build a new ground in Dundalk and the arrival of MH, alot of potential want away players could be persuaded to give it a bash and will be potentially very excited about the future and have alot more to be hopeful and upbeat about. You can see a vision and its bold.

I like Louth. I've tonnes of time for them and I'd like if they were the ones to give it a good rattle cause the others have been brutal let's be honest."
are u on the beer or the sprits? which ever u have had enough , your raving,

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2838 - 18/01/2021 15:35:37    2327951

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Also as a follow on to my last,
This whole thread is a badger baiting situation. Us (Meath posters) chiefly but also Kildare, W/Meath and Laois being the badgers in this instance :D
Offaly, Longford and Carlow also are ahead of Louth. In fact you could argue Louth are the lowest placed Leinster county as things stand at this moment...
Dont fall for it lads, dont give 'em the satisfaction!

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 18/01/2021 15:41:57    2327953

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "I have no doubt MH will improve Louth but challenge the Dubs at the moment? No way. Louth have a tiny population and with recession on the way more lads will immigrate. Smaller counties need all their players to have any chance. A great appointment for Louth and I expect improvement no doubt but no Leinster championship yet."
Mick I'd disagree with you population entirely. The two of the three biggest towns in the country are Drogheda and Dundalk with 80,000 people between them and another 5,000 in Ardee per the 2016 census. Drogheda on its own has a bigger population than Longford. In 2106 they were 129k people living in Louth. Only Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow have bigger populations. They're the 5th most densely populated county on the island.

Population is no excuse or reason for Louth.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 18/01/2021 15:45:57    2327954

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Replying To Young_gael:  "Also as a follow on to my last,
This whole thread is a badger baiting situation. Us (Meath posters) chiefly but also Kildare, W/Meath and Laois being the badgers in this instance :D
Offaly, Longford and Carlow also are ahead of Louth. In fact you could argue Louth are the lowest placed Leinster county as things stand at this moment...
Dont fall for it lads, dont give 'em the satisfaction!"
Think we know he's baiting but no harm arguing the points ;)

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 18/01/2021 15:47:56    2327955

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Replying To brian:  "Mick I'd disagree with you population entirely. The two of the three biggest towns in the country are Drogheda and Dundalk with 80,000 people between them and another 5,000 in Ardee per the 2016 census. Drogheda on its own has a bigger population than Longford. In 2106 they were 129k people living in Louth. Only Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Wexford and Wicklow have bigger populations. They're the 5th most densely populated county on the island.

Population is no excuse or reason for Louth."
Sorry you and Young Gael are right. I did nt realise they have a bigger population than I though. They have the 6th biggest in Leinster and are number 18 in Ireland with a population of just under 129. 000.Of course yes they compete with soccer big time but I the gaa is popular in Louth. I remember Louth giving Dublin great games in the 90 s and it would be lovely to see them on the up again but als I still think Leinster a step too far at the moment.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3667 - 18/01/2021 15:59:20    2327956

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Sorry you and Young Gael are right. I did nt realise they have a bigger population than I though. They have the 6th biggest in Leinster and are number 18 in Ireland with a population of just under 129. 000.Of course yes they compete with soccer big time but I the gaa is popular in Louth. I remember Louth giving Dublin great games in the 90 s and it would be lovely to see them on the up again but als I still think Leinster a step too far at the moment."
Just forget about Leinster as a metric altogether. You could pick the best players out of the entire province and they wouldn't beat that Dublin set-up.
Such is the decline in the game and the incredible rise of the Dubs. Dont worry about Leinster, stay ahead of Kerry and maybe two or three assorted others and you'll always be all-Ireland champions. Isn't it great?

Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 18/01/2021 16:04:42    2327958

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Replying To Young_gael:  "Just forget about Leinster as a metric altogether. You could pick the best players out of the entire province and they wouldn't beat that Dublin set-up.
Such is the decline in the game and the incredible rise of the Dubs. Dont worry about Leinster, stay ahead of Kerry and maybe two or three assorted others and you'll always be all-Ireland champions. Isn't it great?"
I just don't understand the defeatist attitude. Yes Dublin are a great team but every team is beatable on a given day Yes the bookies have them as strong favourites to win Sam agaiin this year and rightly so but I genuinely feel there are teams around to challenge them. Leinster yes looks very one side but with right attitude and a bit of luck Kildare and Meath should ve getting closer.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3667 - 18/01/2021 16:27:57    2327964

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Replying To waynoI:  "Leinster is dead, we know that and it has been for a long while. The dubs will win it in 2021 but with Mickey Harte taking over at Louth, are they now best placed to give Dublin their closest contest in leinster in the next few years ahead of Kildare and Meath ? I think with Louths plans to build a new ground in Dundalk and the arrival of MH, alot of potential want away players could be persuaded to give it a bash and will be potentially very excited about the future and have alot more to be hopeful and upbeat about. You can see a vision and its bold.

I like Louth. I've tonnes of time for them and I'd like if they were the ones to give it a good rattle cause the others have been brutal let's be honest."
You must be getting bored lad.

Can't see much of a challenge coming in the near future, Dublin are streets ahead of the rest in every aspect of the game, they're essentially Leinster Rugby operating in an amateur competition.

Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 18/01/2021 17:33:28    2327972

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In short they won't challenge Dublin, certainly not for the next 5 years which is likely to be the time of their current project. However in saying that I do see Louth draw permitted (avoiding Dublin) playing in a few Leinster finals, I also see them making it to Division 2 of the national league and with a little bit of luck might even make it to Division 1 during Mickey Harte's reign.

There is no reason with the current standard of Leinster football of Louth not promoting themselves to second in the province. There is a big population, they'll now have a 100% yes rate for players asked onto the panel; have one of the best managers the game has seen and I guess there is some finance and excellent facilities in Louth.

I expect Mickey Harte to achieve Louth's maximum potential, with where they're starting from and the strength of Dublin this is unlikely to be a Leinster title but a top 8 -12 team in the country and the second best in Leinster is achievable.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 999 - 18/01/2021 18:15:04    2327974

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Replying To waynoI:  "Leinster is dead, we know that and it has been for a long while. The dubs will win it in 2021 but with Mickey Harte taking over at Louth, are they now best placed to give Dublin their closest contest in leinster in the next few years ahead of Kildare and Meath ? I think with Louths plans to build a new ground in Dundalk and the arrival of MH, alot of potential want away players could be persuaded to give it a bash and will be potentially very excited about the future and have alot more to be hopeful and upbeat about. You can see a vision and its bold.

I like Louth. I've tonnes of time for them and I'd like if they were the ones to give it a good rattle cause the others have been brutal let's be honest."
Are u having a laugh. We have a saying you can not make a silk purse from a sows ear. Mickey harte is a clever man and is on a good deal. But to challenge Dublin not a hope. Louth will not improve one bit the only thing that will happen is that their county board will be poorer financially

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1799 - 18/01/2021 19:37:46    2327987

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Miracles dont happen, we all know Harte is religious but he cant walk on water.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4893 - 18/01/2021 21:11:44    2327994

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Drink taken I'd say.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 18/01/2021 21:36:12    2327999

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