All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-final
Louth v Cork (Sunday, Inniskeen, 3pm, live on GAAGO)
LOUTH’S promotion to Division Two under Mickey Harte was notable. What followed was a Leinster quarter-final trimming at the hands of Kildare in 2022.
Next? A four-point qualifier defeat to Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. The Wee county versus the big one. The surprise lay only in the fact that it was just four points.
The attendance that day was around 3,000, something to bear in mind before nostalgia carries you away into some fantasy land, a land of grumpy bar stool-sitters that lament anything and everything other than a past consisting of greener fields and exaggerated truth.
But we’ll not slide down that tangent.
Brian Hurley’s 1-1 in a minute settled it two years ago. Cork were patient. They held possession, and they came in for much criticism for doing so, even if support was limited.
Two years on, they’d bite the hand that feeds them for a four-point win. That man Hurley is back, having missed the defeat to Tyrone due to a hamstring strain.
The Rebels will count themselves unfortunate to be on the road, with their journey north extended a little further to Inniskeen, as Louth’s county ground redevelopment begins to gather some sort of steam with plans announced for a 4,080 seater stadium.
Defeat to Tyrone meant third place on scoring difference, and the lack of a home tie could hinder John Cleary’s men.
Their two biggest Championship wins in recent times were both on home soil, against Roscommon in last year’s preliminary tie, and against Donegal a few weeks ago.
Captain Hurley’s return to fitness is timely to say the least, and although he is listed on the bench, it would be no surprise to see him preferred to Steven Sherlock once more.
Sherlock has been prolific as a sub in the past, not least his crucial 1-5 in the shock win over Mayo in last year’s group phase.
His bench role was surprising originally given he was their top scorer in the 2023 Allianz NFL, where he started six games, but Cleary’s bold move has paid dividends.
Their five subs against Tyrone failed to contribute to the scoreboard, but ironically, neither did Louth’s five against Kerry.
Against Monaghan too, Ger Brennan’s men’s tally of 2-10 all came from their starting XV. Be it Hurley or Sherlock introduced, it could be game changing.
One thing Louth have improved on in 2024 is the art of goalscoring. In the group phase, only Dublin scored more goals than their six.
Wing-back Craig Lennon scored three of those, including a brace against rivals Meath, and his battle with whichever foil the Rebels choose will have a huge bearing on this affair.
Much was made of Lennon’s goal chance missed against Kerry, and although the game did change after that, it was a chance almost entirely of his own making.
Brennan’s men are one of the best running sides in the country. The pace injected to their play is complemented beautifully by support runners that drive at angles but all the while with intent.
Their handpassing is sharp, crisp, and when you have Sam Mulroy, you always have a chance.
But in Mattie Taylor, Cork have a man who can counteract Lennon, and Ian Maguire will pose a real challenge to either Tommy Durnin or Bevan Duffy at midfield.
Throw in a stronger bench and a day’s extra rest, you’d expect Cork to win in a match that promises goals even if it won’t be the highest scoring affair.