In a thrilling final moment of the game, Louth secured their place in the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals for the first time, making them the last of the eight teams to qualify. The weekend’s competition was far from mundane, despite the relatively expected path to this point at Croke Park.
Roscommon celebrated their maiden victory over Tyrone in the championship on Saturday, while Louth rejoiced in their first win against Cork since the 1957 All-Ireland final, marking their debut in the All-Ireland quarter-finals. While Derry is still participating in the contest and Galway is still in the running, Monaghan’s season ended on a quieter note. They now look towards an uncertain future following what has been a illustrious era for the county’s football players.
Mayo’s image of defeat was defined by their Saturday loss to Derry, after a penalty shootout in Castlebar, with the memory of Ciarán Kilkenny’s impressive performance last weekend likely to linger through the winter months. That turning point rerouted their trajectory.
When the moment of reckoning arrived on Sunday in Inniskeen, Sam Mulroy determined Louth’s destiny with a winning score in the 73rd minute, leading them to a slim 1-9 to 1-8 victory over Cork in the preliminary quarter-finals. The victory led to exuberant celebrations at Grattan Park, with Louth players lingering long after the final whistle to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
Ger Brennan, encircled by eager Louth supporters wanting autographs on everything from jerseys and footballs to match programmes, conducted post-match interviews. He conveyed the same encouraging message to the joy-filled crowd, promising to see them at Croke Park the following week. The journey down the M1 to Croke Park will be an unprecedented trip for Louth fans during the All-Ireland quarter-final weekend.
In post-game exchanges with Paddy Andrews and Michael Murphy, Brennan expressed his gratitude for his experiences as a player. The fervour from Louth fans and reaching an All-Ireland quarter-final for the first time is a monumental accomplishment that is hard to understate.
In Louth, the local jerseys have become increasingly popular, presenting a significant morale boost for the residents across the county. In order to make progress, it’s vital to channel this energy, a fact well noted by Armagh and Donegal who have keenly inspected us today. The two teams are the only ones we might face next.
The All-Ireland quarter-finals draw, scheduled for Monday, following the 8.30 am news on Morning Ireland programme on RTÉ Radio 1, will see the top four teams from the group stages (Dublin, Kerry, Donegal, Armagh) go against the four preliminary quarter-final champions (Derry, Roscommon, Galway, Louth). However, the avoidance of repeat provincial finals and where feasible, the repetition of pairings from the group stages of the All-Ireland series will be taken into account while making the draw.
Consequently, certain fixtures like Kerry v Louth, Dublin v Louth, Dublin v Roscommon, Armagh v Galway, Armagh v Derry will not be feasible. The quarter-finals, set for the upcoming weekend, will be hosted at Croke Park on Saturday and Sunday as double-headers.
After Derry’s triumph over Mayo, its coach Mickey Harte observed that at this phase of the competition spying won’t suffice to reach the advanced stages, and on Monday, the extent of the challenge will be revealed.
The All-Ireland senior hurling semi-finals’ arrangement has been finalised, with Kilkenny heading against Clare at Croke Park on Saturday, July 7th at 3 pm – a schedule likely to spark backlash in these counties. On the afternoon of Sunday, July 8th at 4 pm, Croke Park will stage the second semi-final, with Limerick taking on Cork.
However, the prospect of an All-Ireland hurling and football double is off the cards now, due to the Dublin hurlers and Cork footballers’ exit this weekend. Following the setback against Cork on Saturday, Dublin’s hurling coach Micheál Donoghue hinted at his intention to remain in charge with the city’s hurlers for the next season. On the other hand, John Cleary, Cork’s football coach, remained hesitant after his team’s defeat to Louth in Inniskeen.
As any member of a county team will attest, their commitment is similar to a full-time job. It’s a tough grind, and some rest and reflection is now required,” stated one individual.
“The ultimate game will play a significant role in determining the season’s outcome.”
The defining moment of the weekend for Louth was Mulroy’s last-minute free kick. He then swiftly moved to the other end of the pitch to prevent Cork from establishing a tie.
“That exemplifies leadership and sheer determination,” commented Brennan. “It shows an aspiration to triumph and a commitment to guide his teammates.”
The road leads directly to Croke Park, it seems.
All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals have been announced, featuring Armagh against either Louth or Roscommon, Donegal against Galway, Derry, Louth or Roscommon, Dublin will compete with either Derry or Galway, and Kerry is set to match Derry, Galway or Roscommon.