Louth champs all set for their Leinster bows

premier club competition.

The last time they won the Wicklow crown in 2007 they were denied the chance to play in Leinster, so despite an impressive domestic CV, it is 22 years since they last graced the provincial stage.

With the Wicklow final taking place a week after the Louth decider, Alan Craven and his backroom team got a chance to scout their opponents and they will have noted Baltinglass’ preference to play from the back with goalkeeper Mark Jackson’s kick-outs crucial to their gameplan.

Up front they will be mindful of Joe and Dan Kelly, who did the majority of the scoring in the Wicklow Championship, including the final, but the man who made the forward line tick was full forward Sean O’Brien.

Likewise their half forward line of Henry Sinnott, John McGrath and Ian Sheerin and an extremely mobile midfield duo of Jason Kennedy and Kevin Murphy need to be curtailed.

St Fechin’s are out 24 hours earlier when they host Wolfe Tones at home.

The two-time Louth champs reached the semi-final stage of the Junior grade last year, suffering a heavy defeat to Kilkenny outfit Glenmore, but they are making a big step up this term in the intermediate grade.

Last Saturday St Joseph’s just about survived a searching examination from Carlow outfit St Andrew’s and they will face the Dublin champions in the quarter-finals.

St Kevin’s, meanwhile, fell at the first hurdle, albeit at the second attempt, losing a reply to Offaly outfot Bracknagh with both games going to extra-time.