Louth beat Clare to win All-Ireland B title

November 1997

LOUTH wins the All-Ireland ‘B’ football championship, beating Clare 1-11 to 1-8 in Ballinasloe.

The ‘Wee County’ reaches the decider thanks to victories over Sligo, Antrim and Carlow; and then, without six of the side on duty in the Leinster Championship, proves too strong for the Munster finalists.

In so doing, the Reds become the eighth county to win the competition, first played for in 1990. The others, in order, are Leitrim, Clare, Wicklow, Laois, Carlow, Tipperary and Fermanagh.

At half-time in the low-key venue of Duggan Park, Louth show in front by 0-5 to 0-4, after kicking seven wides. Stefan White does most of the damage with three points.

However, Clare enjoys the best of it on the resumption, and just seven minutes in, turn a two-point deficit into a one-goal lead, 1-6 to 0-6, the major score coming from Aidan Daly.

The Paddy Clarke-managed outfit responds in the tremendous fashion, by recording the next goal and four points.

St. Joseph’s pair, Declan O’Sullivan and Ollie McDonnell account for points, and a White goal is followed by points for Aaron Hoey and White again, to leave it 1-10 to 1-6.

It proves a decisive scoring burst, and there is no way back for Clare.

After the long whistle, GAA president Joe McDonagh presents the cup to Louth captain, Gareth O’Neill.

Louth: Niall O’Donnell; Aidan Carter, Gareth O’Neill, David Brennan; Declan O’Sullivan (0-1), Breen Phillips, Aaron Hoey (0-1); Paul Kelly, Gerry Curran; Ollie McDonnell (0-2), Stephen Melia, Colin Kelly (0-1); Stefan White (1-5), Cathal O’Hanlon (0-1), Alan Doherty. Subs., Martin Harvey for P. Kelly, Ray Rooney for Carter, Niall Flynn for O’Sullivan.