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Louth under-21s pushed Micko’s Kerry all the way

THE Louth under-21 team beaten by Kerry in the All-Ireland semi-final held in Drogheda in 1978.

Even before the semi-final there was a dispute between the counties for the game was originally arranged for late August, with Louth gearing their preparations under manager Frank Lynch for that date.

However a few days before the final Kerry announced that they would not fulfil the fixture, leading to demands that Louth be awarded the game.

It took a number of meetings at national level, involving the Central Council before the game was eventually arranged for a month after the scheduled date, causing much disruption to the Louth club fixture programme.

When the day did arrive Louth supporters turned out in large numbers, helping to swell the attendance to 9,000 for the eagerly awaited clash.

Kerry came with exciting young prospects in their team including perhaps the greatest player of all time, Jack O’Shea plus Eoin Liston, Sean Walsh, John McEilligott and Mickey Spillane.

Louth too had some exciting young players like Aidan Wiseman, Eugene Judge, Pat Lennon, Jim McDonnell and Johnny McDonnell.

It proved to be a game worth waiting for as it was a thrilling contest with Kerry just edging home by a score of 2-10 to 0-14.

Afterwards the Kerry manager, Mick O’Dwyer remarked that his team won the game with only 40 percent of possession, and that a very fortuitous goal by Jack O’Shea late in the game decided the contest.

Louth also suffered two bad blows during the game when they lost midfielder Larry Goodman after 40 minutes and another of the best performers, Eugene Judge also had to retire injured.

The decisive score in the first half was a goal from Eoin Liston, but Louth recovered from that setback after 10 minutes to trail at the interval by just a point, 1-9 to 0-11.

There was little between the sides in the second half, when that O’Shea goal changed the course of the game.

The midfielder, recently voted the best player ever to grace the game by the Irish Independent, was having an excellent game and went on a 40 yard solo run that took him through the Louth defence.

However, he got no force behind his attempted on goal, but unfortunately from Louth’s viewpoint goalkeeper, Mal

Clarke misjudged the ball allowing it slip into the net.

That goal left Kerry four points in front, but in the final minutes Louth showed great character to cut the deficit to two points and had a chance of a goal towards the end with a close in free that many felt they should have tried for a goal.

Afterwards Frank Lynch was full of praise for his players who gave all they had but added that there was no disgrace in losing to such a talented Kerry team.

Scorers in the match: Kerry, E.Liston 1-2, J.O’Shea, 1-1, T. Bridgeman 0-3, P.Foley, J. McEilligott, D. Higgins and M. Spillane 0-1 each.

Louth: Jim McDonnell 0-5, Denis Kelleher, Johnny McDonnell 0-2 each, Sean Reid, Pat Lennon, Mickey McCabe and Peter Brisco 0-1 each.

Louth: Mal Clarke, Paul Matthews, Seamus Haughey, Brendan Byrne, Aidan Wiseman, Benny McArdle, Pat Lynch, Larry Goodman, Mickey McCabe, Jim McDonnell, Eugene Judge, Sean Reid, Pat Lennon, Denis Kelleher, Johnny McDonnell. Subs. Peter Brisco and J. Lynch.