Ecstasy’
could see he was beside himself with joy.’
Coming from a family steeped in Louth GAA, Maguire knew the enormity of what the team had achieved, regardless of what might happen two weeks later.
‘The bus made a few stops and we got a few drinks, so by the time I got home the Sunday Game was already on and everyone was gathered in the sitting room. I remember my ‘oul boy was proud as punch. He’d be the first one to jump on you when you did something wrong, but he was asking what the craic was after the game and what Fitzer said at half-time.’
Keeping a lid on the excitement and expectations was the next big challenge, but it was a near impossible task.
‘I don’t think I met anyone over the next couple of weeks who didn’t mention the Leinster final. You were trying to concentrate on the next training session, but it was such a big occasion for Louth GAA and there was a great buzz.’
Despite his semi-final heroics, Maguire was under no illusions that he would start the final.
‘No way, I knew I wouldn’t start, but I was hoping I might play a similar role to Westmeath when the game got a bit stretched in the second-half.
‘I actually got the nod to go on two or three minutes before JP scored the goal and then Colm Judge was sent off. I was probably going to be going on for one of them two. We had something to defend then and we were down to 14 men, so it didn’t happen.’
Perhaps, it was just as well.
From the sideline, Maguire didn’t see Big Joe throw the ball over the line, he just knew it was controversial.
But just like when you’re not involved in a big victory, not playing insulates you a bit from the crushing defeats.
‘Again not playing makes you feel more like a spectator. Obviously we were all gutted, but more for the lads and management than myself. If I had been on the pitch when it happened, I’m sure it would have felt a lot different.’
It may have been a blessing in disguise. Derek will always have Westmeath, largely untainted by the mess that erupted after the final.
‘I think if you asked me what was my best experience playing for Louth, I’d still say there are two - that semi-final and the win over Tipperary in Thurles in 2017 to clinch promotion to Division 2.’
But should there have been more big days to savour? Was 2010 Louth’s big sliding doors moment?
Maguire went on to play over 100 games for his county and in Championship football at least, never came close to emulating that amazing summer.
There were ups and downs over the next decade, but he’s not so sure winning a Leinster title would have changed much.
‘People say it set Louth football back years, but I’m not so sure. I don’t know what we would have done differently and would we have gone out and beaten Carlow the next summer? And I don’t think anyone was going to stop Dublin after that anyway.
‘Maybe it would have given the county a lift and drummed up more support, but would we have won any more after that. I’m not so sure.’
On the back of a swashbuckling victory over Kildare, Louth had to produce a much more workmanlike display to shake off a stiff Westmeath challenge in the Leinster semi-final at Croke Park. They made a lightning start, racing into a 0-4 to no score lead, and while Westmeath managed to close the gap to a point at one stage, the Reds adjourned at half-time with a 0-8 to 0-5 lead. They extended that advantage to four early in the second period, but a soft penalty awarded by Syl Doyle cut the gap to a point. Louth responded superbly, however, with points from Paddy Keenan and Derek Maguire, before the latter teed up Colm Judge for a goal. A Martin Flanagan strike at the other end with four minutes of normal time remaining made Louth sweat, but they clung on to seal a first Leinster final appearance for 50 years. Cue the mayhem! ‘It’s just great, two northeast teams, and two different teams, in the final. It’s not going to go to Dublin. It will be a different type of atmosphere. I think both sets of fans wanted this final to materialise.’ ‘Derek Maguire and Paraic Smith will be pushing hard for starting places. They came on and did brilliantly. No one is assured of their place at all. I thought JP did well when he was there. He probably just wasn’t getting enough ball. It’s the squad that has to get to a Leinster Final.’ ‘He went down handy enough, but I suppose it was a penalty. I didn’t see a replay of it, but maybe it was. It was a poor penalty as well. I was disappointed I didn’t save it, but how and ever, it’s the result that matters.’ ‘I’m involved with Louth football teams since 1980 and I have to be honest, it’s the happiest day of my life.
‘From the minute the first ball went in and we got the first point, I don’t think we were behind the whole game.’
‘To be winning by six and then concede and only lead by one; a lot of Louth teams of old would have given up. But this team has something different, this is a true grit team and I’ve never been so happy for a bunch of lads – for the whole 30 players. ’