All aboard for Louth supporters

As the mass exodus from the county towards Croke Park for last Sunday’s Leinster Final against the mighty Dublin team, there really was only one place to go and that was to Clarke’s Station on the Carrick Road to catch up with all the loyal Louth GAA supporters going mainline towards our nation’s capital.

With a host of trains lined up to get the supporters on their way, I first caught up with father and son Martin and Oisin McCarthy from Cooley who were really looking forward to the day out and said seeing they had beaten ‘ the Blues’ the previous night, they were looking for more of the same from the county boys.

Not too far away I then got a word with Paddy Hillen and Aidan Fitzpatrick both from Knockbridge who told me it was going to be a good game but thought the Dubs might take it by the odd point or two.

After this I headed over for a quick word with Tanya McGuinness and Siobhan McElvaney both from Monaghan who weren’t heading for the match, they were looking forward to going to Wellfest taking place in Kilmainham where they were going to see Vogue Williams, Joe Wick, Mr. Motivator, Maeve Madden, Gerry Hussey, Hermann Melo and Carla Roberts to name but a few.

I then headed over for a quick word with one of the main men of the journey, train driver Shane Bannon from Castlebellingham who said he was going to make sure this precious cargo got to Dublin to give huge support to the senior team.

Next I headed over for a quick chat with Alan Murphy from Dromiskin, Stephen Quigley from Darver and James Murtagh from Avenue Road who were up for the big game and said they’d be happy once they were able to stay close to the All Ireland champions.

After this I got talking to Courtney Quinn, Shauna and Courtney Casey all from Muirhevnamor, Lauren Coburn and Shannon Savage both from Bay Estate who wanted to wish the seniors all the best and were sure it was going to be a fantastic day.

Not too long later I then met up with Brian Quinn from Cooley, Patrick Lynch from Lordship and Shauna O’Hanlon from Redbarns Road who said they were looking forward to the game but were hopeful Dublin weren’t too strong for the Louth men.

Just arrived onto the platform and all in great form were Valerie and Gerry Keenan from Lordship who were with Lisa Reel from Armagh and Patrick Quigley from Roche, although Lisa was a little on the sad side, could it have been the fact that her beloved Armagh were playing Donegal but she was Croke Park bound, it must be love!

Not long later I had the pleasure of talking to Sophie Keenan from Lordship, Emily Wehrly from Ravensdale and Ellen Gormley from Cooley who assured me it was going to be a brilliant day, lovely weather, heading for Croke Park and all they needed was the Louth men to come up with the result everyone wants.

I then managed to get a quick word with Shona McParland and Isobel McGrath both from Cooley who agreed it was a good day and would be even better when they became Leinster champions.

As the crowds grew on the platform I then got chatting to Louise and Cyril Moore from Bay Estate who were there with Katie Munster from Drogheda who said the weather is fantastic and they wanted was for Louth to keep it ta respectable score.

After this I got a quick word with Conan and Ben Duffy from Lordship who were just after arriving with Cian Martin from Killanny who said it was going to be a great final and the odd can of Coors just might help to make it that bit better.

I then headed over to one of the table and got a prediction from three Stabannon men Ciaran Titley, Patrick Reynolds and Conaill Wogan who said it was going to be an epic day, but they felt the All Ireland winners might just shade it.

Just round the corner I met up with two lads relaxing on the seats on the platform and they were Ciaran Keenan from Lordship and Martin Hanratty from Jenkinstown who assured me they weren’t heading to Croker to make up the numbers, everyone on the platform were going to win!

Not too long later I got a quick word with Orlaith Murray from Dunmahon and Kayleigh Durnin from Darver who said we couldn’t have asked for any better weather and hopefully the team will rise to the occasion when 1.45pm comes around.

Just arrived down the slope to the platform I got a word with Brendan Duffy from Manydown Close who was there with his daughter Emily, Niamh and Layla Rice and Ryan McCormack who said they were looking forward to the match, big time, but the Louth lads were going to have to play out of their skins if they want to beat the All Ireland champions.

Next I caught up with my old friends Tiernan and Anne Mallon from Thomastown who were there with son Cormac and his friend Aodhan Kirk from Castletown Road who all agreed it was a great day for Louth and all they needed was a good result to go with it.

Next I had the pleasure of getting a quick word with two local legends in the form of Gerry D’Arcy from Haggardstown and Gerry Mulligan from Point Road who assured me it was going to be a memorable day out and 14 points is the handicap, all Louth needed was to better this and then they’ll be in the money!

Possibly one of the most chilled out people I met the whole time there was Owen McGahon from Haggardstown who was there with his main squeeze Hannah Smith from Blackrock who said they were really looking forward to the game.

After this I headed over for a chat with Aoife McGee from Kilkerley, Niamh Cawley from Carrick Road and Clodagh Sharkey from Kilkerley who said it was going to be an epic final, all they wanted was for Louth to do better than last year.

In the sea of red jerseys awaiting the arrival of the train, it was strange to see only one man in his Dublin top, yes it was Jim Daly from Blackrock who was taking his grandson Ben Kavanagh from Darver (in his Louth top). Jim said it didn’t get any better for a grandfather than to take his grandson to Croke Park on sunny summers’ day.

Two men who certainly weren’t going to miss such an important match were Clansmen and brothers Eddie Duffy from Headford and Mickey Duffy from Quality Street who insisted I get both their names in the paper just so their wives knew where they were!

If that wasn’t enough, I then got a word with Noel Dunne Snr number one train driver from Dundalk who said he’d be taking the second group up and said it was lovely to see such an enthusiastic well mannered crowd going to give it their all for their county team.

Finally, before the whistle blew to announce the departure of the train I got a quick word with Shona and Aine Murray from Togher and Grace Gormley from Stabannon who said the senior men were going to do their supporters proud and it was going to be a fantastic day too.