Enda Varley and Steven Poacher preview the Leinster semi-final between Louth and Dublin as Dessie Farrell’s men chase the baker’s dozen.
It is proclaimed as one of the most open Leinster SFC finals in many years but Dublin are still overwhelming favourites as they chase a 13th provincial crown in succession.
Much has been made of the Louth renaissance under Mickey Harte in recent seasons but Steven Poacher doesn’t feel that their first Leinster final appearance since 2010 is any great shock.
“There’s no doubt that Mickey has done a brilliant job there but it’s nearly being portrayed as one of the greatest achievements of all time, Louth back in a Leinster final,” he said on this week’s Poacher & Varley Show.
“They beat Westmeath and Offaly to get there, they are the second ranked team in Leinster. What we have on Sunday is third place in Division 2 versus second place in Division 2.
“Let’s call a spade a spade, this is not the Dublin six-in-a-row team, it’s not some glorious achievement that Louth have got to the Leinster final against the odds.
“They haven’t got to the Leinster final against the odds and they were very lucky to beat Offaly, a team who finished fourth from bottom in Division 3. Westmeath finished fourth in Division 3 so I would have been shocked if Louth hadn’t been in a Leinster final.”
Harte’s men are 10/1 underdogs as they face the Dubs in the Leinster final for the first time since 1958 when Dublin won by 1-11 to 1-6 – the Wee county were reigning All-Ireland SFC champions at the time.
PATHS TO THE FINAL
• Dublin 4-30 Laois 2-9 (quarter-final)
• Dublin 0-14 Kildare 0-12 (semi-final)
Top Scorers
1. Con O’Callaghan 1-9 (0-3 frees, 0-1 mark)
2. Colm Basquel 1-6
3. Ciaran Kilkenny 1-5
4. Paul Mannion 0-6 (0-1 free)
5. Lee Gannon 1-1
• Louth 2-10 Westmeath 1-11 (quarter-final)
• Louth 0-27 Offaly 2-15 AET (semi-final)
Top Scorers
1. Sam Mulroy 1-10 (0-6 frees, 1-0 pen)
2. Ciaran Downey 0-7
3. Conor Early 0-4
4. Liam Jackson 1-1
5. Conor Grimes 0-4
LAST FIVE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETINGS
• 2019: Dublin 5-21 Louth 0-10 (Leinster quarter-final)
• 2012: Dublin 2-22 Louth 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)
• 2010: Dublin 2-14 Louth 0-13 (All-Ireland qualifier)
• 2008: Dublin 1-22 Louth 0-12 (Leinster quarter-final)
• 2003: Dublin 1-19 Louth 0-9 (Leinster quarter-final)
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