THE SWEETEST THING

Veteran McDonnell just thrilled to finally get over the line in Leinster

- BY PAT NOLAN

IT'S almost seven years since Louth went to Leitrim for a round two All-Ireland qualifier.

They hadn't been going well under Peter McGrath and had lost to Carlow by 11 points in the Leinster Championship.

But they had beaten London in the previous round, and facing Division Four opposition again represented a good opportunity to score consecutive wins for the first time since their run to the 2010 Leinster final.

However, they unravelled spectacularly either side of half-time, suffering a red and black card.

Leitrim hit nine points unanswered and went on to win by 10.

McGrath had made comments following the Carlow defeat suggesting he regretted taking the job in the first place and, inevitably, he resigned soon afterwards.

Remarkably, five players — Bevan Duffy, Andy McDonnell, Ciaran Downey, Tommy Durnin and Conor Grimes — who started that Leitrim game also started Sunday's Leinster final win over Meath.

Two more starters at Croke Park, who contributed 2-10 between them, Sam Mulroy and Ryan Burns, came off the bench in Carrick.

Emmett Carolan and Anthony Williams also started that day and were part of the 26 on Sunday, though they didn't see action.

There was no quick upturn in fortunes after the Leitrim debacle.

When Mickey Harte was appointed in late 2020, he inherited a side in Division Four.