THIS IS UP THERE WITH HAVING KIDS

AS Ger Brennan sat in the media room beneath the Hogan Stand, the Louth players’ version of Dario G's 1998 World Cup classic 'Carneval de Paris’ permeated through the walls.

- BY PAT NOLAN

“It's f**king — excuse my language now — between having kids and winning a few All-Irelands playing, this is right up there,” said the Louth manager.

“This is an incredible experience.”

The lure of hiring a former Dublin footballer has proved irresistible for so many counties, but how often has it actually worked? Very, very seldom.

Brennan is the first Dubliner to win a Leinster title with another county since Tommy Lyons with Offaly in 1997, and Lyons was a more left field appointment having not played for his county.

Brian Mullins won League and Ulster titles with Derry in 1996 and ‘98 respectively.