We're not going up for the craic

MULROY AND LOUTH GOING HELL FOR LEATHER IN DONEGAL

- By KARL O'KANE

SAM Mulroy says Jim McGuinness was “immense” in his St Martin's side winning a maiden Louth Senior Football Championship — and then going back-to-back in the county.

McGuinness was involved with St Martin's in 2020 and 2021 through a connection with his physio JD McGrenra, who has a house in Louth village Monasterboice, where the club is located.

Mulroy's Louth go head to head with McGuinness’ Donegal at MacCumhaill Park, Ballybofey tomorrow afternoon in the All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final and it's knockout from here on in with the Championship ramping up another gear.

The pair might share a quiet word afterwards, but in the lead up to the game, Mulroy and McGuinness will be all business.

The Louth skipper, who a few weeks ago lifted the county's first Leinster title since 1957, had a very clear message for his team mates this week ahead of a game he believes they can win.

Mulroy also insists there is no ceiling on how far Louth can go and that they're not going up to Donegal just to fulfil a fixture against the heavy favourites.

“I'll definitely be putting that message to the group of players, that we're not going up to Ballybofey for the craic, or to fulfil a fixture and to just let Donegal through into the quarter-final,” he said.

“We're in a preliminary quarter-final for the All-Ireland series and we played in a quarter-final last year.