Louth & cheer...

Ger Brennan's men send fans into ecstasy | Tears in the stands as neighbours faced off

- PAT FLANAGAN and SANDRA MALLON

NEARY 66,000 fans packed into Croke Park yesterday to watch Louth overcome arch rivals Meath to clinch their first Leinster Senior title in nearly seven decades.

In a pulsating match the men from the Wee County came from behind to lift the Delaney Cup for the first time since 1957 when they went on to win the All-Ireland final after defeating Cork.

The win for Louth is more than an historic victory it will also exorcise the ghost that has haunted the county since their controversial defeat to Meath 15 years ago.

It was third time lucky for Louth after two previous defeats in a row in the Leinster final.

Afterwards manager Ger Brennan said winning the Leinster title with Louth is up there with any All-Ireland medal he picked up with Dublin as a player.

Although there is fierce rivalry between the neighbouring North East counties both sets of fans mingled together on the terraces with many of them knowing each other.

Louth fan Eric Kelly from Drogheda said: "It was some match and I thought Meath were going to do it again as they seemed to have the better of the play.

CLASH

"But it was the goals that won it and it's such a relief after all those years of waiting.