trip down Memory Lane:2004

Come with me and let's go back to the last time we faced Antrim in the championship.
(Sure, we beat them in Tommy Murphy Cup in 2006 but that was inter county wilderness)

It was 2004,in Drogheda, in the qualifiers in the midst of the hazy days of the Val Andrews reign as Louth Manager. 

The kit was Azzuri, the sponsor was Boylesports the state of Louth football, Bleak.

But this game, I remember, was one of the few bright days.

The game itself went to extra time.....due to a last gasp point from Clogherhead man, Derek Shevlin. Then, we went on to win comfortably.

The fact we needed a last gasp point from our wing-back to level with Antrim, highlighted the bleakness of our predicament at the time. take note, this was well before modern day game where wing backs are nearly expected to score.
How and ever it's alway nice to grab a last gasp winner and blow the opposition away in extra time and possibly why i remember the game so fondly!


Things I remember from that game: 

The explosive power of Mark Stansfield, Ollie McDonnell and Aaron Hoey in the full forward line. 3 future Louth hall of famers as the yanks would say.

Then, when JP joined them and caused the Antrim full back line even more havoc, scoring a peach of a goal only JP can. Tons of balance and dummy's to beat the band. We all went home happy.

I can rememeber their massive full forward O'Hare being Massive and not much else playing wise as we defended the long ball to him with ease.

I think his Dad was manager at the time and was just as Massive in size, and Daddy O'Hare had a go at the Louth fans on the bank too, when we were playing second fiddle to Sean Kelly, who, will actually play on Saturday. He was quite a ferocious character, Daddy O'Hare I remember thinking I’m glad I wasn't near him when he was shouting abuse!

  The Louth Team that day...

1. Shane McCoy; 

2. Jonathan Clerkin, 3. Paudie Mallon, 4.Jamie Carr; 

5. Derek Shevlin 0-1, 6.Simon Gerrard, 7.Ray Rooney; 

8. David Devaney 0-1, 9. Paddy Keenan 0-2; 

10. Ray Kelly, 11. David Reid, 12.Nicky McDonnell 0-1; 

13. Aaron Hoey 0-4 (1f), 
14. Mark Stanfield 1-2(1pen),  
15. Ollie McDonnell 0-1.

Subs:  Alan Page for R Kelly (35),  Darren Clarke 1f for D Reid (35), JP Rooney 1-1 for N McDonnell (59), Nicky McDonnell (for extra time), Paddy Matthews for A Hoey (89).

Wow, we'll have 1 starter from that day starting for us on Saturday.....Paddy Keenan!
Shane McCoy who came back into the panel this year and Darren Clarke and David Reid also were involved.

Trivia Question who got sent off for us that day?
 
thanks for reading @LouthProud