2024 Louth county football team season

Louth county football team

2024 season
Manager	Ger Brennan
NFL D2	6th
All-Ireland SFC	Quarter-finalist
Leinster SFC	Finalist
O'Byrne Cup	Quarter-finalist (Shield Winner)
Top goalscorer	League: Sam Mulroy All: Sam Mulroy
←  2023 2025  →

The following is a summary of Louth county football team's 2024 season.

Competitions

O'Byrne Cup

Main article: 2024 O'Byrne Cup

Fixtures

Meath v Louth

6 January 2024 (2024-01-06) 19:00 IWT (UTC±0) Match 7

Report

Meath	2-13 (19)–(10) 1-07	Louth
(HT: 1-05 – 1-04)

Páirc Tailteann , Navan

O'Byrne Shield

Teams defeated in their first match played in a shield tournament, which Louth won. ^[1]

Fixtures

Westmeath v Louth

13 January 2024 (2024-01-13) 13:00 IWT (UTC±0) Match C

Westmeath	0-12 (12)–(18) 2-12	Louth

Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA, Kinnegad

Louth v Wicklow

10 February 2024 (2024-02-10) 12:00 IWT (UTC±0) Match D (Shield Final)

Report

Louth	1-18 (21)–(16) 2-10	Wicklow
(HT: 0-8 – 1-4)

Dowdallshill , Dundalk Referee: Ian Howley

National Football League Division 2

Main article: 2024 National Football League (Ireland)

Louth began with an away fixture against Armagh. ^[2]

On 6 December 2023, the GAA announced that all Division 2 Round 7 games would be played separately from the Round 7 games in Division 1, 3 and 4, on Saturday, 23 March 2024, at 19:00, including Kildare v Louth at Dr Cullen Park. ^[3] The rest of the fixtures were also confirmed on 6 December 2023. ^[4]

Table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Donegal	7	6	1	0	128	83	+45	13	Advance to NFL Division 2 Final and promotion to 2025 NFL Division 1
2	Armagh	7	5	2	0	132	86	+46	12
3	Cavan [lower-alpha 1]	7	3	1	3	103	117	−14	7
4	Cork [lower-alpha 1]	7	3	1	3	119	125	−6	7
5	Meath [lower-alpha 2]	7	2	2	3	86	105	−19	6
6	Louth [lower-alpha 2]	7	3	0	4	121	101	+20	6
7	Fermanagh	7	2	1	4	94	129	−35	5	Relegation to 2025 NFL Division 3
8	Kildare	7	0	0	7	82	119	−37	0

Source: GAA.ie
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:

1. Cavan are ranked ahead of Cork because they won the head-to-head game between the teams
2. Meath are ranked ahead of Louth because they won the head-to-head game between the teams

Fixtures

Armagh v Louth

27 January 2024 (2024-01-27)Round 1	Armagh	0-12 (12)–(11) 0-11	Louth	Armagh
				Venue: Athletic Grounds
	Pts: Aidan Forker 1, Rory Grugan 2 (1f), Stefan Campbell 3, Conor Turbitt 5 (4f), Oisín Conaty 1	Report	Pts: Dermot Campbell 1, Tommy Durnin 1, Paul Mathews 1, Ciaran Keenan 1, Conor Grimes 1, Ryan Burns 1, Sam Mulroy 3f, Ciaran Downey 2	Referee: Thomas Murphy (Galway) Attendance: 10,452

Louth v Cork

4 February 2024 (2024-02-04)Round 2	Louth	2-09 (15)–(13) 0-13	Cork	Ardee
13:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Páirc Mhuire
	Gls: Ciarán Keenan 1, Ciarán Downey 1 Pts: Craig Lennon 2, Paul Mathews 1, Ryan Burns 1, Sam Mulroy 5 (4f, 1 '45)	Report	Pts: Patrick Doyle 1 (1 '45), Tommy Walsh 1, Ian Maguire 1, Colm O’Callaghan 1, Eoghan McSweeney 2, Chris Óg Jones 2, Brian Hurley 4 (3f), Mark Cronin 1 (1f)	Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)

Meath v Louth

18 February 2024 (2024-02-18)Round 3	Meath	1-11 (14)–(12) 1-09	Louth	Navan
14:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Páirc Tailteann
	Gls: Matthew Costello 1 Pts: Daithi McGowan 2 (1 m), Eoghan Frayne 2, Jack O'Connor 2, Matthew Costello 2 (2f), Shane Walsh 3	Report	Gls: Tom Jackson 1 Pts: Tommy Durnin 1, Ciarán Keenan 1, Ryan Burns 4, Sam Mulroy 3 (2f, 1 m)	Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)

Louth v Cavan

25 February 2024 (2024-02-25)Round 4	Louth	3-09 (18)–(19) 2-13	Cavan	Ardee
14:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Páirc Mhuire
	Gls: Ryan Burns 1, Sam Mulroy 2 (1 pen) Pts: Tommy Durnin 1, Ciarán Keenan 2, Conor Grimes 2, Sam Mulroy 2fs, Ciarán Downey 1, Tom Jackson 1	Report	Gls: James Smith 1, Gerard Smith 1 Pts: Cian Madden 2, Caoimhín O'Reilly 2 (1 m), Paddy Lynch 8 (6fs, 1 '45), Cormac O’Reilly 1	Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh)

Donegal v Louth

3 March 2024 (2024-03-03)Round 5	Donegal	1-17 (20)–(15) 0-15	Louth	Ballyshannon
14:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Fr Tierney Park
	Gls: Jeaic Mac Ceallabhuí 1 Pts: Caolan McGonagle 1, Michael Langan 1, Shane O'Donnell 2, Patrick McBrearty 8 (7f), Oisín Gallen 4, Aaron Doherty 1	Report	Pts: Donal McKenny 1, Ciarán Keenan 1, Conor Grimes 2, Ryan Burns 2, Sam Mulroy 7 (5f, 1 m), Liam Jackson 1	Referee: Paddy Neilan (Roscommon)

Louth v Fermanagh

16 March 2024 (2024-03-16)Round 6	Louth	6-17 (35)–(11) 0-11	Fermanagh	Ardee
13:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Páirc Mhuire
	Gls: P Lynch 1, C Downey 1, C Grimes 1, S Mulroy 2, T Jackson 1 Pts: D Campbell 1, P Lynch 1, C Downey 3, T Durnin 1, C Keenan 3, C Grimes 2, R Burns 1, S Mulroy 5 (2fs)	Report	Pts: D McCusker 1, S McGullion 1, U Kelm 1, G Jones 3fs, S Cassidy 3 (1f), F O’Brien 1, D King 1	Referee: Seán Hurson (Tyrone)

Kildare v Louth

23 March 2024 (2024-03-23)Round 7	Kildare	0-12 (12)–(15) 1-12	Louth	Carlow
19:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Dr Cullen Park
	Pts: P Woodgate 5 (3fs, 1 '45), A Masterson 3, K Feely 2fs, D Kirwan 1, P McDermott 1, D Flynn 1	Report	Gls: R Burns 1 Pts: S Mulroy 5 (4fs, 1 '45), R Burns 2, T Jackson 2, C Grimes 1, L Grey 1, C Downey 1	Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan)

Leinster Senior Football Championship

Main article: 2024 Leinster Senior Football Championship

The draw for the 2024 Leinster Championship was made on 21 October 2023, with Louth drawn to face Carlow or Wexford in the quarter-final. ^{[5] [6]}

Bracket

	Preliminary round v t e					Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Final
						Dublin		3-19
	Longford		3-12			Meath		0-12
	Meath		3-19								Dublin		3-22
											Offaly		0-11
						Laois		1-08
						Offaly		2-13
																Dublin		1-19
	Westmeath		1-11													Louth		2-12
	Wicklow		2-09			Kildare		0-16
						Wicklow		1-12
											Kildare		0-13
	Carlow		0-08								Louth		0-17
	Wexford		4-19			Louth		4-10
						Wexford		0-15

Fixtures

Louth v Wexford

14 April 2024Quarter-final	Louth	4-10 (22)–(15) 0-15	Wexford	Portlaoise
16:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: O'Moore Park

Kildare v Louth

28 April 2024Semi-final	Kildare	0-13 (13)– 0-17 (17)	Louth	Dublin
14:00 IST (UTC+1)				Venue: Croke Park

Dublin v Louth

RTÉ

12 May 2024 13:45 IST (UTC+1) Final

Report [7]

Dublin	1-19 (22)– 2-12 (18)	Louth
(HT: 0-6 – 0-7)
Gls: O'Callaghan 1 (1m), Pts: Costello 6 (4f), Fenton 3, Basquel 1, Bugler 1, Lahiff 1, Mannion 1, Kilkenny 1, P Small 1		Gls: Keenan & Lennon 1-0, Pts: Mulroy 6 (5f), Grimes 4, Downey & Durnin 1.

Croke Park , Dublin Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan) Attendance: 23,113

GK 1 Stephen Cluxton (Parnells) RCB 2 Cian Murphy (Thomas Davis) FB 3 Michael Fitzsimons (Cuala) LCB 4 Eoin Murchan (Na Fianna) RHB 5 Tom Lahiff (St Jude's) CHB 6 John Small (Ballymun Kickhams) LHB 7 Seán Bugler (St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh) MF 8 Brian Fenton (Raheny) MF 9 James McCarthy (Ballymun Kickhams) (c) RHF 10 Ciarán Kilkenny (Castleknock) CHF 11 Cormac Costello (St Vincent's) LHF 12 Niall Scully (Templeogue Synge Street) RCF 13 Paul Mannion (Kilmacud Crokes) FF 14 Con O'Callaghan (Cuala) LCF 15 Colm Basquel (Ballyboden St Enda's) Substitutes: 16 Jack McCaffrey (Clontarf) for Scully 17 Paddy Small (Ballymun Kickhams) for Basquel 18 Brian Howard (Raheny) for Lahiff 19 Ross McGarry (Ballyboden St Enda's) for Bugler 20 Killian McGinnis (Skerries Harps) for Mannion

GK 1 Niall McDonnell (St Fechin's) RCB 2 Dan Corcoran (Geraldines) FB 3 Peter Lynch (Roche Emmets) LCB 4 Donal McKenny (St Mary's) RHB 5 Niall Sharkey (Glyde Rangers) CHB 6 Anthony Williams (Dreadnots) LHB 7 Conal McKeever (Clan na Gael) MF 8 Tommy Durnin (Inniskeen Grattans, Monaghan) MF 9 Bevan Duffy (St Fechin's) RHF 10 Ciarán Downey (Newtown Blues) CHF 11 Ciarán Keenan (St Mary's) LHF 12 Conor Grimes (Glen Emmets) RCF 13 Leonard Grey (St Patrick's) FF 14 Sam Mulroy (Naomh Máirtin) (c) LCF 15 Craig Lennon (St Mochta's) Substitutes: 16 Dermot Campbell (Dreadnots) for Sharkey 17 Conor Early (Na Fianna, Dublin) for Williams 18 Ciarán Byrne (St Mochta's) for Durnin 19 Ryan Burns (Hunterstown Rovers) for Keenan 20 Liam Jackson (St Mary's) for Grey

All-Ireland Senior Football Championship

Louth were drawn into Group 4.

Table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Qualification
1	Kerry	3	3	0	0	75	36	+39	6	Advance to quarter-final
2	Louth	3	1	1	1	48	52	−4	3	Advance to preliminary quarter-final
3	Monaghan	3	1	1	1	50	57	−7	3
4	Meath	3	0	0	3	35	63	−28	0

Source: GAA

Fixtures

Louth v Meath

25 May 2024Round 1	Louth	3-10 - 0-09	Meath	Inniskeen
17:30	Mulroy 1-6 (6f), Lennon 2-1, Downey 0-1, Duffy 0-1, Keenan 0-1	Report	Frayne 0-3 (2f), Caulfield 0-1, Coffey 0-1, Costello 0-1, Hickey 0-1, Jones 0-1, O'Sullivan 0-1 (1m)	Stadium: Grattan Park Referee: Paul Faloon (Down)

Monaghan v Louth

2 June 2024Round 2	Monaghan	2-10 - 2-10	Louth	Clones
15:30	Bannigan 1-1, McCarthy 1-0, McManus 0-2f, Beggan 0-1f, Duffy 0-1m, McCarron 0-1f, McNulty 0-1, Mohan 0-1, O'Toole 0-1, Wilson 0-1	Report	Mulroy 0-7 (6f,1'45), Lennon 1-0, Grimes 1-0, Burns 0-2, Downey 0-1	Stadium: St Tiernach's Park Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)

Kerry v Louth

16 June 2024Round 3	Kerry	2-21 - 1-10	Louth	Portlaoise
15:00	Clifford 0-7 (5f), Clifford 1-2, O'Connor 1-1, Ó Beaglaoich 0-3, O'Connor 0-2, O'Shea 0-2 (1f), Brosnan 0-1, Moynihan 0-1, Murphy 0-1, O'Sullivan 0-1	Report	McKenny 1-0, Mulroy 0-3 (2f), Grimes 0-2, Byrne 0-1, Duffy 0-1, Keenan 0-1, Lennon 0-1, Mathews 0-1	Stadium: O'Moore Park Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)

Louth advanced to a preliminary quarter-final against Cork, which they won, in a surprise victory to qualify for a first ever All-Ireland SFC quarter-final. ^[8] Louth were knocked out in the quarter-final.

	Preliminary Quarter-Finals v t e					Quarter-Finals					Semi-Finals					Final
						Armagh		2-12
	Tyrone		0-12			Roscommon		0-12
	Roscommon		0-14								Armagh (a.e.t.)		1-18
											Kerry		1-16
						Kerry		0-15
	Mayo		1-12 (3)			Derry		0-10
	Derry (pens.)		0-15 (4)													Armagh		1-11
																Galway		0-13
						Donegal		1-23
	Louth		1-09			Louth		0-18
	Cork		1-08								Donegal		0-15
											Galway		1-14
						Dublin		0-16
	Galway		0-14			Galway		0-17
	Monaghan		0-11

Louth v Cork

23 June 2024Preliminary Quarter-Final	Louth	1-09 - 1-08	Cork	Inniskeen
15:00	Mulroy 0-4f, McKenny 1-0, Burns 0-2, Lennon 0-2, Matthews 0-1	Report	O'Callaghan 0-3, O'Mahony 1-0, Jones 0-2, Hurley 0-1, Maguire 0-1, O'Driscoll 0-1	Stadium: Grattan Park Referee: Noel Mooney (Cavan)

Donegal v Louth

30 June 2024Quarter-Final	Donegal	1-23 - 0-18	Louth	Dublin
13:15	Mogan 0-5, Gallen 0-4 (1f), Gallagher 1-0, Langan 0-3, McHugh 0-2, Moore 0-2, O'Donnell 0-2, Thompson 0-2, Brennan 0-1, Doherty 0-1, McBrearty 0-1,	Report	Mulroy 0-6 (4f), Durnin 0-4, Burns 0-2, Byrne 0-2, Early 0-1, L Jackson 0-1, T Jackson 0-1, Lennon 0-1	Stadium: Croke Park Attendance: 47,406 Referee: Joe McQuillan (Cavan) Man of the Match: Peadar Mogan (Donegal)

Notable events

• Louth appeared in consecutive Leinster finals for the first time since 1957 and 1958.
• Louth defeated Meath in the championship for the first time since 1975. ^[9]
• Louth reached the All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals for the first time. (They had reached the semi-finals and final on previous occasions, but had not reached the quarter-finals since that stage was introduced in 2001.)
• Sam Mulroy scored seven goals in league and championship. ^[10]

References

1. "Positives to be taken from Wicklow's O'Byrne Shield final defeat to Louth". Independent.ie. 11 February 2024.
2. Keys, Colm (27 October 2023). "Allianz League openers revealed as Dublin to take on Monaghan at Croke Park". Irish Independent . Retrieved 27 October 2023. In Division 2, Jim McGuinness will have a home game against Cork on Saturday night as his first competitive fixture since returning to the fold earlier this year…
3. Roche, Frank (6 December 2023). "GAA unveils 'Super Saturday' climax to NFL Division Two in 2024". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
4. "Your complete guide to the 2024 GAA inter-county fixtures list". Irish Independent . 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
5. Diallo, Raf (21 October 2023). "2024 Provincial football championships draw — recap". RTÉ Sport . Retrieved 21 October 2023.
6. "Ulster SFC draw pairs Jim McGuinness against Mickey Harte". RTÉ Sport. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
7. "Dublin given a scare by Louth before winning 14th Leinster title in a rowv". Irish Times. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
8. Manning, Gordon (23 June 2024). "Louth stun Cork to secure maiden All-Ireland quarter-final appearance". The Irish Times . Retrieved 23 June 2024.
9. "Louth power past tragedy-hit Meath to earn first championship win over Royals since 1975". Irish Independent. 25 May 2024.
10. Donoghue, Eamon (20 June 2024). "Mulroy front and centre in Louth's impressive goal rush" – via www.rte.ie.