Spectre of revenge looms for Mattock

REVENGE may not be mentioned openly down Collon way in Louth this week, yet it seems to lurk silently around every footballing corner of the county.

The fact that a Meath side are the last remaining obstacle Mattock Rangers need to overcome to be crowned Louth's first Leinster club champions is more than just a quirk of fate in these parts.

Ultimately the football year of 2002 will always be recalled with a shudder in Louth, after the county team contrived to turn a four point lead into a two point defeat when they played the Royals in the championship.

Even Christy Grimes, Mattock's county star', admits victory on Sunday won't make up for what happened in Navan. "It was the worst I ever felt on a football field."

Still a victory Sunday would certainly go some way to repairing the damage. Given that Mattock have be given a chance to banish the ghosts on the ground they were raised will help matters. But, there is also the edge of a derby to this Leinster final.

Collon is only a few miles from the Meath border, there are close connections between the town and the Royal County.

Mattock manager Brendan Reilly lives in Slane, for example, and Mattock are trained by a Meath man Des Lane, who was part of Sean Boylan's side in 1987.

And in midfield this Sunday, two old school chums will renew friendships. Dunshaughlin's Dermot Kealy and Mattock's Gerry Hanratty sat in the same primary school class. Little did they know a couple of decades later they would be standing shoulder to shoulder for a Leinster final throw in.

"It just shows how close the two teams are to one another. Both myself and Dermot went to school together and now we are playing against one another in a Leinster final. It is not the sort of thing you would expect to happen, but both teams are here because they deserve it."

Mattock had wanted this tie. Not only to seek revenge for Louth's last- minute capitulation in the summer, but also because of the ties with Meath. "This is the match we wanted," Brendan Reilly admits. "Louth and Meath matches are always close

affairs, there is a real local derby feel and the fact it is in Navan will only add to the occasion.

"But it is going to be difficult. Meath sides are always difficult to play against, they like to keep it tight and Dunshaughlin have shown they are very good defenders. So, our forwards will need to be on top of their game, but Navan is a wide pitch, so hopefully we can use the whole width of it."

Sunday's final definitely brings together two contrasting teams. While Mattock have been making a mockery of winter football's tendency to squeeze as little scores from sides as possible, Dunshaughlin's progress has been based on staunch defence and their effectiveness in curbing

opposition attacks has been the most impressive aspect of their play thus far, meaning Sunday will be a severe test of Mattock's expansive game.

However, Mattock are determined to become the first Louth club to win the Leinster crown (Cooley Kickhams were the last Louth team in the final, back in 1976).

Dunshaughlin are the first Meath club in the final since Seneschalstown lost by a point to Kilmucud Crokes in 1994. Walterstown, a side for whom, ironically, Dunshaughlin manager Eamon Barry played, were the last Meath team to win the title 19 years ago.