Colin Kelly hails wee step along the way for Louth

O’Byrne Cup semi-final - Meath 0-10 Louth 1-14: It would be lazy to say this result said more about Meath than Louth. Easy too. The hosts were indeed poor but their neighbours were by far the better side.

Yet even when victory was Louth’s, Meath attempted to steal their thunder. Trailing by five points with two minutes remaining, and the game beyond their team, the Páirc Tailteann faithful were upstanding and in full voice when Joe Sheridan, Louth’s public enemy No1 since July 11, 2010, was introduced. Even county Meath PRO Martin O’Halloran got carried away with the moment and announced Sheridan’s arrival with gusto.

The Seneschalstown man was Jack Hannigan’s black card replacement after Hannigan, who was otherwise excellent, third-man tackled Sam Mulroy. However, Sheridan was not able to foil Louth again, Jim McEneaney’s penalty too sweet, too high and too accurate thus confirming a most deserving victory for the Division 3 side that are moving well this month.