Tommy Durnin: Louth showing there was life after Mickey Harte

Tommy Durnin says Louth had much to prove after Mickey Harte left the county

WINNING ATTITUDE: Louth's Tommy Durnin in action against Shane Farrell of Kildare. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

A determination to prove there is life in Louth football after Mickey Harte has been an inspiration for the Leinster runners-up this year, says midfielder Tommy Durnin.

They may be in the last-eight on the back of “probably one of our worst performances of the year” in just about seeing Cork last weekend but Durnin is excited about returning to Croke Park on Sunday when they face Donegal.

There they will share the same All-Ireland quarter-final bill as Harte’s Derry. Showing that the group’s improvements these past few seasons were as much about themselves as the Tyrone man’s leadership was a driving factor for them.

“With Mickey leaving and stuff we probably had more people to prove,” admits Durnin. “That’s what we had to do. We see ourselves up competing against the best, we put in the same, it’s 15 against 15, we are well fit, we are well organised, so that’s where we want to be.

“It doesn’t happen overnight. This team, this panel, has been around now the last three or four years and then underage are coming along with it.” 

Veteran Durnin is around that long he played a summer’s football in Boston with manager Ger Brennan – “I never thought he’d be managing me,” he smiles.

The Dubliner’s winning attitude has rubbed off on the group. “In fairness, the players, the squad is brilliant, but Ger and the team has just brought a different light to it. He lets us lead. Look, he is easy to communicate with. He brings a different animal, the Dublin perspective.

“That’s why I am so impressed with Dublin. They just keep on going, keep on going, and there’s no thinking they are better than they are. They are just 15 lads that work hard, or 30 or 40 lads.

“Ger is probably bringing that to our squad as well and giving us a wee bit of freedom as well. There is no set structures that we have. A lot of us, we can talk through it on the pitch and stuff. It’s very open. He is a top man. I played with him over in Boston. He has just brought a completely different dynamic to the group. Even his backroom team and everything.

“It’s just a joy. As we said coming out at half-time (v Cork), none of us didn’t want to come back. We wanted to be back here. We are loving every minute of it, every player and everything. Let’s keep going and see how far we can go.” 

That Cork game was the fourth consecutive one-score game between the counties. “It’s mad, like,” remarks Durnin. “I thought we were maybe the better team last year and they beat us. In the league, they were definitely the better team but we beat them. We know them in and out and they know us in and out. We got over the line.” 

Coming as it did after Kerry beat them by 14 points, it was a testament to their stoutness. “We could feel sorry for ourselves. What’s the point feeling sorry for yourself?

“Look, we didn’t perform where we wanted to. Look, we didn’t perform (v Cork) and we’re getting patted on the back. But we are into the next round and that’s where we want to be.

“We are never perfect so we have a lot to do. No, look, this team never puts their head down, keeps on working, working and working for each other and want to learn. You can’t ask any more from all the lads.”