Louth 'don't have to listen and talk about' 2010 controversy any more, says McDonnell

The Wee County veteran was the sole survivor from the Leinster decider of 15 years ago.

Tue, 13 May, 2025 - 07:02

Paul Keane

Louth veteran Andy McDonnell says there's no 'redemption' for 2010, just a strong sense of satisfaction after finally winning a Leinster SFC medal.

McDonnell was the only player, from Louth or Meath, that featured in Sunday's Leinster final having also played in the 2010 decider between the counties.

Louth claimed a narrow Croke Park win last weekend to secure their first provincial title since 1957.

For some, the breakthrough win drew a line under the 2010 debacle when a late, illegal, Joe Sheridan goal was allowed to stand, sealing a narrow win for the Royal County.

"It's just nice to be a Leinster medallist and to park everything that happened a few years ago," said McDonnell, now 34. "That's basically it, we don't have to listen and talk about that any more. It's now, 'Louth are Leinster champions 2025'."

The ultra experienced Newtown Blues midfielder said he rarely spoke about the 2010 final and revealed that he carried some of the blame for the agonising loss.

His part in the play that led to Sheridan's goal has been largely overlooked with the Meath forward pouncing on a loose ball and diving over the goal line after colleague Seamus Kenny's shot had been blocked by Paddy Keenan.

The ball briefly popped up in the air after Kenny's block and both McDonnell and Louth defender Dessie Finnegan collided with each other trying to claim it, allowing Sheridan to intervene.

"I was involved, maybe the cause of it," shrugged McDonnell. "Obviously Dessie went up to catch the ball and I kind of (accidentally) flicked it out of his hands. That's how the goal came about. It's nice now 15 years on to say, 'I actually have a medal', to put that to bed. I don't talk about it. There's people saying, 'redemption' and all of this and that but I'm like, 'No, I just go out and play the game and leave it at that'."

McDonnell's story and comeback in 2025 is all the more remarkable because he called it quits as a Louth player six years ago, after the 2019 Championship.

He was troubled by knee problems and lasted just a single game in 2021 when he tried to make a return under Mickey Harte.

"A few physios and doctors would have said to me that it's time to pack it up, three or four years ago," said McDonnell. "But I went to a physio, he's actually a Meath man, Liam Hogan from Curraha. He's involved with Williams Formula One now, as their Performance Coach.

"He got me back. He said, 'No, I'll fix you in a couple of months'. It was a lot of rehab, a lot of dark days too in the gym on your own. But he got me back."