Flashback: Dublin v Louth Leinster Quarter final 2008

Tue, 7th May 2024

By Conor Martin

With Dublin taking on Louth in the Leinster Senior Football Championship Final this weekend, we’ve gone through the archives and looked back at this complete performance from Dublin against this Sunday’s opponents in the Leinster quarter-final in 2008.

The teams were level after 19 minutes after Dublin had failed to really get going. They had also kicked four wides in the first seven minutes. Tomás Quinn and Alan Brogan were the pair making things happen for the Dubs.

Conal Keaney would get us level before Louth goalkeeper denied Paddy Andrews and Alan Brogan from close range and it would be Dublin would go into the break with a two-point advantage after Quinn ended a wait that exceeded 10 minutes for a point.

Quinn, Brogan and Jason Sherlock were the men who split the posts, with Louth debutant Derek Crilly keeping the Wee County in the tie by the half-time whistle.

Shane Lennon increased pressure on Dublin when the match restarted, but as Louth grew in confidence, the firepower Dublin had in their ranks proved their worth.

Quinn, Brogan and Sherlock were all on hand when required and the Sky Blues had a goal to show for their efforts when Sherlock and Brogan linked up well to allow Dublin captain Brogan to fire home.

Louth’s response wasn’t enough to warrant a comeback. The pick of second-half scores came courtesy of a Aaron Hoey free, but Dublin kicked on and by the time Keaney took Dublin’s overall tally to 1-19, the game was over as a contest.

Mark Vaughan would come off the bench and grab the game's final scores with Dublin’s top-scorer, Brogan.

Dublin would advance to the All-Ireland series and were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by eventual All-Ireland champions Tyrone.

Dublin: S Cluxton; D Henry, R McConnell, S O'Shaughnessy; P Casey, B Cullen, B Cahill; E Fennell, S Ryan; C Moran (0-02), J Sherlock (0-02), P Andrews (0-01); A Brogan (capt) (1-07), C Keaney (0-03, 0-03f), T Quinn (0-06, 0-03f).

Subs used: M Vaughan (0-01) for Andrews (52 mins), B McManamon for Sherlock (60), K Nolan for Cullen (66), P McMahon for Cahill (67), D Magee for Fennell (68)

Louth: S Reynolds; D Finnegan, M Fanning, J Neary; J O'Brien, C McGuinness, R Finnegan (0-01); P Keenan (0-01), R Carroll (0-01); A Reid, M Stanfield, D Crilly (0-02, 0-01f); C Judge (0-01), A Hoey (capt) (0-03, 0-01f), S Lennon (0-01)

Subs used: A Page for Neary (41 mins), J Murray (0-01) for Crilly (43), B White (0-01) for Reid (52), B Donnelly for Stanfield (61)

Referee: Marty Duffy (Sligo)