Whereas the Reds were fortunate to secure a home tie in the preliminary round, relying on a Meath revival against Monaghan to edge Ger Brennan’s team through on score difference despite a 2-21 to 1-10 drubbing by Kerry in Portlaoise, Cork slipped from top to third in their group by virtue of Saturday’s four-point defeat by Tyrone, ensuring they would have to travel for the knockout stage.
Louth’s last championship triumph against the Rebels came in the 1957 All-Ireland final, the Leesiders having prevailed in their last three Sam Maguire Cup meetings, including in the past two seasons.
It is 14 years since the Wee county were last at this stage of the competition. Dublin accounted for the side managed by Peter Fitzpatrick at Croke Park, 2-14 to 0-13.
But, having avoided Division 1 opposition in Derry and Roscommon in Monday morning’s draw, Louth will see the potential to overcome Cork, who they have beaten in their past two National League clashes, including at DEFY Páirc Mhuire in February.
If Brennan’s men do go through, they will face either Armagh or Donegal in the next round having already opposed the other group winners, Dublin and Kerry, earlier in the campaign.
With Ciarán Downey (knee) and Peter Lynch (hamstring) unlikely to be in contention to play, the depth of Louth’s panel will once again be tested, though Cork captain Brian Hurley is also believed to be struggling for fitness.
Conall McKeever is in line to play his 100th game for the county at Grattan Park and is relishing the challenge the Leesiders will pose.
“Four weeks ago, if you said we were going to come second in the group and have a home game in Inniskeen, you would have taken it,” the Clan na Gael clubman said.
“Obviously, the way the last two games have gone – we probably should have won against Monaghan but were lucky to get out with the draw, and against Kerry, the performance was nowhere near the expectation levels we set for ourselves.
“But it will be our second home game and we’ll take it. We’re not travelling the distance (Cork) are and I can’t remember the last time we had a big championship match that wasn’t in Leinster where it was winner takes all.
“I know it’s in Inniskeen but it’s a home game for us. We didn’t get the performance we wanted against Kerry but this is where you want to be at this time of the year, still playing championship football.”
A goalscorer in the two-point victory over Cork earlier in the term, Ciarán Keenan is eager to get the Kerry loss out of the system by putting in a performance this weekend.
“Our goal was to come top of the group but had you said we were going to come second, we wouldn’t have turned that down and we’re proud to have come second,” he added.
“We were a little bit sloppy at times and against a team like Kerry, when they transition so fast, it’s very hard once you’re giving the ball away in the middle third. You’re kind of dead at that stage.
“It’s disappointing but it’s something we can definitely put right next week.”
Indeed, Brennan wasn’t too downcast after suffering just a second reverse in the last eight matches.
“The bigger picture is we finished second in the group and that’s a great achievement for a county like Louth, to get a home, or a close-to-home, venue in the preliminary quarter-final.”
Meanwhile, Cork boss John Cleary has challenged his side to respond to the loss against Tyrone as they seek to secure a quarter-final berth for the third consecutive season.
“It’s going to be a big journey but that’s the way it is. We just have to dust ourselves down. I said to the players inside the dressing room (after the defeat by Tyrone), our recovery starts now.
“We have championship in a week’s time and it’s the first time this year where if we lose, we are gone. We will get back on the horse and give it our best shot.”
Cavan-native Noel Mooney has been appointed to take charge of Sunday’s fixture, tickets for which are priced at €25 (adult), €20 (concession) and €5 (U16), and can be purchased via your club, on ticketmaster.ie or in Centra or SuperValu.
