Meath 1-12 Louth 1-10:Shameful scenes marred the conclusion of today's Leinster football final as Louth were controversially denied a first provincial title since 1957. A hugely contentious goal handed Meath the title deep into injury time, whereupon a number of Louth fans attempted to attack match referee Martin Sludden.
As the match entered the third and final minute of injury time, Louth led by a single point and were on course for a famous win. But when Meath launched one final assault on the Louth goal, the ball found its way to Joe Sheridan inside the square.
In a scramble of bodies, the Meath forward appeared to roll over the line with the ball in hand before simply throwing it into the net. Sludden and his umpires failed to spot the infraction and the referee allowed the goal to stand, prompting furious reactions from the Louth players, management and supporters.
When he blew up for full time moments later, Sludden required a Garda escort off the Croke Park pitch as at least four different fans remonstrated with the official and aimed blows in his direction. There were also reports of a steward being assaulted and suffering minor injuries as all hell broke loose.
It was the cruellest possible end to Louth’s provincial campaign. The Wee County had missed two gilded chances in the first half, with JP Rooney and and Shane Lennon firing narrowly wide, but seized control of the contest after the break.
Yet for all their dominance, a plethora of wides meant Meath were always in touch, even after Rooney made amends for his earlier miss and found the net seven minutes from time. And after two long-range frees from Cian Ward, Sheridan’s outrageous ‘goal’ signalled the death knell for Louth’s hopes and prompted the ugly scenes at GAA headquarters.
Tommy Carr, meanwhile, has tendered his resignation in the wake of Cavan’s mauling at the hands of Cork yesterday. Cavan crashed out of the Ulster championship with defeat against Fermanagh but won their opening qualifier against Wicklow.
Yesterday’s result proved the final straw for Carr, with the Tipperary native bringing his two-year association with the Breffni County to an end.