Flashback: Dublin v Louth 2019

Dublin face off against Louth for the second time in a matter of weeks this Sunday at Croke Park.

The Boys in Blue claimed victory in their Leinster Semi Final in Portlaoise earlier this month.

Ahead of this weekend's clash, the Dubs can also take inspiration from their 2019 win over the Wee County.

Fourteen-man Dublin kicked off their drive for five in-a-row with a 5-21 to 0-10 win over Louth at O’Moore Park.

Jim Gavin’s men were rarely troubled; despite Dean Rock’s absence, Cormac Costello produced a free-taking exhibition.

Costello was simply unplayable. Handed the dead-ball duties, he punished Louth relentlessly, racking up 1-12, including ten frees and a pinpoint ’45 in a display of pure precision. Every miss-hit by Louth was punished. Every foul became another Dublin score.

Dublin hit their stride early on. Costello’s superb early ’45 set the tone, while Niall Scully and Con O’Callaghan piled pressure on a Louth defence already creaking under the weight of blue shirts.

Paul Mannion added to the tally before his afternoon ended abruptly, shown red for a high challenge on Conall McKeever. Even down to 14 men, Dublin barely broke stride.

Con O’Callaghan’s barnstorming run carved open Louth for the first goal and from there the result was beyond doubt. Costello kept the scoreboard ticking over with ruthless efficiency as Dublin stormed into half-time 1-12 to 0-4 ahead.

Any lingering suspense vanished within minutes of the restart. Brian Fenton and Costello combined for a devastating early 1-2 burst as Dublin tightened their grip even further.

The second half quickly became a procession. Rory O’Carroll’s return to the panel in the 47th minute drew one of the loudest cheers of the day.

Michael Darragh MacAuley and Philly McMahon both struck goals late on, but the final word fittingly belonged to Costello, who capped a sensational afternoon with a goal to complete a devastating personal tally.

Dublin would go on to be crowned Leinster champions and would ultimately become the first county ever to win five All-Irelands in a row that summer, beating Kerry to lift Sam Maguire yet again.

Louth: Fergal Sheekey; Fergal Donohoe, Emmet Carolan, James Craven; Anthony Williams, Bevan Duffy, John Clutterbuck; Tommy Durnin, James Califf; Andy McDonnell (0-01), Jim McEneaney (0-02), Conall McKeever (0-01); Ciaran Downey (0-01) Ryan Burns (0-4, 0-02f), Declan Byrne.

Subs Used: Dan Corcoran for Donohoe (h-t), Sam Mulroy for Byrne (h-t), Conor Early for Califf (43), Derek Maguire for Clutterbuck (46), Eoghan Callaghan (0-01) for Craven (54 bc), Eoghan Duffy for McEneaney (60)

Dublin: Stephen Cluxton; David Byrne, Cian O’Sullivan, Michael Fitzsimons (0-01); Jack McCaffrey, John Small, James McCarthy; Brian Fenton (1-01), Darren Gavin; Niall Scully (0-02), Ciaran Kilkenny (0-01), Brian Howard; Paul Mannion (0-02), Con O’Callaghan (1-00), Cormac Costello (1-12, 0-10f, 0-01 '45).

Subs Used: Michael Darragh MacAuley (1-00) for Gavin (40), Phillip McMahon (1-00) for O’Sullivan (40), Rory O’Carroll for McCaffrey (47), Paddy Small (0-01) for O’Callaghan (47), Kevin McManamon (0-01, 0-01f)for Scully (54), Sean Bugler for Costello (63)

Referee: Jerome Henry (Mayo)