Exciting times on the pitch for Áine Breen and Louth
Michael Bolton
It is a golden time for Louth men's and ladies' footballers, and captain Áine Breen is enjoying every moment of it.
In the last 12 months, the men's side ended their wait for a Leinster championship, as they defeated Meath in Croke Park.
On the ladies' side, they won the Junior All-Ireland Football Championship, with preparation for the Division Three final against Antrim.
Breen said she is hoping the success on the pitch can inspire the next generation.
"It does help when you see the county teams progressing and doing well. It filters into young boys and girls wanting to play for their county, wanting to play club football. It is certainly an exciting time.
"If you look at the men and ourselves, two years ago, we were fighting a relegation battle to go down to Division Four. Two years later, we are in Division Two.
"Looking after the development of your underage and really putting effort into that. At the end of the day, they are the future; they are what is coming through.
"If you are not prioritising those it will not work. The men have done a really good job in prioritising those sorts of things. A lot of counties could learn from that."
In a repeat of the All-Ireland Junior final last August, Louth will take on Antrim.
Both sides finished on 16 points, with Louth winning the league game between the two sides.
With the aim of promotion already completed, both sides will be all out for victory, in what the Louth captain is expecting to be a battle.
"I would be the same if I was coming up against a team that beat me in the All-Ireland final previously, I would be fairly going for it.
"There will be similar teams from the All-Ireland final, apart from one or two, we will be looking back at that game, hoping it helps for Saturday.
"When you set out at the start of the year, you want to get promoted and perform at a higher level. Last year, based on our performances in the league, we wanted to one-up that and enter the promotion game."
