2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship final

2010 Leinster Football Final
EventLeinster Senior Football Championship
Louth Meath
1–10 1–12
Date11 July 2010
VenueCroke Park, Dublin
Man of the MatchÉamonn McAuley (Louth)
RefereeMartin Sludden (Tyrone)
Attendance48,875[1]
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The 2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship final was the last football match of the 2010 Leinster Senior Football Championship, played between Louth and Meath on 11 July 2010 in Croke Park, Dublin.[2] Louth were appearing in their first Leinster Senior Football Championship Final in 50 years. The game is memorable for its contentious conclusion, such that in 2020 it was described as "the most controversial Leinster final ever".[3]

Meath won by 1–12 to 1–10, thanks to a controversial late goal by Joe Sheridan. The goal was deemed illegal by television replays but was declared valid by referee Martin Sludden, from County Tyrone.[4] He then blew the final whistle. Irate Louth fans stormed the pitch and commenced a process of chasing and physically assaulting the referee, who had to be led away by a Garda escort in scenes broadcast to a live television audience. Other scenes of violence saw bottles being hurled from a stand, one striking a steward who fell to the ground. The situation led to much media debate in the week that followed, the violence was condemned by senior politicians (some of whom were in the stadium), and there were calls for the game to be replayed—though, ultimately, this did not happen.

Seán Moran of The Irish Times said the next day: "What will be most vividly remembered of the 2010 final was compressed into a minute at the very end of the match with Louth getting ready to celebrate a deserved win – first over their neighbours in 35 years – and a resilient display".[5] Colm Keys of the Irish Independent said it was "hard to disagree" that it was "the greatest injustice for many a year in Croke Park",[6] and remarked: "The 320th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne is being commemorated today, but that surely didn't throw up a talking point to match a Joe Sheridan goal that will have the counties divided by the same river at odds for years to come".[7]

  1. ^ "Louth 1-10 Meath 1-12". RTÉ Sport. 11 July 2010.
  2. ^ "GAA – weekly fixtures". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. 7 July 2010. Retrieved 7 July 2010.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference 10 years later was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Referee Martin Sludden struck after Leinster decider". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 July 2010. Retrieved 11 July 2010.
  5. ^ Moran, Seán (12 July 2010). "Controversy abounds as Meath claim title in hectic final minutes". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  6. ^ Keys, Colm (12 July 2010). "Sheridan's cruel twist denies Louth". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  7. ^ Keys, Colm (12 July 2010). "Fitzpatrick slams 'disgraceful decision'". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 12 July 2010.