Louth won their second ever Lory Meagher Cup with a 2-19 to 2-8 victory over Fermanagh on Saturday at Croke Park.
For manager Paul McCormack, it was the achievement of a goal they had set more than a year ago.
"I'm absolutely thrilled for the players," McCormack told LMFM.
"We've had a long and disjointed year, but they've got the just rewards for their efforts.
"Since we came back from the break and the club season, after a very competitive Louth Championship, they bounced in and I felt that hunger and appetite was there to finish the job.
Goal no 2 for Andrew Mackin 🔥
Tá an béarna méadaithe ag @louthgaa !!@GAA_BEO #LoryMeagher pic.twitter.com/4Ct1pBTgXv— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) November 28, 2020
"We looked at this competition last November. It was due to be finished in June. Then it was moved. We said, 'The date has changed but what we want to achieve remains the same'.
"That performance in the second half was in us all year, I felt. We played like that at times in the National League. We had Donegal, who won the Rackard last week, beaten, Armagh and Tyrone beaten, but we just didn't finish the job.
"They're young lads, a lot of them, and they're learning on their feet. The older lads there tonight really stood up and led the way.
"It was a difficult week telling three fellas that they couldn't play. We had Paddy Lynch at home who's isolating. He was just so looking forward to this. We referenced that, that we're privileged to be here."
Louth's previous Lory Meagher Cup win was in 2016. That day, Donal Connolly was the sub goalkeeper as his brother James stood between the post. On Saturday, Donal was wearing the number one jersey.
"It just spurred me on and this is the pinnacle. I'd never played at Croke Park. It means more," said Connolly.
"We said we weren't going to leave anything out there on that pitch. We were going to go out and die in our boots, basically. We did that and ended up with the cup.
"The hurling community in Louth is small. I'm sure every single one of them was watching or listening in today. It's really for them.
"As Paul said, do it for your families and yourselves."
Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
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