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Louth Team of the Millennium |
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The people of Louth chose the Louth Team of the Millennium in February 2000 through a vote with local newspapers, The Argus and Drogheda Independent. Dundalk Young Irelands GFC had the distinction of having 5 players named on the team. Here we profile these 5 greats of the "Green and Black".
JIM TUFT
At left full back the late Jimmy Tuft who played on arguably the best Young Irelands team ever. Jimmy was very successful at club, county and provincial levels. He played in the unlucky 1950 All-Ireland final defeat at the hands of Mayo and was most unfortunate three years later when - during the All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry - suffering a nasty shoulder injury which effectively put an end to his superb playing career. The previous year, he was a key player on Leinster's Railway Cup winning team. The left full back came in ahead of Terry Lennon (St Bride's and Kilkerley Emmets), Johnny Malone (St Mary's), Jim Meehan (Naomh Mhuire) and Mick McKeown Snr. (Wolfe Tones)
JIM Mc ARDLE 
Never the luckiest with injuries when it came to big games, Jim McArdle takes the prestigious centre half back spot on the Millennium Team. He was a vital part of the Louth set-up in '57 but missed out on the final against Cork. In '53, he also missed the All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry. Jim won a Sigerson Cup with UCD in 1954 and also played for the Combined Universities many times. He had skill and strength in abundance. Other contenders for the No.6 shirt were Pat Markey (St Mary's), Martin McCann (Young Irelands), Stephen Melia (John Mitchels and St Josephs) and Jimmy Mulroy (Newtown Blues).
STEPHEN WHITE
An automatic choice really . . . and the first of the team to have played in the 1957 All-Ireland final!. Stephen is a true GAA legend and is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, not just in Louth but on the national stage. Was selected in this position on the GAA Team of the Century in 1984 but was disgracefully overlooked when the less credible GAA Team of the Millennium was named last year. As a player, White did it all, neutralising some of the game's greatest. Won a SFC with Irelands in 1950 as well as four Leinster championships and that memorable All-Ireland. Was always the first name on the Leinster teamsheet in the fifties and captained the province to Railway Cup glory in 1954. Frank Clark (Newtown Blues), Paddy Cluskey (Darver and Young Irelands), Peter Fitzpatrick (Clan Na Gael) and Paddy McArdle (St Mary's and O'Raghallaighs) were all tremendous footballers in their own right but none had a chance of getting in here ahead of Stephen White.
JIM QUIGLEY
The pivotal player on the Team of the Millennium. What an accolade. Jim played in the All-Ireland semi-finals of 1943 and 1948 as well as the national football league decider of 1949. Will probably be best remembered for NOT playing in the 1950 All-Ireland final - many people still insist that had the Irelands stalwart been included against Mayo that day Louth would have won. To prove the county selectors wrong, he won his sixth SFC medal with his club that same year. Became a selector himself to show how it should be done and was selector/trainer of the '57 team. Appropriately, the people of Louth selected him for the Millennium Team ahead of some true greats - Jimmy Kelly (Glyde Rangers), Eugene Judge (Newtown Blues), Dermot O'Brien (St Mary's) and Nicky Roe (St Mary's)
FRANK FAGAN
The final spot on the team - the left corner of the attack - goes to the man who captained Young Irelands to victory in the 1950 Louth senior championship final from right half back. Frank was a versatile player who could make his presence felt anywhere on the pitch. Picked up a Leinster championship medal in 1948 and played in the National League final the following year. Beat off the claims of Jim Cunningham (Young Irelands), Colin Kelly (Newtown Blues), Mickey Reynolds (Stabannon Parnells) and Jim Roe (St Mary's) to make the millennial No.15 jersey his own | 1. Gerry Farrell | Cooley Kickhams | | 2. Jack Bell | St. Marys Ardee | | 3. Eddie Boyle | Cooley Kickhams | 4. Jim Tuft | Dundalk Young Irelands | | 5. Sean Boyle | Cooley Kickhams/St. Marys Ardee | | 6. Jim McArdle | Dundalk Young Irelands/Roche Emmets | | 7. Stephen White | Dundalk Young Irelands/Cooley Kickhams | | 8. Jack Regan | Gaels | | 9. Jim Thornton | Cooley Kickhams | | 10. Kevin Beahan | St. Marys Ardee | | 11. Jim Quigley | Dundalk Young Irelands | | 12. Frank Lynch | Geraldines | | 13. Ollie Halpin | St. Magdalene's | | 14. Jimmy McDonnell | Darver Volunteers | | 15. Frank Fagan | Dundalk Young Irelands |
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Club Information 
