GAA: Make a call to Mattock Rangers manager Brendan Reilly this week and you can expect to be told he is with another reporter.

On Sunday, the Louth club hopes to provide the GAA with the last big story for 2002 - and perhaps one of the biggest club success stories in many years.

So, five minutes later, Reilly is back on the phone talking about the Leinster club football final. It's the first time Mattock Rangers have ever gone this far in the club championship. Actually, it's the first time they've ever come out of Louth.

And there's more. No club from the county has ever won the Leinster title, and now the village of Collon of around 800 people hopes to make history. That neighbours and old rivals Meath provide the opposition in Dunshaughlin merely adds some extra spice to the occasion.

"Well there's no point in me saying I'm not surprised we've come this far," says Reilly. "The club has never done anything in the Louth championship, so we didn't even know what it was going to be like for a little village like ourselves to playing against clubs from other counties. Especially the big clubs from the likes of Offaly and Kildare.

"And, of course, if we could win the thing it would be a great boost for the county, and for every club here.

"If this little village can do it, then everyone in Louth will be thinking they can do it. I've no doubt it would be the best thing ever for Louth football. I mean it would have to be a huge lift."

Reilly himself played in the county through many of the less successful years (before a knee ligament injury in 1996 cut short his career). This season has been his third as Mattock Rangers manager, and having been beaten in the county final last year the rise to the top hasn't quite come with one single jump.

"I've been very lucky to work with this bunch of lads. It was one of those things where a lot of them came along at the one time. We had four minors that came in together, and that creates a great mixture with the couple of lads we have off the Louth senior team as well.

"But it definitely wouldn't be a massive panel. There are only about 800 people living in the village, or about 300 houses. There are a lot of new houses having been built there recently, but the people living there wouldn't really be village people.

"They might be just sleeping there at night, that kind of way. It's only the old die-hards that are actually working around here."

Still he expects there will be a great turnout of support in Navan on Sunday. The path to the final, which included victories over such experienced clubs as Tullamore (Offaly) and Moorefield (Kildare) has won many admirers, even from outside of Louth.

And though it's been a month since their semi-final against Moorefield (Dunshaughlin's replay with Rathnew accounting for the delay), he's not worried either about any kind of stage fright.

"As it happens, if we had to play last week it would have been a different story. A few guys like Gerry Hanratty and young Richie Sherlock were doubtful with injury, but are all okay now so the extra week worked out well for us. We've had a few county league games in between as well, so we're all ready now.

"But we know Dunshaughlin are going to be very hard to beat. They're a strong, physical team, and they play good football as well. They work hard for each other and close the opposition down."

Mattock Rangers have plenty of winning qualities of their own, most of all their scoring ability. They put up 3-13 against Moorefield, 2-11 against Tullamore, and also 3-12 in the first-round replay with Starlights.

"Our forwards do work very well together," notes Reilly. "All six of them are capable of scoring. Either of the midfielders Christy Grimes and Gerry Hanratty can score as well, and Grimes actually kicks all the long-range frees.

"And it does mean a lot when you also have midfielders that can take scores from play."