PETER FITZPATRICK claims that drawing Dublin in the All-Ireland SFC qualifiers is the toughest game Louth could have got after their Leinster final heartbreak -- but he still reckons his players have a "fantastic chance" if they play to their full potential.

Louth must now cast aside the trauma of Joe Sheridan's illegal goal and focus instead on a Dublin side that showed the first flickering signs of rebirth with their three-point victory over Armagh last Saturday.

"This Leinster final will never go away. What happened should never have happened. We just have to carry on and get on with the game. Closed shop," Fitzpatrick told the Evening Herald.

"The only good thing is the disappointment of last week is gone, and we had this last week to concentrate on the game," the Louth boss added. "You couldn't ask for a tougher draw. Of all the teams left in the qualifiers, I think Dublin are the ones improving the most.

"I went on Saturday to see them against Armagh, because I had a funny feeling we would draw them. They are starting to play well and get confidence.

"It's the last 12 of the All-Ireland and, as far as I'm concerned, it's a 50-50 game -- the toughest game we have had so far."

At time of going to press, throw-in venues and times had yet be announced for the round four qualifiers, although there was strong speculation that Dublin/Louth would be played alongside Kildare/Monaghan as part of a Croke Park double-header next Saturday.

"I honestly don't mind where the game is played," insisted Fitzpatrick, who would have "no problem" with Navan either - despite Meath's controversial annexation of the Leinster title and refusal to offer a refixture.

The Louth boss reported a clean bill of health, while Dublin had no apparent new injury worries arising from Saturday's win over Armagh, with Paul Flynn (ankle) and Eamonn Fennell (hip) both able to appear as point-scoring second half subs. Hamstrung centre-back Cian O'Sullivan is also edging closer to fitness.

"They have a very, very strong panel -- we have a very, very strong panel too. We'll look forward to the challenge ... we have a fantastic chance of beating them if we play to our capabilities," Fitzpatrick concluded.

His father originally hailed from Inchicore and the Louth boss professes to be a big Dublin fan. "Over the last 20 years, I saw Dublin playing more times than my own county," he estimated. "It's an awful shame that '95 is the last time they won an All-Ireland -- football in Ireland needs the Dubs doing well, but maybe not this year!"

- Frank Roche