Saturday 31 March 2012

Prediction factor: The forgetten rounds

10/16 last round 

Overall 52/95

Sat 31st March

Division 1

Mayo v Dublin=Dublin

Division 4
Waterford v Carlow=Carlow

Sunday 1st April
Wicklow v Leitrim=Wicklow
Kilkenny v London=London

Fermanagh v Limerick=Fermanagh

Tuesday 27 March 2012

Louth and Derry Report LMFM


Love or loathe our local radio station, just mainly for being Local!

They provide a top class service.

Their recent Coverage of Louth Derry game proved that.

Gerry Kelly, the main anchor in the control room and he seamlessly pulled the strings between a meath hurling game in Pairc tailtean and an epic foosball game in the MDL but on the day with Meath playing in Omagh the night before, Louth had top billing and Colm Corrigan was the star performer.

The thing about Colm is, he is really likable fella and it comes across in his reporting you forgive him for making mistakes and to be far there isn’t that many. He is really underrated as a broadcaster very knowledgeable and passionate without being biased.

So let me report on the game through the eyes of LMFM and more importantly Colm.
Set Scene

Early on, before the game starts he sets the scene about the lack of following Louth support, and how nice of a day it is in Derry, you can hear the envy in his voice about the fans out in the sun compared to his spot in the press box

Not only does he set the scene, he apprehensively lowers our expectations about the game by telling us how difficult the task ahead is.
So straightaway much to our surprise at the astonishment in Colm’s Voice when he tells us Brian Donnelly wastes a blatant goal opportunity!

After that, the game settles down with a Derry point then a Darren Clarke reply.

Then we get a Goal!! Darren Clarke finishes off a fine move
Sudden you’re enthusiasm about our chances rises with Colm voice and amazement at the way things are going!

We are three points up in Derry after five minutes!

However this enthusiasm soon dips with the concession of a number of frees and what Colm called a ‘Gally flap’ allows Derry to score four in a row take a one point lead after ten minutes.

Work Contrast

A Jim Mac ‘Shimmy’ and ‘left foot Dummy’ levels the game.

The effort Louth go through to score compared to Derry is evident in his voice, he is dismayed at how easy Sean Leo replies to Jim and Enda Lynn keeps the Derry lead after Mark Brennan finds the unmarked Adrian Reid to score in space.

A close in free from Darren Clarke levels the game again and Colm brilliantly describes the next score Louth gets to take the lead, a Jaime Carr point.  ‘not a regular scorer’ correct. but the way he approved Darren Clarke unselfishness in the set him up is key, it highlighted to the listener that Darren choose the right decision. Colm was indirectly saying well done Darren for not usually shooting and we all knew that.

Find

Brian Donnelly is down a long time according to Colm after a push he hurts his ankle, Peach Califf is brought on in the middle for him. Colm makes it three Clogher representatives’ on the field for Louth today. Nice touch by Colm and a great fact for geeks like me.

After 25 mins Colm’s ‘find’ of the national league for Louth Jim Mac  levels the game again. Although he said it off the cuff Colm is spot on, Jim has been a find this season. He is our second top scorer in the national league that’s good going for a lad in his debut season at this level.

It seems to be free after free for Derry in reply to every time we score, Derek Maguire levels the game for the 8th time with a fisted point when a possible goal was on but after last week’s misfortune against Kildare’s woodwork Colm thinks he made the right choice.

Two onetime Ardee St Marys men combine for a goal chance at the end of the half much to Colm’s delight, A shot forcing the keeper into what sounds like a fabulous save for a 45’ which Darren Clarke marvellously points.

A now, out of breath Colm wraps up the half by saying the scoreline and emphasising the entertainment level of the game before going back to the Studio to Gerry to enjoy a well-earned reprieve.

Clarke Start

Refreshed after the Break, Colm got straight into it with Darren Clarke to the fore, a ‘class’ score from play out on the right and the second a free brought out Colm’s line of the day. So huge was Darren Clarkes free he tells us ‘the Derry supporters are even applauding that score’. Ronan Carroll put us two points ahead seizing on a referee mix up.

Then it was the Paddy Bradley show, hitting the first four points of a consecutive six point run in all for Derry. Although three yellow cards were handed out, it’s hard to tell whether there was an actual lull in the game or Colm was sensing a Louth loss.
LMFM Timing

You could feel his frustration at what he is seeing by getting annoyed at Decie Byrne’s indiscipline of a lack tackle and the amount of space being awarded to Enda Lynn.

LMFM sensing Colms disinterest decided to go back to Gerry in the control room with Louth four points down.
I reckon a lot fans turned off the radio at that stage, but luckily I held out and was rewarded. We joined up with a reenergised Corrigan again with five minutes to go.


At this Stage Louth had scored one from play and another free but he didn’t say who as Derek Maguire was in the process in of missing a chance but you could sense the flurry in Colms voice that Louth were back in it.

He further let the Louth fan come out in him at this stage and you could hear the whole county collectively groan at the radio as Darren Clarke missed two scorable  free’s to not only Level the game but to give us the lead. Then again Colm reminded us not to be too harsh on the man who has carried Louth all afternoon. Bang on again Colm.

Finale
Then when Jim scored his third and final ‘special point in which is all he seems capable of’ and he’s right about Jim, he has scored nothing but wonders this season getting single of the week in my scorers chart on two occasions this campaign. Colm did slighty mention the Derry protest but moved on after that man Paddy B put two between the sides again.

A wide a piece from both sides lead us to the grand finale.

Colm teased us with the mention of Louth needing and getting a goal to win it but said he would be satisfied with a draw. With that Louth worked a short Kickout ending with Brian White getting a score a point in it!!
Deep into injury time and the draw could still be on, we needed the ball and we GOT it, next thing all we wanted to hear was Darren Clarke, he HAS it!! Next thing we wanted to hear was a score, tell us Colm and he DID!


‘Darren Clarke equalised from play, at the death!, and there is the full time whistle’ YES and then a huge sigh of relief from Colm and myself to be honest!

With that, I turned off the crystal clear transmission.

Smile on my face. Why?

Great performance from Louth and the professional Service from LMFM all day….only for them.

Well, actually only for Colm, who first of all he was there on his own doing a great broadcasting job whilst carrying the whole county’s eye’s and ear’s.

Thanks Colm appreciate it

Roll on Meath!
Best player on display: Darren Clarke, showed serious Character in stepping up at the end having missed two free’s moments earlier.
Best Derry Player on Display: Paddy Bradley, the sharpshooter is back but who was picking him up?



Scorers Chart

Darren Clarke tops all the chart’s this week but back to the top of the singles chart with ‘free kick Boomer‘ from the album ‘not Anfield rap, but Celtic park Clap’ 
Darren Clarke 1-7 145’ 3f
Jim McEnaney 3pts
Derek Maguire 1pt
Ray Finnegan 1pt
Ronan Carroll 1pt
Jamie Carr 1pt
Adrian Reid 1pt
Brian White 1pt


NFL ALBUM Chart
(1) Darren Clarke 1-30pt 19f 245    
(2)Jim McEnaney 9pt
(3) Paddy Keenan 7pt 1f

(4) Ronan Carroll 6pt
(-) Derek Maguire 6pt
(5)Mark Brennan 4pt
(6) Derek Crilly 3pt

(-) Adrian Reid 3pt
(-) Ray Finnegan 3pt
(9) Brian Donnelly 2pt 1F 145'

(-) Andy McDonnell 2pt
(-) Brian White 2pt

(12) Eoin O'Connor 1pt
(-) Gerry Hoey 1 pt
(-) Liam Shevlin 1pt
(-) Aaron Hoey 1pt
(-) Declan Byrne 1pt
(-) Jaime Carr 1pt

Sunday 25 March 2012

4W DeRRy


WHO: Derry
WHAT:
Round 6 of the Allianz Division 2 league Mountain
WHERE:
Celtic Park, Derry
WHEN:
Sunday 2:30pm

So The Great relegation Escape returns to our memories, after getting carried away with ourselves after the first two, three games, we remembered that this Division 2 Mountain is no small task.

We climbed the first peak Westmeath, with relative ease and even surprising ourselves with an away point in Galway. But as the peak’s got that bit more trickier this Louth team, like an inexperienced expedition started slipping.

We wasted valuable energy against Tyrone, with nothing to show for it. 50 minutes into the Monaghan game we were spent. The Kildare game saw us regain some confidence but in reality we are hanging on for dear life.

Relegation is staring us in the face and as much as we are afraid to look down at the rocks below, Division 3. To climb to safety, we need to change our gung-ho approach and win ugly because it is possible.

We have two games to survive.

But first we need a plan and a whole lot of luck.

Like a climb we need to make use of our resources, cut off the dead weight.

We need to tighten the reins…..Obviously!

Our score difference is minus 19, but the thing is, at the back individually they are the best players slash defenders in the county and we have a number of players as options off the bench to come into the backline. (Gerry Hoey is having a tremendous season)

The problem is, the team as a whole the team is too loose.

Unlike the U21’s, we’re very individual in our approach…due the lack of systems in place by our manager.

Players are thinking too individually, not as a unit, fighting for a place from a poor manager’s approval.

This approach is evident in his selections or rather no selections, selfless lads like Derek Crilly, Adrian Reid are not being selected and Mark Brennan and Andy McDonnell are being used as the square peg to suit the round hole.

You’re thinking, Why would forward selection affect our concession of scores

You see These lads give up their whole game for the team.
When Reido and Crilly have played on the wing we picked up three points our only three points!! We haven’t played with a pure forty yards player all year bar when Andy moved there ingame against Galway and we possess two of them!

When an opposing half backline drives forward, They set the tone, it is very hard to defend and stem the tide especially at this division, So our defenders are up against it, constantly.

Adrian Reid and Derek Crilly can stem this Tide, with Andy on the forty and Mark Brennan roaming around the middle as he has been doing.
This will tighten up that whole area and stopping the problem at source, therefore helping our defenders get that hand in and delaying the ball in that extra second.

Now that I’ve solved our defensively dilemma lets look positively and more into today’s game.

Meath losing last night has given us that bit of luck, we now need Kildare to beat Westmeath and Galway to beat Monaghan. These will give us the best chance of surviving Relegation Easter Sunday!

Also it would help, if Louth beat Derry!!

Derry are really there for the taking, massively inconsistent due to a unsettled team hampered by a lot of injuries.

Plus, Louth go to Celtic park with no pressure, no one expects us to win. We can go and express ourselves and work on not exposing our defense because the Derry Forwards although accurate they lack pace.

Also how formidable is Celtic park? if Galway go up there and beat them.

This game allows this expedition to seize together put the head down and work for each and hopefully help ourselves from falling.

Things to expect: Eoin Bradley there but not to make his return to competitive action, thankfully!! Derry City jerseys with McClean on the back and people eating 99’s on the terrace.



Friday 23 March 2012

Prediction Factor Round 6


Second last round and it’s squeaky bum time for alot of teams!!
as teams fight to survive or get promoted
I've taken that into consideration for this weeks selections
here are my picks
Overall I'm 42/79




Saturday 24th MarchDivision 1

Dublin v Donegal=Dublin
Armagh v Down=Draw


Division 2


Tyrone v Meath=Tyrone

Division 3


Tipperary V Longford=Longford

Division 4


Limerick V Waterford=Limerick

Sunday 25th March Round 6

Division 1


Mayo v Cork=Cork
Kerry v Laois=Kerry

Division 2


Monaghan v Galway=Monaghan
Derry v Louth=Derry
Kildare v Westmeath =Kildare


Division 3


Offaly v Sligo = Sligo
Roscommon v Cavan =Roscommon
Antrim v Wexford = Antrim

Division 4


Leitrim v Kilkenny=Leitrim
London v Clare=Clare
Carlow v Wicklow= Wicklow
Fermanagh bye week



 

Scorer's Chart

‘Darren Clarke’ produced another album of Scores but single of the week and New in the charts is ‘Gerry Hoey’ with ‘Up from the back’ from the album ‘Haggard’s gonna get me town’


NFL Kildare 17points
D Clarke (0-11 10f)
J McEneaney (0-2)
G Hoey        (0-1)
R Finnegan (0-1)
P Keenan    (0-1)
M Brennan (0-1)


NFL ALBUM Chart

(1) Darren Clarke 23pt 16f 1
45    

(2) Paddy Keenan 7pt 1f
(3)Jim McEnaney 6pt
(4) Ronan Carroll 5pt
(-) Derek Maguire 5pt
(6)Mark Brennan 4pt
(7) Derek Crilly 3pt

(8) Andy McDonnell 2pt
(-) Adrian Reid 2pt
(-) Brian Donnelly 2pt 1F 145'

(-) Ray Finnegan 2pt
(12) Brian White 1 pt

(-) Eoin O'Connor 1pt
(-) Gerry Hoey 1 pt
(-) Liam Shevlin 1pt
(-) Aaron Hoey 1pt
(-) Declan Byrne 1pt

Wednesday 21 March 2012

4W

WHO:Offaly
WHAT: Cadbury's Leinster Under 21 Semi Final
WHERE: Pairc Tailteann Navan
WHEN: 7:30 tonight


In fairness to this talented squad of Louth Under 21's this season they have overcome every task they've faced.


-A trip no one wants to take to Kilkenny,
-Putting up an emphatic scoreline,
-Taking the falk for doing so

-Then beating a fancied Longford side with pedigree
-with 14 men for majority of the game


The side has grown through the Incrementally tougher dilemma's they have faced and will get tougher in tonights semi final against Offaly.

Offaly have scalped Meath and Kildare already and possess some nippy forwards actually both sides do which will make it a lively open encounter.

Like all semi finals it is not about performance just getting over the line.....i think the strength in our panel highlights the talent is there and with our forwards we can cause them enough problems to prevail,

here's hoping.

Things to expect: A boisterous set of supporters from both counties starved of success desperate for a win, a possible rematch of the first round of the minor championship 2009 between the same teams dublin and Louth in the Final. A big game from eoin O'Connor after getting sent off against Longford the last round.

Tuesday 20 March 2012

Prediction Factor Round 5



I had a little malfunction uploading my predictions on my travels but my total going into round 5 was


Total 36/62


8/16 for Round 5


leaving me at 44 out of 78 games


Here WAS my predictions






Sunday 18 March


Allianz FL Division 1

Cork v Kerry=Cork
Down v Dublin=Dublin
Laois v Armagh=Armagh
Donegal v Mayo=Donegal





Allianz FL Division 2

Westmeath v Monaghan=Monaghan
Meath v Derry=Meath
Louth v Kildare=Kildare
Galway v Tyrone=Tyrone





Allianz FL Division 3

Cavan v Offaly=Cavan
Longford v Antrim=Longford
Wexford v Roscommon=Roscommon
Sligo v Tipperary=Sligo





Allianz FL Division 4

Waterford v Fermanagh=Fermanagh
Clare v Leitrim=Clare
Wicklow v Limerick=Limerick
Kilkenny v Carlow=Carlow

Thursday 15 March 2012

4W Kildare


4W KILDARE
WHO: Kildare
WHAT: Round 5 of NFL Division 2
WHERE: Gaelic Grounds Drogheda
WHEN: 2:30pm Sunday

Short this week because I will be out of the Country!!

look forward to a raised performance from the lads


Things to expect: Seanie Johnston in the crowd sniffing around the Kildare subs bench, Gally to take a left footed free.

more talking points


So the remaining talking points were a non-runner yesterday

Anyway I kinda want to get over the weekend’s game and look ahead to Kildare

Firstly it is very hard to gauge what selection process Fitzer has!!!
They cost us the game and he will have to be held accountable for them.


Exhibit A. Conor Rafferty
Not only does Conor get his first taste of NFL action and possibly his competitive debut for Louth in our most crucial game so far
But he starts Ahead of Jim McEnaney, who Has played and has come on ahead of him already this year.
Even more shockingly Adrian Reid is Dropped from the starting fifteen
To compound matters further Conor started on the forty So Mark Brennan and Andy McDonnell are played out of position just because they have the ability to play there. Ironically he wasn’t even taken off first, Andy was!!!
This was such a bad selection for three reasons,

1.     Andy not in his most favoured position for the second week running has him out of sorts and losing form on the wing, he can’t get into the game as much and seems to be getting frustrated with it all. He Got booked and taken off before half time!

2.     Mark Brennan also grew frustrated and had to come out the field to get into the game meant we lost our shape up front.

and

3.     Rafferty’s confidence is shot, too big of an ask to come in and start on the forty for his debut marking Ulster’s best defender in Darren Hughes. Bringing him into the game as a sub would have benified all round
Verdict: Andy to Start on the Forty versus Kildare and Mark Brennan to play in the middle.

Exhibit B. Ronan Greene




This selection completely baffled me or rather non selection did.
Greene was brought on ahead of Pops against Tyrone and played really well.
Only to be over looked a starting place for Pops the following week.
The non-selection just doesn’t make sense and then to top it off he is brought on as a sub at half time and then taken off in an act that can only explained as blatant Nepotism.
My Only explanation for such mistreatment and non-selection could only be down to management’s decision to adopt a Man Marking system against Monaghan and they couldn’t even do that right.

Verdict: Absolutely diabolical treatment of a player

Tuesday 13 March 2012

TALKING POINT TUESDAY

And We’re OFF!!
when you're not reading the form for Cheltenham glance over Louth's most recent talking points
Declan Byrne Sending off
Did this really have the effect people are saying and abuse Declan Byrne is being subjected to, his temperament is now being questioned after a tussle and a couple of harsh yellow cards. Paddy Keenan got sent off against Tyrone when the game was still in the balance and there was no uproar when we went on to lose.
People need to catch a grip and stop looking for scapegoats.
Instead of looking at the sending off I would look at the reaction of the players tells us a lot more.

We conceded ten scores in a row!!!
There is no excuse for this, where was the lift in effort when we went down a man, that is more telling.
Does this Team have a soft Centre?
Let’s be honest our campaign so far has been better than expected. You cannot fault the players for effort but a lot of things have gone for us?
As soon things go against us like for example we lose a player like the last two Sunday’s our attitude is not good.


Does this team rely too much on Paddy Keenan.



We all know how important he is to Louth.

That being said on Sunday going into battle without him was always going to be difficult, When he is not there you not only lose his footballing ability as player but his presence to our own and opposing players around him.

Brian Donnelly missed him in the middle and our defensive was exposed without his cover and going forward he is always good for a point.
But There is a huge belief vacuum when he is not there on the pitch and amongst supporters.
There is no way we lose that game the fashion we did if he was on the pitch

More to Follow all day

Monday 12 March 2012

MONaghan Second Half report

Having set a blistering pace of football, The second half started in the same open fashion.

James Turley from the Throw in found Tommy Freeman and straightaway he opened Monaghan’s second half account,

Liam Shevlin was replaced by Ronan Greene at Half time which meant we had lost our whole half back line from the Tyrone game.
Ronan Carroll started the half in the Middle with Mark Brennan really brightly which meant the unfamiliar halfback line was not tested.


GOAL
Brennan broke the ball to a large degree of success, inspiring a mini revival in the process he turned over Dick Clerkin and sent a diagonal ball from the touchline to the near post where Derek Maguire with his back to goal couldn’t fetch the ball but it bundled back out to the left foot of the onrushing Darren Hughes, the rebound completely wrong footed the goalkeeper

This piece of good fortune brought us right back into the game.
We took a lot of confidence from this and A quick free from Darren Clarke might have seen Jim McEneaney without dinner for the week as he levelled the game against his father’s Monaghan with a swift turn and shoot over with his back to goal.

Louth were really on top and making it count, Ronan Carroll when you think is running away from goals, made an angle for himself on his left to give us the lead.

Jap Finlay notched a simple free in front of the posts after Gerry Hoey showed a lack of discipline to late tackle to undo all our hard work.

But it was Brennan again setting the tone after Adrian Reid turned over a lackadaisical James Turley he counterattacked and found Ronan Carroll who was fouled for Darren Clarke to score a simple free and his last of the day.

Jim McEnaney scored one of the best Instinctual score’s you’ll see. As he ran off Darren Clarke’s shoulder to receive the ball it feel to his feet but in stride, he flicked it up on his right and shot with the left in the same motion, A wonderful score that Jim himself probably even doesn’t know much about!


Just as you felt we were getting away from Monaghan, they took the sting out of our momentum with the next three play’s Decie Byrne and Eoin Lennon who were not giving each other an inch all day got in a tussle off the ball which saw them both booked.


Switch Off
We completely switched off as Monaghan won the hop ball worked it down the corner to Tommy Freeman he made a run along the end line and abruptly halted by Decie Byrne, he harshly received his second yellow…. We were down a man but more importantly down our focus.
Owen Duffy tapped over two free’s either side of the sending off to level the game.


With all our intensity and you had a feeling that it could not be upheld especially with a man down.
Also the introduction of a clearly unfit Brian White for Brian Donnelly didn’t help matters much either.
A much debated free in the right corner was expertly taken by Jap Finlay to give them the lead again. But as it happened, Louth with twenty minutes left in the half had had a dying kick in them Ronan Carroll kicked his second of the day and Louth’s last score of the game.

From here on in our high speed car performance had lost a wheel and was driving recklessly out of control, the brutal crash when it eventually lasted the final twenty minutes of the game horrifically for everyone in Clones to see.

Darren Hughes was used a sweeper but in reality there was no need, as they dominated the middle of the field and rampantly made it count up front giving our defenders no chance.

Eoin Lennon boomed over a score now that he was free from Decie, McGuinness capped a fine performance adding another score to his tally soon after.

Not from the lack of Ronan Carroll valiant play in the middle, Gallogy and Dick Clerkin won breaks and directly punished us and Jap Finlay kicked a beauty out on the left wing with his tasty left foot.

Ten minutes to go and Monaghan introduced Ciaran Hanratty he punched a point after a dangerous solo run.


Neil Gallagher fancied a solo run himself he went all the way out the middle only to be disposed, Gallogy with the goalkeeper out the field smelted blood and luckily for gally he drove a shot off the crossbar for a point.

Disgraceful decision
Fitzer felt he needed to shore things up back there by bringing on his son, at Ronan Greene’s embarrassing expense. You had to feel for the lad, brought on at half time and taken off to be made a scapegoat for the whole team running out of steam.


There was still enough time for James Turley to get on the score sheet and Jap Finlay to add to his tally by tagging on a free.

Speaking of time, Darren Hughes had all the time in the world. Strolling up from the back to be fouled for a Penalty and giving him the opportunity to make amends for the OG he duly did so. Jaime Carr to top of a horrible day at the office got his marching orders after a second yellow.

A dejected Louth Team at the end should not feel ashamed, I won’t totally single out the sending off for losing either.
They just simply couldn’t maintain that high level of play but it is important to point out that they can actually play a high level of football.


They were not helped by some bizarre selections, switches and 11th hour changes and going into battle without leader Paddy Keenan.
Best Player on view: Paul 'Jap' Finlay: Clinical with his arrows all day, his dad would be proud.Best Louth player on view: Ronan Carroll: tried hard in the second half to swim against the tide in the middle.

TALKING POINT TUESDAY WILL BE NO HOLDS BARRED TOMORROW

Sunday 11 March 2012

Monaghan Match Report 1st Half


Both sets of players went out on the much talked about Clones pitch with the intention of letting their football do the talking.


It showed,


As the game got off to a lively start, and ‘Mr Lively’ personified Tommy Freeman who Started for the game Monaghan kicked their opening score with his left foot.


Louth Started the game without Paddy Keenan, Ray Finnegan and Adrian Reid, Mick Fanning was replaced at the 11th hour.


As a result Darren Clarke Started, Conor Rafferty came in on the Forty, Decie Byrne at right half back, Pops to his usual corner back slot.


Mark Brennan started at full forward with Ronan Carroll at Midfield and it was the New Target man that got us off the mark, Derek Maguire made a great run cut back and the Mattock Man shot over from Close Range. Darren Clarke then gave us the lead he collected a good Derek Crilly Ball to turn steady up on his left and fire over.


Jap Finlay as predicted with 13 on his back started on the forty with Gerry Hoey picking him up he got fouled and Owen Duffy obliged to level with a free


Four scores in the first five minutes, No Blanket defence is sight!


The openness of game continued with Pop Rath gliding up from the back with a great solo run for Decie Byrne to slot over, Then Jap Finlay caught the ball over Gerry Hoey’s head to slot over. Andy McDonnell once again gave us the lead after a neat interception by Derek Crilly.


At this stage Monaghan were choking us in the middle of the field. Without Paddy Keenan we didn’t have the platform we usually do, the absence of his synergy told on Brian Donnelly especially, Aerially and on the ground Monagahn were winning break after break and they worked the ball into the key area’s where Christopher McGuinness and Tommy Freeman were on hand to put Monaghan in the driving seat. With Derek Maguire getting loose to give us a reply.


Dermot Malone and deep runs caused us a lot of Problems early on, his high centre was punched over the bar by a bombing Eoin Lennon.
Malone’s marker Andy McDonnell got booked and Management felt that was enough to take him off for Adrian Reid, Straightaway Reido won a breaking ball to feed Derek Maguire who kicked a wonderful score out on the right wing.


Maguire highlights Louth fans frustration with him with the next play, He turned over a ball he had in hands which led to a Dick Clerkin score.
A St Marys Ardee Reunion saw Ronan Carroll find Darren Clarke inside to score after a nice dummy gave him the space to score with his left again.


At this stage both sides were set up the same, playing a similar style but you could tell Monagahan were more familiar with it.
Like us Monaghan left their most dangerous inside forwards in on their own but unlike us they found them a lot easier than we could and they were threatening to expose at any time.


One of these dangerous inside forwards Christopher McGuinness eventually did expose us, he isolated Dessie Finnegan and a ball from the wing over the top allowed him to collect on the run and finish convincingly and he tagged on another point straightaway from the resultant kick out.


Owen Duffy finished the blitz with another free.


Eventually Mark Brennan had to swap with Ronan Carroll and Derek Crilly switched with Brian Donnelly to help us compete in that area. Brennan sent a direct ball in and a half chance of a goal for Darren Clarke but it was knocked out by the Keeper. Clarke dusted himself down and kicked the badly needed 45.


With direct ball not an option with Louth players tendency to over carry and after a succession of handpasses across the field Adrian Reid got fed up and he launched a score from way out.


Brian Donnelly took confidence from Adrian Reid’s long range effort to kick a bombing free from beyond the 45’ yard line in middle of the field off the ground.


With Monaghan’s superior possession we were lucky to be only three points adrift at the break And luckily there was no half time row Monaghan learnt their lesson!

Scorer's Chart

Darren Clarke came back to top this weeks Charts but it's Jim McEnaney who tops the single chart with 'right chip left whip' from the album  'Son of a gun'

 

Darren Clarke 4pt 1F 145
Derek Maguire 2pt
Jim McEnaney 2pt
Ronan Carroll  2pt

Andy McDonnell 1 pt
Mark Brennan 1pt
Adrian Reid 1pt
Declan Byrne 1pt
Brian Donnelly 1pt 1F


NFL ALBUM Chart
(1) Darren Clarke 12pt 6f 145  
(2) Paddy Keenan 6pt 1f
(3) Ronan Carroll 5pt
(-) Derek Maguire 5pt  
(5)Jim McEnaney 4pt

(6)Mark Brennan 3pt
(-) Derek Crilly 3pt

(-) Andy McDonnell 3pt
(9) Jim McEnaney 2pt
(-) Adrian Reid 2pt
(-) Brian Donnelly 2pt 1F 145'

(12) Brian White 1 pt
(-) Eoin O'Connor 1pt
(-) Ray Finnegan 1pt
(-) Liam Shevlin 1pt
(-) Aaron Hoey 1pt
(-) Declan Byrne 1pt

Saturday 10 March 2012

4W Monaghan

WHO: Monaghan
WHAT: Round 4 of Division 2
WHERE: Clones no Drogheda no Clones no Crossmaglen no seriously Clones
WHEN: 2:30pm


As if a local derby wasn't tense enough We have a whole host lot of mini subplots to deal with also

-The fiasco beforehand regarding home advantage
Monaghan are Unbeaten there this year but How this affects both sides is hard to tell until ironically they are out on the field in Clones!
Louth will have no problem (bar the bus trip) playing away in the wide open space that Clones provides but Monaghan now have all the pressure after fighting tooth and nail to gain that right. They will now feel they owe it to the people of Monaghan and themselves to make use of it. 


-Eamon McEnaney facing his old county with his native county
A lot actually all of what has been good about Fitzer's reign is down to Eamonn McEnaney.
Eamon worked hard to put the professional set up in place- the meals, , the Gym structure's giving a generation of players a start and sense of what's to be expected to play at inter county.
(Adrian Reid,Derek Crilly,Ronan Carroll, Brian White, Mick Fanning,John O'Brien and Paddy Keenan to a certain extent)His organisation, discipline and work ethic approach may not be everyone's cup of tea but the players who served under him did and are reaping the benefits of his work to this day and maybe to his detriment come Sunday.

-The possibility of his son facing him


 
Imagine Mrs McEnaney serving them Sunday Dinner after Jim kicks the winner to pile the pressure on his Dad or Eamon pulls a masterstroke to defeat us.
It takes embarrassing dad and disappointing son story to a whole new level!


-Six pointer
Local Derby or no Local derby aside this game is crucial to both sides chances of staying up. Monaghan have just 2 points and still have Westmeath to play We have 3 points having already played Westmeath.
So we need to win this game to give ourselves a real chance of keeping relegation at bay, Both sets of players know this and it will only add to the Derby tension!!



VERDICT

Both teams have been remarkably secretive about the naming of both teams

Which could mean only two things 1 they are waiting on injured players or 2 make my life even harder!!

Having  looked at both sides team sheets for each of their past 3 league games respectively there is not a whole of to change in personnel from one match to the other.


So injury baring we shouldn't see two many shocks on either side come Sunday.


Looking more in depth at the actual teams Both sides eerily set up similarily.

The defence is usually the same from game to game CHECK, big strong midfield that can score CHECK   hard working half forward line with the motive of funnelling back to help out the defence CHECK and a Target man at full forward CHECK



This could be to do with Eamon's influence and Fitzer's lack of influence or it come be down to the Geography of it all we're boarding counties and have the same style and like a similar brand of football.

Anyway This looks like its going to be tightly matched game The main difference's between the sides could be Darren Hughes at the back. Monaghan's Captain has been a real leader for them this year and from full back will have an influence on the game Ronan Carroll will have to bring the game to him and up front When Paul Finlay plays well Monaghan usually win, with 13 on his back he usually roams out the field and plays half forward keeping his free count low in a tight game will be key to us winning.
Be aware that Tommy Freeman is back and off the bench could be the swingman in this tie.


if we are going to win Our Forward line will have to be as industrious asever, midfield is going to be very busy on Sunday and possesion will be a dogfight
IF Darren Clarke AND Derek Maguire starts we could have the scoring power to defeat them but hard calls have to be made beforehand as players off the bench will be needed.



Two team's have had a tough loss's last weekend so they can't afford to feel sorry for themselves.

Louth I think will have learnt more from last week, Although as we already discussed Eamon will know our weaknesses and strength's more than anyone 

Our confidence is high but Monaghan's Pride is at stake.

This game will go to the wire don't be surprised at a draw.







Things to Expect: Lack of Atmosphere in a drafty oversized Clones, (Imagine this game in Inniskeen compact crowd on top of the players, big away crowd ah well we just miss out on a great occasion to keep them Clones publican's happy) The ghost of Eamon McEnaney 's Louth management to live on in the Louth's wingforwards, Ronan Carroll not to score a goal tipped him last week to Score so he's a cert to score now!