Thursday 27 June 2013

trip down Memory Lane:2004

Come with me and let's go back to the last time we faced Antrim in the championship.
(Sure, we beat them in Tommy Murphy Cup in 2006 but that was inter county wilderness)

It was 2004,in Drogheda, in the qualifiers in the midst of the hazy days of the Val Andrews reign as Louth Manager. 

The kit was Azzuri, the sponsor was Boylesports the state of Louth football, Bleak.

But this game, I remember, was one of the few bright days.

The game itself went to extra time.....due to a last gasp point from Clogherhead man, Derek Shevlin. Then, we went on to win comfortably.

The fact we needed a last gasp point from our wing-back
to level with Antrim, highlighted the bleakness of our predicament at the time. take note, this was well before modern day game where wing backs are nearly expected to score.
How and ever it's alway nice to grab a last gasp winner and blow the opposition away in extra time and possibly why i remember the game so fondly!


Things I remember from that game: 

The explosive power of Mark Stansfield, Ollie McDonnell and Aaron Hoey in the full forward line. 3 future Louth hall of famers as the yanks would say.

Then, when JP joined them and caused the Antrim full back line even more havoc, scoring a peach of a goal only JP can. Tons of balance and dummy's to beat the band. We all went home happy.

I can rememeber their massive full forward O'Hare being Massive and not much else playing wise as we defended the long ball to him with ease.

I think his Dad was manager at the time and was just as Massive in size, and Daddy O'Hare had a go at the Louth fans on the bank too, when we were playing second fiddle to Sean Kelly, who, will actually play on Saturday. He was quite a ferocious character, Daddy O'Hare I remember thinking I’m glad I wasn't near him when he was shouting abuse!












  The Louth Team that day...


1. Shane McCoy; 
2. Jonathan Clerkin, 3. Paudie Mallon, 4.Jamie Carr; 
5. Derek Shevlin 0-1, 6.Simon Gerrard, 7.Ray Rooney; 
8. David Devaney 0-1, 9. Paddy Keenan 0-2; 
10. Ray Kelly, 11. David Reid, 12.Nicky McDonnell 0-1; 
13. Aaron Hoey 0-4 (1f), 
14. Mark Stanfield 1-2(1pen),  
15. Ollie McDonnell 0-1.

Subs:  Alan Page for R Kelly (35),  Darren Clarke 1f for D Reid (35), JP Rooney 1-1 for N McDonnell (59), Nicky McDonnell (for extra time), Paddy Matthews for A Hoey (89).

Wow, we'll have 1 starter from that day starting for us on Saturday.....Paddy Keenan!
Shane McCoy who came back into the panel this year and Darren Clarke and David Reid also were involved.

Trivia Question who got sent off for us that day?
 
thanks for reading @LouthProud

Wednesday 26 June 2013

Qualifier Fever Zzzzzzzzzzz

As you can tell by the number of blog posts about the 'big' game on Saturday 

I'm summing up the county's feelings on not just Saturday's game but the Qualifiers in general.

 Here's a couple of reasons why I'm not really enthused. 

1. The Opposition

I'm not taking Antrim for granted, not one bit. as I will show later on in the week, but the point I am making is they are not a huge draw. 

Do they posses household names in their side? Will there best Galls and Creggan players even be there? Do they play attractive football? Do they have anything bar their nice jersey's that will make you get excited about? 


answers to all the above questions is  

No? 

that’s my point.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


2. Timing
God help the GAA they don't make it easy on themselves do they?

They push really hard and take alot of flak for fixing a friday night game for the right reasons,
expand the coverage for the organisation, fan friendly (emphasis on Fan there) and good atmosphere.

Then, they go completely against all those right reasons for the fans by dumping every single other qualifier games on at the same time same day. 

The time is the real issue though, 3pm. on a Saturday....baffling. 


Are the GAA that out of touch? 


Fixing a game for the middle of Saturday just doesn't make sense. A large amount of People have to work, get their errands done, so the GAA can wipe all those punters off the attendance list for starters. Madness!


We could have had something really good to look forward to, A Saturday night game to enjoy after a hard week's work and then, maybe go out in Drogheda after it while you were in that neck of the woods. 

No doubt about it, the sense of occasion rubs off on players large, noisy crowds brings the best out of players.

Instead, we can now replace the giddiness with annoyance and expect a flat game in the middle of the day with no one at it. 

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


thanks for Reading @louthproud




 

Tuesday 25 June 2013

Qualifiers Team Versus Antrim

Louth Team 

Neil Gallagher

Pop Rath, Dessie Finnegan, John Bingham,

 Conor McGuinness
, Derek Crilly, Adrian Reid,

Paddy Keenan,
Brian Donnelly

Ciaran Byrne, Brian White, Conor Rafferty

                           Colm Judge , Shane Lennon,Derek Maguire



Cooley Fab Five is now complete, with Conor McGuinness coming in for Suspended John O'Brien 
and 
Colm Judge replaces his Blues teammate  Andy McDonnell in the forward line....Ciaran Byrne moving out to the wing.

Friday 21 June 2013

captions please

How amazing is this......

 Exide and DYI have teamed up for 2013 
and their Marquee player Derek Maguire has been used to promote the Venture.


All joking aside, it is great to see a local company using one of the most high profile people we have in the county to promote their products.


The promotional shoot above is Very innovative and it's great to see. Hopefully its gets the exposure it deserves.


 Louth Players (Men and Women) be it in Football, Hurling and Camoige are superb role Models and really marketable people so, it makes a lot of sense.


more please... 

LPC

Are you a Player, Manger, Selector, Committee Member........

Looking For a Physio? 

To keep you injury free, your players healthy and the coffers low for the Season?

Then Look no Further than the






We are the Physiotherapists chosen for the Louth GAA Senior Football and Hurling teams 2012 and 2013. To show our support and Loyalty to our county, I would like to take this opportunity to discuss our business and physiotherapy skills that we can provide for your club.

At Louth Physio Clinic, we provide the highest of Standards

-Four Full time Chartered Physiotherapists, both male and Female.
-Experts in injury diagnosis, rehabilitation and return to play time frames.
-Game pre-match, on-field and post match physiotherapy services.
-Pre season player screenings.
-Immediate access to MRI and specialist orthopaedic consultants.
-Open late evenings and weekends.
-Free phone advice.
-Full time reception Staff.
-Flat rate of €35 per physiotherapy session.

We offer a fair price due to the current economic climate to make it easy and affordable for your players recovery at the highest of Standards.

If you would like to discuss this further or set up a meeting  

contact Robbie at 042 9394040
or www.louthphysio.ie  
and @louthPhysio 

located at 
45 Barrack St, Dundalk & Upper Mell, Drogheda

Wednesday 19 June 2013

6 Round League Tables (Updated)

We're over half ways there with the league now

and here's how the tables Look

Division 1


St Pats






10
Sean O'Mahony's






10
Kilkerley Emmets






8
O'Connells






6
Cooley Kickhams






6
Newtown Blues






6
O Raghallaighs 






6
Naomh Martin






6
Mattock Rangers






5
Dreadnots






5
Dundalk Gaels






3
Oliver Plunketts






1



Man its tight in the middle!




Meanwhile the Marys look to be walking Division 2...as the Mals continue to struggle.

Division 2 


St Mary's                     





12
Geraldines






9
St Bride






9
St Josephs






8
Glyde






7
DYI






6
Clan na Gael






6
Hunterstown Rovers






5
St Fechins







5
Na Piarsaigh






3
St Mochtas






2
Nh Malachi






0


Roche and Togher look quite comfortable at the top of Division 3!


Division 3

Roche Emmetts                      





11
Naomh Fionnbarra






11
Glen Emmett's






10
Sean McDermott's






10
St Kevins






6
Stabannon 






6
Westerns






6
Lannleire






4
Dowdashill







4

John Mitchells







3
St Nicholas






1
Wolfe Tones






0

Monday 17 June 2013

Qualifer Live Blog

wet and miserable Monday morning all round the country......

hopefully we get a tie to look forward to....

The List of teams :
Us* Antrim*
Armagh*
Fermanagh 
Tipperary
Carlow*

Derry*
Galway
Laois 

Limerick
Longford
Westmeath

Wicklow
Tyrone
Sligo
Offaly*

* equals home team 

Who do we want to avoid:
any northern team......even Antrim and Fermanagh but especially Tyrone
 

Who do we want to get a win: they beat us not too long ago but Carlow!

Who do we want to see up close and personal: to see how Tyrone operate would be quite the sight  

Who do we want to hear for best atmosphere: Armagh, no doubting it...nearest team to us and a manager from there would really add to the spice of the local affair and the decibel levels.

Who do we want to avoid petrol wise : We have a guaranteed home draw so...unless we get draw out second to Derry who also have a home advantage, that is the longest away draw we can get....

Who do we want to settle a Grudge: Westmeath...we have some unfinished business there.defo.


8.30 and draw hasn't even begun.....well done GAA!!!!!

8.35 and still nothing.....

8.36 loads of adverts and people probly missing the draw as a result of it.

8.36 air force one has landed so we'll hold it back......are RTE for real!!!!!!!!!!! 

8.37 Whelo in again he must have slept in the office! 

8.38 one final good swirl!! woop!

8.38 Tyrone........ Offaly Phew!

8.38 Galway........Tipperary! phew again

8.39 Derry oh man...my nerves.....Sligo 

8.39 Westmeath....come on!!! give us them!!! Boooo Fermanagh! 

8.40 Laois....can we draw them???  Carlow!! local derby

we're gonna get Armagh

8.40 Armagh!!....ahhhhhhh oh wicklow

Antrim?
8.40 Louth..right here we go! ha Antrim!!  

8.41 Longford Limerick....

First impressions
Antrim.....not as easy you'd think....they spanked us in the league the last time we played them in Belfast in 2010...they've bullied our girls in recent seasons too! 

However, we've also beaten them at home in qualifers before in Drogheda 2004.....they're a division lower than us and will be 2 lower than us after they got relegated this season... they lost a couple of their top players....the McCanns and Scullion to unrest....

We should get the win.  

thanks for reading...now scurry back to work(or bed if you're lucky) with ye! @louthproud 

 




Thursday 13 June 2013

Wexford recap and its a whopper


Sunday’s game was very hard to take......why was that? Was it the high expectations? Was it the thoughts of a Leinster final, was it the sunshine, was it the thoughts of Meath next?

Or was it the fact that the defeat was in Drogheda , on our home turf for everyone to see not like Croke park and Navan where we walk away and the pain of defeat dissolves on the extended trip home...

We lost at home and it cut, it cut right down to the bone.
The whole week exposed the whole county for what we are.....and the result was the cherry on top.

An inconsistent football team and a County that, shamefully can’t shelter its own.

County Grounded

I’ll start with Drogheda.... Last week though, was a real eye opener.... Shamefully we ran the place down.

Personally, I love the place, it will always be home for the Louth football team in my eyes....on Sunday it looked superb....the pitch....the full length stand....the scoreboard even...you can’t deny, every inch of the place has character and it’s a great place to play ball.

But, I’m not the county board.

 ‘Hi everybody I’m Louth County Board and I have a Problem,  my County grounds is not up to the modern-day standard’s and for years I’ve keep burying it away but I can’t take the shame any longer...I need help,’

The moment the county Board chose our home venue as Drogheda, there was rumblings...after years of ignoring the place by choosing either Navan, Parnell Park or a Double header in Croker. We finally had to face up to it and deal with our Demons.

Sure, they parlayed some of the blame on Health and Safety for reducing the viewing numbers to a paltry 3500!! ‘It’s their fault that we’re not able to provide for the fans.’ Wrong.
It was your fault County board entirely yours....you were the reason some genuine fans didn’t get to go and see their own team play in their own county, it’s your fault some ordinary punter didn’t get exposed to Louth GAA if they casually wanted to go, It’s your fault you made the GAA in this county snobby and elitist and not open to everybody and worst of all it’s your fault that the next generation didn’t get a chance to be inspired by Paddy Keenan and Shane Lennon.

If anything positive came from last week it was the fact that the county grounds have been brought to the forefront of everybody’s mind and made us face up to the reality of the situation.

That something urgent has to be done....a green light needs passed, we need a place to be proud off where kids gets inspired and players strive to want to play there.

Sort it out County Board, Strike now why the iron is hot.

Louth the Adapted Version

We all knew that our match up’s had to be more or less spot on, on Sunday to have for us to have a chance to win and sadly they weren’t.... and the fact We didn’t adapt quick enough or, at all in some cases meant  the knock on effect cost us the game.

We played with an orthodox traditional full back corner back the whole game,

Their two most influential Forwards coming into the game was Redmond Barry and Ciaran Lyng stop them and we go along way to beating Wexford.

Lyng scored 1-5 and Redmond Barry a not fully fit Redmond Barry scored a point and settled Wexford in the opening quarter when they badly needed it, either with an assist or winning a free.

Dessie playing corner back was not playing to our strengths and gave Wexford a major advantage...Barry and then Roche pulled and dragged Dessie around to detrimental effect, while Pop picked up Brosnan at the edge of the square. We never adapted.

A simple switch between the two was needed. We also had Gerry Hoey on the bench....It meant all afternoon our fullback line had no shape, loose and looked uncomfortable throughout.

We started our left half back, right half

Adrian Reid has been a revelation at half back this season...he exposes forward’s defensively by driving forward and putting them on the back foot. Getting on the scoresheet and causes their defence to open up and come to him. As well as that, every match up this year he’s won we’ve won the game. So why on Sunday, did we put our best attacking asset right half back on Andreas Doyle?? It didn’t make sense!?
1, We took Reido out of his accustomed position and 2, we made Wexford’s life easier by him going over to Doyle in the first place!

It was only when Doyle went off we seen Reido really drive into the game, the attack minded number 10 for them Holmes wasn’t able to track him and Reido was a main reason for Louth’s purple patch.  We’re looking more menacing going forward and had a much more effective launching pad.


Our Midfield match ups and switches, the whole ClusterFuck in general

Aerially

There was a number of issues here, Rafferty coming into the middle to break the ball wasn’t working we let him get exposed on a number of occasions. Especially height wise.  We never adapted for their kickouts Donnelly should have picked up the taller Quinlavin and for our own kickouts they should have been directed away from him.

Furthermore even by not adapting  on the field off it we never made a change.
How it took us so long to get Ronan Carroll into the game I don’t know....a natural midfielder, Even Bevan Duffy, a Midfielder for the juniors and Fechins called into the panel, our Midfield was in trouble what was he called into the panel for? Also Peach Califf was dropped off the panel the tallest man in the panel? It was so frustrating as we had first hand experience that Wexford were tall and rangey from the league game. He could have easily spoiled Watters and Quinlavin and let Paddy do the free role.

Our own kickouts Overcoached.

The routine and plan worked in Portlaoise superbly we dominated the middle, but, We knew after the first 3 kickouts that they weren’t working but we didn’t adapt.....we kept doing it over and over again....to no prevail, furthermore, into the wind where the ball was pitching and hanging perfectly to be broke back down our throats eventually we were going to break.
Look at Lyngs wondergoal , huge break from midfield where corner forward Banville got the break laid it off to Lyng and bang. Wondergoal.

Was it a case that Gally was overcoached and doing exactly what he was told even if the new kickout regime wasn’t working or did he not adapt himself or were management not quick enough to tell him to adapt and stop what wasn’t working?

On the ground, Okay This is where, it really gets messy......

PK was midfield and he picked up Wathers for the kickouts and open play, we know that for certain.

Rafferty for the kickouts picked up Quinlavin so Donnelly went out on the wing.
Derek Crilly Picked up Lyng for the kickouts and JOBser went out left half on 10 for these kickouts also.
Very confusing even more so for the players after the kickouts.
When the game broke down
Rafferty dropped back on 10 to let Derek Crilly Sweep but it meant Donnelly had to come off his wing to pick up a runner from the middle. And JOBser had to scurry across to Lyng which meant Lyng was always going to be a half yard ahead of him all day! (Could you blame JOBser for getting frustrated and lashing out?)

This scenario for kickouts was never going to work as Donnelly picking up loose men around the middle is not his game.

Knock on effect was,  5 and 7 were able to drive forward at ease our backline were constantly under pressure, Andy Couldn’t get into the game, confusion around the middle make it easy for them to pick a pass. We were too slow to adapt and prolonged with it for too long, every starting forward for Wexford scored and 2 of the subs that came on scored.

Additionally Sweeper what sweeper Wasn’t working actually I’ll change that to wasn’t needed.

Derek Crilly was Louth’s best player on Sunday when he drove forward, it was him gave the ball into Shane Lennon for the goal, when he drove forward he caused them problems. When he sat back he caused us more problems yet, we still forced him to play that role.

Plan B? What Plan B?

The goal we got was the worst thing that happened to us on Sunday, I repeat it was the worst thing that happened us on Sunday.

Why?

1. The ball into Shane Lennon for the goal was not just a lumped in high ball on top of him but a measured and well picked out direct pass by Derek Crilly. To the naked eye it looked like a lumped in high ball but it wasn’t. For the next 20 minutes we lumped high balls into Shane. They were either batted out, over cooked and Shane had to run out to the corner to get them or wide balls. We didn’t adapt and Just a wasted possession over and over again.

2. Shane then had to stay inside the whole game. After the goal went in it restricted him and meant he couldn’t come out as he was seen as this big goal threat, by the time we did move him out around the forty it was too late, we didn’t adapt quick enough. Which was a pity as when he did come out the field he kicked some really good points with the wind and caused their full back to leave the square open.

3. Derek Maguire and Ciaran Byrne had the beating of their men every.single.time.  but because Shane got the goal, it meant we weren’t looking for them  whatsoever. So frustrating as there corner backs were there for the taking it was only when Judge and Maguire we left inside you could see the danger and nervousness in the Wexford fullback line.

4. They suspected it. They knew it was coming and in fairness it was easy to defend.
50/50 balls, slow and ponderous, chance attacks and no link man off Shane (thats why I thought Colm Judge being brought on was a great move he links up well with Shane but they played him out the field and then took him back off Bizzare! even a fit Darren Clarke would have had the knowhow to get the scores off Shane Lennon’s crumbs)
We wasted majority of possession on it and in the first half with the wind it was our downfall, not the goal in the second half they got, but the 5 point lead they built up before half time on the scoreboard and our missed opportunities in attack kilt us psychologically.


In football, you either adapt or die. We didn’t adapt at all in some situations and did in others, those others gave us some brief hope but in reality we died a slow and painful death on Sunday. The whole county did. That’s why I feel, we feel so gutted.

 

Thanks for Reading

@LouthProud