Louth U21's 4W's

Who: Kilkenny
What: Leinster U21 Championship opening round
Where: Ballyragget
When: tonight 7:30 throw in

The Louth Under 21's start their campaign playing away from home in the footballing heart of Kilkenny, a weak and very small heart but a functioning heart none the less.

People may say what sort of a joke is this?

They are only there to even up the number's
Sure they are only wasting Louth's time and the County boards money!

what the point?

but these are people's view from the outside.

Looking positively at the game it gives the players a bonding road trip to a place not many us have been or want to be. Testing their Character while doing so.

The game itself is important for the management team to have a dummy run and an opportunity to see how players react and play together as a unit in a competitive fixture.
Obviously all this is a build up and useful exercise before the real test in March. We (will hopefully) play Longford at home in the quarter final.

This fingers crossed formality will take the edge off that big match and allow us to have a game under our belts. Last year’s opening round loss is evidence of that theory. Wexford beat us fairly and Squarely and went on to capture a Leinster title, but you felt there was a lot more in that Louth team last year a game beforehand would have prepared us better.

So a win is a win, no matter the margin because a boost in confidence however it may arise will be more than welcome because Confidence is  something we badly lack at this level and quite welcome going into the next match.

Looking at the panel which was named yesterday

My Possible Team

1. Joe Flanagan* (O’Raghaillagh’s)

2. Anthony Williams (Dreadnots)

3. Cian McEvoy  (Dreadnots)

4. Ciaran Murray (DYI)

5. Brian Corcoran (Mattock Rangers)

6. Patrick Reilly (St Brides)
7. Shane McMahon (St Mochta’s)

8. Eamon O"Neill* (St Mochta’s)

9. Shane O’Hanlon* (Geraldine’s)

10. Rory Moore** (O’Raghaillagh’s)  

11. Cathal Bellew (Kilkerly Emmets)

12. Eoghan Duffy (St Fechin’s)

13. William Woods (Naomh Fionnbara)

14. Eoin O'Connor** (St Pats)
15. Barry Hamilton** (Geraldines)

Subs:
Robert Samson (Joe’s)

Stephen Campbell (N Martin)

Dermot Campbell (Dreadnots)
Tiernan Hand (Geraldines)

Mark Neary (Joe’s)
Stephen Reidy (Geraldine’s)

Sean Donnelly (Cooley Kickham’s)

Niall Devlin (St Fechins)
Brian Berrill (N Martin)

Alan McKenna (Joe’s)

Ben Rogan (O’Raghaillagh’s)
Peter Kirwan (Dreadnot’s)

Derek Kierans* (St Nicholas)

*highlights they Started last year
**Substitute last year

We have some nice forwards and gladly long with our possible midfield, they possess some experience from last season.

Although we don’t have a lot of cover for midfield on the panel I’d still play Eoin O’Connor at full forward, his best position. Having made the step up to senior level he should do damage at this level and be a focal point for our attacks.

We have a plethora of corner forward’s on the panel William Woods is talented enough to start and Barry Hamilton is one of the more natural scorers you’ll see.

Speaking in terms of prospects for down the line, Patrick Reilly is number one right now he has the pedigree (David’s Son), and having cut his teeth captaining the Dundalk Colleges to victory he backs that up. He will start at centre back, no mean feat for a lad out of minor but a measure of the trust in his ability.

Eamon O’Neill is also a very talented all round footballer and should go on to play inter county football. Stick him down if you haven't done so already.

 

I have to say looking through the panel, the team is hard to pick. We have a nice blend of forwards and talented defenders especially in the full backline to choose from.

I’ll look forward to see how they progress. At this level is about getting the head right. First we must get confidence and momentum that starts tonight.