Saturday 30 June 2012

Westmeath 4W


WHO: Westmeath
WHAT: Qualifiers Round 1
WHERE: Cusack Park, Mullingar
WHEN: Saturday,7pm



From the outside Louth GAA looks like a business in deep trouble. A large number of unhappy employee’s fed up of their working situation and wants out.
Constant sick days (injuries) and absenteeism (American Exodus) is just a common feature and Morale is low...

And we are at an all time low.

But are we that bad, are things as bad as it seems?

Although he may have his failings as a manager, Fitzer is excellent at spin. The whole country is aware of our mass player exodus even down to our training woe’s and surely that will have permeated into the Westmeath lads head.

By doing so he has lowered the expectation on our lads and the supporters of him.

Brilliant stuff no?

Crisis, What Crisis?

Especially when you look at the facts, Look at the team that beat Westmeath the last day, only two players are completely unavailable. Derek Maguire and Liam Shevlin, who will be replaced by either JP,David Reid,Aaron Hoey in the forwards and Dessie, yes Dessie...he was away on his honeymoon the last day at full back.

Then, the major injury worries.

Of the Quintet of major doubts, Mark Brennan, Ronan Carroll and Jamie Carr will play but it is not looking good for Gerard Hoey and Paddy Keenan. Big losses, as they are our possible two player of the year candidates. nevertheless the show must go on and Ronan Greene will come in and he is more than adequate replacement then Conor Rafferty looks like he is next in line to make his first championship start.

So the team will possibly look like this

1 Gally
2Pops 3Dessie 4 Ronan Greene
5Rayzor 6Jamie Carr 7Decie
8Ronan Carroll 9Jim McEneaney
10Derek Crilly 11Conor Rafferty 12Adrian Reid
13David Reid- 14 Mark Brennan 15Darren Clarke



See not too Bad? Solid and more than capable of getting a result!


16 Joe Flanagan 17 Rory Moore 18Conor McGuiness 19 David Collier
20 Danny O’Connor 21 Mick Fanning unknown Status regards these injured?available? who knows?
22Stephen Fitzpatrick 23JP Rooney
24David McComish 25 Aaron Hoey 26 Errol Boyle
EXTENDED SQUAD: Jamie Clarke, Bernard Osbourne and Kevin Rogers


The exodus does have an effect on the squad as the Bench maybe a little thin but with lads wanting to make impression, it balances itself out.

Where we can win

After 50 plus minutes the first day in Navan, we finally figured out Pops was the right man for Denis Glennon if he does half a good job as that cameo marking job it will go along way to help us get a W.

The midfield area is always crucial, with PK possibly missing out and with Westmeath’s main midfielder John Heslin’s hampered preparation coming into the game makes the form so hard to call. Combine that with a new Keeper and style of kickouts all bets are off.

We will have to gamble though that Ronan Carroll will step up and show some leadership in that area, not to mention keep up his recent form against Westmeath.

Finally, like most games hard work beats talent, the lads know the chips are down and have the character required to raise their work rate and grind out a victory.

In what could be the last 4W of the year

Keep Plugging away lads.

Things to expect: A big, long slow traffic jam the whole way down the centre of Mullingar, Big display from Mark Brennan, Some New faces in strange places, the possible end of the fitzer era and he might even be there and most of all expect a spirited performance from our lads whatever the result.

Friday 29 June 2012

Important Notice:

To all Louth GAA Players & Fans during these Troubling times..





They say a picture is worth a Thousand words well, 

what do you think?

.....just the 4 will do!?






Thursday 28 June 2012

Qualifer Classification:Positives

We've had the Negatives now, Enjoy the Positives the Westmeath game can bring




Lose 

And Fitzer's reign is over....harsh as it sounds it's true.

You're all thinking it, I'm just Stating it.

The sooner the change comes, the better.






Old School

One thing we can expect on saturday evening, is a match of 15 versus 15, no Blanket defence, Straight knockout.

A throwback to the Old School and like they say 'Old School is the best School'
There's something romantic about the knockout system, For one, It will make the game that bit tighter, the scores more crucial and a whole lot more entertaining gut wretching and tension filled for the spectator.





U.S.A.

So We've lost our fair share to the US this summer and alot more than others in the inter county world.
Westmeath also have been hit with 2 emmigrations, and I would argue that not many other counties could cope with losing The Best ever Player the county has ever produced, Dessie Dolan and The best Goalkeeper they have ever had and This season's Captain, the inspirational Gary Connaughton.

Losing their two leaders give us a serious Chance to test their mettle nevermind their Debutant goalie's





Tendancy

to play well when the chips are down.....are the chips down?

Confidence Low after demoralising Defeat to Dublin CHECK.

only 4 at training, CHECK.

Injury Problems, CHECK.

Underdogs?, PaddyPower seems to think so...they're 4/9 on to win! CHECK.

Not expected to win by their fans. well, Their most optimistic fan is doubting their credentials, yes me so that a big CHECK.

All these factors combine to take the pressure off the lads and give them something to prove when they pull on the red and white jersey and when they do that they give their all, and their all is more than enough to win.





H eslin's Knee

A fitness test aside, he's been passed fit to play on Saturday (well, according to his own twitter feed )

You have to wonder how right he/it, will actually be for 70 minutes of a Qualifier match!? He was massive the last day for them and without him they are a much lesser team.

Our focus well, PK's focus (who is not 100% either) should be, to conserve his limited energy and solely concentrate on unsettling him. 

If, and its a big if that is successful he have a great chance to win!

The team will be named tonight so Selection discussion will be happening tomorrow.

THANKS FOR READING!! L&P 










Tuesday 26 June 2012

Qualifier:Classification

Louth Championship Guide:
W.e.s.t.m.e.a.t.h. Edition

lets the get the Negatives out of the way through or next opponents




Woeful

Our Championship form this year and last, has been just that. 


From the Dublin game this year to the Carlow last year, both equally embarrassing for varying reasons.
But Our Qualifier form has been especially awful, One strike and we’re Out.
Highlighting further the lack of influence Fitzer has on his players, Failing to lift and inspire his troops when they’re down.



Experimentation

or lack of, 

Fitzer in his three year term has blooded a measly 4 players for championship. 
Jim McEnaney, Declan Byrne, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Eamon McAuley and Liam Shevlin (Andy McDonnell was involved until a broken league in 2009 scuppered his debut chances )
Basically working off and grinding the panel he had before him, into submission   


Six

This will be our Sixth meeting in 3 years, we’ve won the past Five:

2010 croker semi
2011 Haggardstown at night
2011 Croker league final
2012 Haggardstown league
2012 Navan this year

I said it once and I’ll say it again......law of Averages....




Threat

The two pronged
Glennon Brothers Westmeath attack will be more of a Threat than the last day and not will not be as wasteful either.

Added David will feel he has something to prove, after being stretchered off the last day.


Meath

Meah......Yuck, exactly.
 I feel dirty after writing it. 



E xpected  A ttendance 
From Louth fans will be minimal, The Qualifiers was set up to excite and bring up new ties and travel to exotic places.
Many Louth Fans having went to Croker and Navan already this season will not be inspired to see the same Leinster pairing again, as well as the fact both sides play to a similar style, it does not make for a great Saturday nights entertainment for the travelling Louth fan.

If we win, the players will be on their own ....


Tenacity

When was the last time we played with some? 
League or Championship??
It shows in our onfield demeanour from when we take to the field to our defending.
Gerry Hoey apart, we haven't reached that blood thirsty championship intensity since the Kildare game. 
In 2010.... 


Home advantage

Cusack park is a nice compact ground made for nice football but, for opposing teams it's more like fort!
Westmeath took Monaghan, Derry and Galway’s scalp there earlier this year in the league and This strong home form kept them up. 
We will have to Silence the crowd and adapt quickly if we are to advance.


 
 



 

Monday 25 June 2012

The Qualifiers

Run Down of the week

Tuesday/Wednesday:W.E.S.T.M.E.A.T.H. Negatives L.O.U.T.H positives

Thursday: team Team TEAMS

Friday:4W

Wednesday 20 June 2012

The Qualifiers

 30th of June....

Cusack Park......


........The Qualifiers....... 

returns to our screens



will you be there?.........or even tune in?




 NO? didn't think so....(and according to reports, our players might not be there either!)



Drawing Westmeath again is like a bad TV series which won't go away...
no chemistry, lack of drama boor out of poor story line's and familiarity.

Basically waiting for the empty feeling when it eventually ends badly.


This bad ending will see us out in the first round.
 you know it, I know it and they know it.


At home in Mullingar is their perfect opportunity to finally get one over us. 

Put it this way, they've had more chance's than Craig Doyle has had on RTE to beat us!!!



This game kind of sums up the Qualifiers, it's gone stale and badly needs updating...

new format, characters and storylines please!!







Wednesday 13 June 2012

Post Mortem Part3


If our MGMT isn't going to think outside the box

I AM!

I'm going to give you some food for thought


Like it or not we have the best talent in the county within the Squad. notwithstanding the 4 emigrates and injured Shane Lennon

(a further knock on Louth this week as Andy McDonnell, Derek Maguire and Liam Shevlin all jetted off Stateside...so that makes it a magnificent 7 of emigrations for louth this year...sign of the times? more on the pitch factors than economic factors if you ask me)

Note: Are we going to have to get players to sign a waiver! when they take the field in January.


but I'll Demonstrate and not just make do with what's there because there is still plenty of talent there.
(Steady on, I'm Sounding abit like Fitzer now,)


Goalkeeper 
1 Neil Gallagher

No Brainer by far our best goalkeeper, has the best all round package within Louth football and not even the finished article yet.

Full Back line
2 Pops, 3 Jaime Carr, 4 Gerry Hoey

These poor three amigo's must be pulling their hair out, the better they play the more they concede. 
By far our top 3 defenders, Gerry Hoey has been a revelation this year, Pops has earned his place on the side  and is now a permanent fixture by merit and Jaime Carr has been consistent all year. 
The problem for them is out the field but our 3 best defenders and more importantly man markers put them in our last line. 

No surprise so far......Here's where it gets interestin'....

Half Back line
5 Mark Brennan,6 Jim McEneaney, 7 Conor Rafferty

Something has to change and change starts in the half back line we've become far too complacent there and just taken that area for granted.


Mark Brennan at right half back will be the nucleus for change he possess's the strength and pace especially on the solo run to play there.

Also I make no qualms about it he is Louth's best tackler.

Not only would right half suit his style of play but the change, of coming on to ball rather than having his back to goal all the time could re-energise him and give Mark the responsibilty of starting the attacks rather than finishing them. which in turn, could give him a massive boost in confidence.


Jim McEnaney has the best Vision and range of passing in the Squad so lets put him in a position where he can see all before him.
 Allow him to Distribute the ball like a American football Quarterback.

The fact he's played on the forty all his life,I'm sure he knows how to mark one....

Left half is a trickey one

Do I persist with Decie or Give Conor Rafferty a Start , Give Ronan Greene a run or Do I Try out JOE BLOGGS way out of left-field.

I go for....... 


Conor Rafferty, Decie's been given enough chances especially by me but I feel it will be good for him in the long run to get his confidence back up and open an opportunity for Conor Rafferty to start, no pressure and have the settling in period he deserves.

But in Reality this applies both.

talented players.time needed.

  
Here comes the Biggest Change

Midfield
8.Liam Shevlin & 9.PK

I had Liam Shevlin pencilled in here before his departure, I felt his size and fitness would have allowed him to play there let and be responsible for the defensive stuff and let PK do what he does best instead of covering Ronan.

Instead Derek Crilly will come in there Strong and powerful enough for Midfield and can compliment PK just as well and if not better than Liam could have.

Half forward line
10 David Reid, 11 Adrian Reid, 12 Ray Finnegan

This has the potential to be the most fluid half forward lines in the country. Or Maybe I've been watching Spain too much in the Euro's! 

But We've tried strength and defence in numbers now, Why not adopt a Skill and attacking approach.

Based on small mobile players with quickness and rapid reactions to the Breaking ball.

David Reid has been the greatest conundrum in Louth GAA this past decade, Louth club 's top scorer and most natural forward if Down's Conor laverty and Mark Poland can do it we're doing something wrong.

Forward play nowadays is about power, more-so than vision So Adrian Reid on the forty with a direct route to goal makes sense.

Finally I'm taking the Shackles off Ray Finnegan and let him roam around the field not having the responsibility of marking someone.

These guys can keep possession cross the gainline and all have a eye to score.
 
Although small in stature they are extremely high intensity, energy and importantly Skill. 


Final Section to Come

Full forward line
14. Ronan Carroll 15. Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke needs ball winners beside him. Playing him inside with Derek Maguire in the wide open spaces of Croker (or navan for that matter) was never going to work, they were too similar.

Ronan Carroll on the edge of the square offers a platform for Darren beside him Aswell as being a focus for our attacks in general.

I'm not saying we bombard the Square with high balls but at least now we have variety in our attacking options. We know Ronan can play there and has the accuracy to Score.
Plus,he could cause havoc with the new square ball rule.

13. Derek Crilly
They say that the full forward line is the first line of Defence, well, in Tyrone it is so with that same ethos we need someone to hound their defenders and set the tone of intensity out the field.

I had Derek Crilly as that man a natural forward but bringing his workrate from on the Wing to the corner could see have seen him turnover defenders at his ease and set the tone for our other forwards.

This role is now will be given to...Rory Moore.
He's not there to make up the numbers, throw him in and give him first taste of inter county football, young enough and on form with the O'Raghaillaghs being a winger in the corner he will have the workrate and ball winnning ability to make an impact in there.



This team will never be picked or some of the players will never play in the positions I have selected for them.

But, I feel they could work and worth a try.....

Most of all, the Selections eradicates staleness and could provide players with some stimulation enabling them to focus on something different could make them play with more enthusiasism and drive.

and dare I say it Hunger

Sure why not, we're in the Qualifiers, what do we have to lose?

MORE TOMORROW!!!


Thursday 7 June 2012

Part 2: The Event

As post mortem's go....

My analysis of the game has the beauty of have 20/20 hindsight vision!

So..........where did it all go wrong?


Firstly, I'm fed up of people saying Dublin are too good, machinelike and were only little Louth.

(If that was the case why do get out of bed in the morning!!?)

My point is, It didn't matter who the opposition was, we were not playing to our own Maximum and well below standard!!!!


Because, We are not that bad or half as bad as we looked!!


In fact, We made Dublin Look good


And here's how



As I said in the 4W before the game, 

we needed to be 100% accurate and importantly have maximum Concentration.

well, we didn't have 50% of both, We missed early Chances and sloppy passes lead to Dublin scores.

However lets go beyond stating the blatantly obvious.






Keeper of the Revolution

Sunday, Neil Gallagher showed how good of a shot stopper he was, making some fine saves and if it were a decade ago he'd be an all star contender 

but 

it's not a decade ago. 


Goalkeepers effect on the modern game is growing more and more.

They set the tone, pace of the game and determine possesion as well as keeping goals out.

You now think I'm going to compare Gally to Cluxton which would be unfair as Cluxton is the main reason for Goalkeepers increasing influence on the game today!


So I'm going to focus purely on Gally it just so happened that Cluxton was the other end.

Gally has an accurate kickout, his kickouts on sunday had good intention's. he wasn't just smacking them down the middle in hope. 

He was trying to pick Louth men out by pinging the ball on top of our half back line, all good.

but they were too easy for Dublin to Defend.

Why? What was the reason for this?????

SPEED!

Just like quick free's, Kickouts are very hard to defend against if you are not set or ready. The pass doesn't even have to be that accurate because the opposing team is not set.

The average time from when the ball went over the bar to the moment it left Gally's foot was.....?

30 SECONDS!!

Considering we had 33 Kickouts, (Dublin scored 24 times and hit 9 wides)  average of 30 seconds add it all up thats 16 and a half minutes out of 70 wasted kicking out the ball alone!!!!! 


More Devastatingly though,each Delay meant that Dublin could take a breather, get back into position and set themselves up in a perfect position not only to compete for the next kickout but to win them or at least pin us back by breaking the ball forward.
  
The fact that Gally was trying to play a modern style slowly meant The kicks were were only going as far as our half back line.

So on top of not getting possession we were even struggling to get out of our own half!

So we were basically Choking ourselves in our own half.

Therefore making it easy for Dublin and very hard on ourselves.


Start as you  mean to go on!

 
Don't get me Wrong I'm not blaming Neil Gallagher for the entire hammering.

Unfortunately for Gally, in goals his lethargicness is in Full Focus as he can't hide like many others out the field. 
But it doesn't help when he'd rather give out to players than give them quick possession and get Louth moving again.

Which was a real pity because we did win and could have won more possession Ronan Carroll, Paddy Keenan, Derek Crilly, Jim McEnaney all able to and did fetch ball in transition, Plus Gally has the accuracy to pick them out also!!!

Sadly, When we did get into their half, we caused them problems and created goal chances. just not enough to compete or to give us the platform to win.

In the end, the kickouts just set the tone of the day, no real urgency about us, lest we dare to dream of winning and putting it up to Dublin.

A further extension of the standards instilled by Management perhaps.

PART 3 tomorrow :The FUTURE!!

Wednesday 6 June 2012

Part 1 Post Mortem 'The Recruit'

Here is an article I wrote when John O'Leary first joined up with the Squad

Way back in January....yes January!!!


Fitzer's newest recruit John O'Leary, The Stephen Cluxton of his day joins the Louth set up.

Is this good news?...................initially Yes, Good guy, Good coach, Should help.

but looking into the appointment further I beg to differ,

He now joins a massive backroom team in helping Fitzer out. Specifically on top of trainer Declan Mussen and Strength Coach Rowan Windvogel as goalkeeper and Backs coach but does he not have a say in selection? or does the line stops with Selectors Brian McEniff, Gerry Cumiskey. Is It just me or does this come across a bit messy??

You can't deny they all have good track records but it could be a case of 'Too many cooks spoil the broth' players might not know who to listen to!

Another point is, How many Louth club games have John O'Leary, Brian McEniff, and Declan Mussen gone to......EVER? 
To Actually see the players they are working with in action, first hand in their natural position's? 
Sure, they can work solely with the players they have been given.

But the problem comes then selecting the team, are they relying exclusively on training? and Cumiskey and Fitzer for knowledge of the players best position and club form? Not to mention the reason majority of players being in the squad.

This endless pile of cronies and Yes men to Fitzer's regime, does not bode well.


and it didn't bode well. did it?


Prior to events


Sunday's Game if anything highlighted the lack of knowledge the lads on the line had about their Squad!!

Sure, they'll say that there hands were tied with the 4 lads emigrating and Shane Lennon injured left them short of options! 

Anyway I'm not buying that, as they could they be partly to blame for there emigration in the first place!!!

Regardless if they were there or not, the main problem was with the players they did have, at their disposal.

On Numerous occasions all four were seen blankly gawking up into the Subs bench wondering and hoping they'd get some inspiration!

and they couldn't find it, 

They only knew what the players could offer from inside the camp, and where they played in training.

and it showed

It took them till half time to Make a Change!! and a further 18 minutes to make 2 more changes!!! 
Not one positional switch was made apart from Pops swapping for Dessie. (who should have never started)

Sadly

They didn't have the knowledge to make a switch, try someone else in an uncommon position to make a difference and it showed in the performance and Team personnel being selected.

We were stale and predictable  

when it comes to championship the players good will and effort can only take you so far.....championship compared to the league comes down to preparation and sadly for our players they were prepared inadequately.


This all boils down to the fact it was the blind leading the blind.

PT2 'The EVENT' Tomorrow where it all went wrong 

Post Mortem Plan

We as Louth supporters have been in a cold, dank and lonely place since last Sunday.

I'm going to give 3 step plan, Post mortem on the events that lead to it, the actual event and the future.

Something to cling on to and help with the healing process and a way out of the black hole as such.


The Plan:

Starting today (wednesday) with 1-The source of the Problem (where it all began)

2-The actual downfall (The Game)on Thursday

Finally Friday 3-What needs to happen (The Future)







Reido's Face says it all

Tuesday 5 June 2012

Opening Score



Darren Clarke gives us the lead in the opening minutes against the dubs.

Sunday 3 June 2012

Dublin 4W


Who: World Champions Dublin
What: Leinster Senior Quarter Final
Where: Croke Park
When: 4:30pm



Never mind all the Cliche’s the ‘rusty Dubs’, ‘great to get on their first day out’, Whatever you do! don’t let them score goals!’
Enough of the Cliche’s already!!!

 I’m sick of talking about Dublin, so Lets look exclusively at us Louth, for a moment.

We are what we are, a solid team that picks itself ,full of honest player’s with dollops of class throughout.

Nevertheless, The facts of this game will be black and white.

We need to be at 100% the whole way through to win.
Be it 100% tempo, accuracy or more importantly concentration, it has to be throughout.

Where will we win this game?

Collectively our forwards were not good the last day out. How Clarke and Brennan were allowed play in the Dublin championship 4 days before championship is beyond me but it showed in their performance against the Westies.

Hopefully the Croker arena will inspire our Forward line as a whole and give them that spur they didn’t have in Navan.

Sure, My Match ups do indicate Louth do have reason’s to be cheerful, combined with Dublin’s ‘fear of failure’ team selection...give us a chance.

But and it’s a big but

We, Louth need to take that chance today, all of them.



Things to expect: Decie Byrne to come of age, ‘inpopwetrust’ banner somewhere on the Hill, Ciaran Kilkenny to make his Dublin Senior Debut (GULP), Hopefully the biggest Shock in the history of the GAA.

Saturday 2 June 2012

Our unlucky 13 V the Dubs


13 games have past and Reason’s to be cautious, We haven’t beaten them since 1973!

The 5 that really stick out for me (and actually the most recent 5) and they show a similar trend.
Players in their Debut season who played Dublin and come through, have had solid careers.

No Pressure Jim.


‘95 Boom Boom BOOM, let me hear you say JAYO!? JAYO!!
Baptism of Fire: Sorry not a Louth man but Jayo obviously We were there to witness the phenomenon that was Jayo mania right at the very begining it began when he was taken down for a Peno, which I might add was expertly saved by Niall O’Donnell (where did he get all those physadelic GK jersey’s!)


‘99 Slaughter
Baptism’s of Fire: Simon Gerrard, David ‘Skid’ Reilly & Sean O’Neill Yes Big Sean. We went up under Paddy Clarke’s tenure, very hopeful of a result, but we didn’t really perform at all. How and ever a Really classy score by Alan Doherty sticks out in my mind. ‘Dotsy’ chipped a sideline one-two and converted the score of the game!
‘03 Seamus Farwell
Baptism of Fire:PK Nothing much of note here either, apart from changing of the Guard, Seamus O’Hanlon and Ken Reilly gave way to the Bright light in this game that was a Skinny Paddy Keenan on the wing. Started, as he meant to go on.

‘08 massacre
Baptism of Fire: Derek Crilly Poor Eamon McEnaney, the timing was just wrong. Louth players at his disposal were either just in, or on the way out. 6 of that Louth team remains AND will start in the same position, Sunday! Fascinating.


‘10 aftermath
Baptism of Fire: Decie Byrne This was a very hard game for the players to be involved in and the county as a whole, as we felt we shouldn’t have been there in the first place. We didn’t disgrace ourselves either and a certain Darren Clarke put himself back in the minds of Louth fans that day and more importantly Fitzers.



I’m not looking through these games with rose tinted glasses and reminiscing about Moral victories.

I’m just stating the fact that Dublin, whether we like it or not, have been the Standard bearers. Further highlighting how hard it is for a small county like us to firstly compete and so secondly, if we win, it will be that extra special.

Here’s hoping...

Friday 1 June 2012

TheBench & REcap Match UpS

THE BENCH

Louth Bench: L Shevlin, AndyMc, Raffo, Danny O’C (injury worry), JP, Ronan Greene, David Reid
Dublin Bench: E O’Gara, J Cooper, D Bastick, C Kilkenny, R McConnell, B Cahill, D Kelly, J mcCaffrey, Emmett O’Coghaile ,K O’Brien, T Quinn.

This is always a slight worry playing a super power like Dublin, their bench is always going to be stronger it literally goes with the territory.

But lets throw a positive spin on it, if they are not starting...how good are they? Or how much does the manager trust them and the inclusion of members of the under21 panel? What does that do for morale?

Recap

Well, well Well.....

It's hard to not feel optimistic after reading through match ups

Man for Man and it is Man for Man on the day...we can do it.
Hopefully the Match ups haved at least inspired some optimism within the county afterall that’s why I’m here.



let me know what you think via @louthProud

Thanks for Reading

Match Ups OUR forwards and first line of defence!


here's where my positivity feels the strongest!


THE HALF FORWARD LINE

James McCarthy/Reido & Kevin Nolan/Derek Crilly

These two match ups both read similar lines.
Young Dubs on Consistent Louth wingers, Key word in this match up is consistent.

Reido and Crilly have been nothing but the measure of consistency throughout the league and the last day against Westmeath. They both stood up when the louth forward line wasn’t fully functioning.
Sunday, They will have the fitness to stay with their younger counterparts and make them worry about Johnny Cooper replacing them. (Especially McCarthy, second season syndrome and all that.) Sure, they will be respected but they will not be in awe of the young all-Ireland winners. 

Ger Brennan/Mark Brennan
This match up potentially decides the game, If we are to have any chance we need a big performance from Mark Brennan.
Ger Brennan the wholly religious off the pitch and not particularly on it, controls the way Dublin play and set up from the back. So if Brennan, mark; can upset his game it could be the key to unlocking the Dublin Defence.

Simple as that.


THE FULLFORWARD LINE

Phillip McMahon/Derek Maguire

A newcomer to the Dublin fullback line and possibly an improvement, McMahon is an old school, Defence first, no nonsense corner back.
Maguire will depend on his speed in the wide open spaces of Croke park. Really fascinating match up like most corner backs if Maguire gets good service there is little he can do.

Rory O’Carroll/Jim 

A battle of good versus Evil in the GAA world.
On one side, we have Evil, Rory O’Carroll an Athlete with an impressive physique and unimpressive skill set, ever see him footpass?
And On the other side, We have Good, Jim is a pure footballer to the core, best footpasser in the county.

The fate of Gaelic football will be decided.
Haven’t came across each other, in the U21 championship a couple of seasons ago Jim has nothing to fear.

Hopefully good will prevail.

Michael Fitzsimons/Clarkie

Their best defender, well man marker, will surely pick up Clarkie, our main scorer in chief! But the fact that Clarkie is a natural born scorer, he is so efficient in that he doesn’t need a plethora of chances or space to rack up his tally. So the match up becomes irrelevant.
Also if Clarkie can get our scoreboard ticking over through free kicks he can be the source of hope the team needs to beat Dublin Sunday.
Also Darren has an ulterior motive, playing his club football in the capital will also give him an edge, his 2010 performance against Dublin proved that.

Match UpS HBline and MF



Looking good so far.....no?

THE HALFBACK LINE

Rayzor/Bryan Cullen

Next Match up and next Finnegan, In Croke Park mobility is the name of the game, contrary to what you may think size is not everything, Rayzor’s industry could cause Dublin Damage and put Cullen on the back foot from the get go.

JC/Alan Brogan

Fluidity, pace and mobility are words I’d use to describe.......not Alan Brogan but Jaime Carr! Player of the year last season Brogan being picked up by our best defender is at least a slight weight of our minds. Jaime’s defending will hopefully negate Brogan’s direct running and solo lines of attack.

Decie/Paul Flynn

Flynn epitomises what this Dublin team is all about, Gym monkey packed with an intensity playing style, this usually has him first name down on the Dubs teamsheet. Decie whether you think it or not has a lot of passion for the Louth jersey, he loves the big days out and a big test.(including a sub cameo he made against them in 2010)
Flynn will be that test on Sunday, his ball winning abilities are a lifeline to the Dublin machine, Decie can stand up to his physicality and use it to get involved in a lot of play, Flynn will bring out the best in Decie I’m sure of that.




It gets better...

THE Midfield Pairing's!

Michael Dara McAuley & Eamon Fennell VS Paddy Keenan & Ronan Carroll

In years past we had to worry about the physicality of the Dublin midfield, Sheehy, Bealin, Homan and Whelan but football has moved on and so a blend and new brand of midfielder has emerged.

One with size AND mobility AND athleticism AND whocanplayabitaswell!!!
Paddy Keenan and Michael Dara mcAuley are two of the perfect examples of the modern day midfield frankenstein’s (cool initials to boot). However MDMA has the luxury of playing just 50 to 50 PK has to do a whole lot more for his team going 21 to 21 on some days!

Keenan has to pick up McAuley and let them cancel each other out, they will be making the same runs anyway and also having played together for Leinster earlier in the year will no stranger to each others on field quirks.
Also due to the fact Ronan Carroll will not defend, not can’t...just won’t, Paul Bannon got on a lot of ball in the wayward third quarter against Westmeath. And Luckily went unpunished McAuley is more potent of an attacker of the two Dublin midfielders so lest not let Ronan defend, we know that, so let him play on Fennell and hope he doesn’t have the legs to defend what Ronan DOES do best, Attack. He is, after all our Championship top scorer so far. 


Match ups Last line of Defence


To Quote Oasis, Louth will Definitely maybe start with the same team that started against Westmeath. With the exception of Dessie in at Full back for Liam Shevlin.

We don’t have the personnel or imagination on the line to think outside the box and start a Graham Reilly in midfield out of the blue but we knew all this when Fitzer took over and crucially when the exodus of players left for stateside.
But, besides that, We have what we have....

and now that I know the Dublin team...and Louth Team


I’ve looked through the match up’s of both sides and I can’t help but be positive!


Lets start defensively

 
THE FULLBACK LINE

Oh how we miss John O’Brien, the marking job he did on Bernard Brogan way back in 2010 was truly special but enough about who we don’t have.

Pop/Connolly

Firstly We have Pop Rath and recent twitter hash tag #inpopwetrust is duly fitting. Pops is a very intelligent defender and underrated man marker so much so it took us nearly an hour to put him on Dennis Glennon the last day!! When did go on him, he frustrated him which makes him ideal to start on Diarmuid Connolly.

Connolly is Dublin’s most natural forward but, like most geniuses, when frustrated he loses his way. Pop is the man to do it. (One more time for old times’ sake) #inpopwetrust

Gerry/Kevin McMenamon

Although McMenamon is named at Full forward it doesn’t necessarily mean Dessie picks him up. Anyway we want Dessie Close to goals at all times. With McMenamon abit of a roamer and more natural deeper in the forward line, Gerry Hoey is tailor made to pick him up.

They match up physically and size wise with Gerry possibly having more pace. There will be alot of pressure on Kevin Mc all-ireland momemtom swinger starting Sunday, whereas none on Gerry, Hoey’s intensity and combative nature might be too much for a player used to coming off the bench.

Dessie/Bernard Brogan

I know, I know, exactly what you are thinking...that I previously thought ‘it was a good thing Dessie wasn’t there for the Westmeath game and now you have him picking up Bernard Brogan!!’
Allow me to explain, in a way Dessie not being there was a good thing, but not at the expense of Shevlin’s confidence.

Personally I underestimated how difficult a position full back is, and how disciplined you have to be to play there...you have to sacrifice your game for the team, be disciplined, hold your position at all times and resign yourself to the fact that you won’t be playing too much football. 

Dessie is the best, size to discipline we have available to pick up Bernard Brogan, Playing in Close to goals will suit the natural Full back and the low expectation levels on him marking a not fully fit superstar like BB will suit him and his character right down to ground.

Match UPS

OK, now that I have posted up what I think of the Dublin Side

Let me  delve a little Deeper 


into every match up which I think Louth should go for Sunday!!

Starting with the Last line of Defence the Full back line at 2.30
then the HAlf back line and Midfield at 3.30
Followed byt the Forwards and first line of Defence at 4
finishing up with the Bench and Recap at 5ish

Deal?

OK get reading!

Dublin Team: Let's 3 Positive!!


Dublin Side named
Goalkeeper: Steven Cluxton
Full Back line: Phillip McMahon; Rory O’Carroll; Michael Fitzsimons
Half Back line: James McCarthy; Ger Brennan; Kevin Nolan
Midfield: Michael Dara McAuley & Eamon Fennell
Half Forward line: Paul Flynn; Alan Brogan; Bryan Cullen
Full Forward line: Dairmuid Connolly Kevin McManamon; Bernard Brogan

First thoughts

So the usual morning press conference has taken place and Dublin has showed their hand. Three players short of their All-Ireland winning team (name them) will contest their opener against us on Sunday.

First of all I like our match ups (more on this later) and the poor gambles taken on Gilroys part, Luckily for us, he’s played it Safe.

Here’s 3 Selection indicators of Dublin’s intent that play into our hands.


1- Johnny Cooper et al, not getting the nod after an impressive league. 

'You can’t experiment all throughout the league and then not back them when it comes to championship, It just sends out the wrong message and dents the players confidence.
Gilroy has done this with his selection and by doing so, has played right into our hands.
This will also take an edge of hunger off Dublin, no Newcomers and alot of all-ireland winners might make feel like they have nothing to prove.'


2- Kevin McManamon in at full forward, O’Gara not starting.

'Delighted not to see Eoghan O’Gara Starting, He absolutely tormented us in 2010, we couldn’t handle his athleticism and shear power. Although, there is always the possibility he could come on and cause damage! To be honest I’d take that, rather see him start and feel his way into the game.

Instead we have The Dessie Farrell lookalike, McManamon starting at full forward not his most natural position and his Selection there might upset the balance of their forward line.'

3-And the inclusion of Bernard Brogan.

‘WHAT?’ You must say?
‘The Inclusion!??’
YES the inclusion!!!
Bernard is nowhere near where he should be in term of fitness, his inclusion alone sends out the perfect indicator of Dublin’s intent on this game.

‘Lets Start Bernard, give him some game time ease his way back to fitness , sure it’s only Louth!’
If that’s not an indicator of Dublin’s outlook i don’t know what is. Lets make them pay for that cockiness.


When you are defending champions you must have the same hunger and outlook as before you were victorious, you must go for it, rather than holding back...and on...to what you had.

Dublin and Gilroy with this selection have indicated they are still in 2011, The pressure of retaining has forced them into safe decisions and with their game based on hunger and intensity, some players have had an easy ride into the side than others. 

Which will do nothing for their morale and their overall ethos...
But everything for ours...


(Bastick, O’Sullivan and Cahill) are the 3 omissions? You get them?