A retrospective look at yesterday's game, through the biggest talking points and essentially where the game was won and lost.
THE START
Massive talk all week was about the greater experience difference the Pats held over Clogherhead and my god did it tell in the opening exchanges.
The more the tension got to the young side the more the Pats seemed to lap it up.
In a final you need to get yourself into the game as quick as you can and if you don't you are constantly chasing and uncomposed as a result.
This was the case as the Dreadnots chased their first score, Pat Lynch had a great goal chance saved and the usually reliable Peach Califf missed numerous free's on the right hand side and the longer the game went the more desperate they became, trying from bad angles, over thinking with the final pass and forcing their shots.
The Pats on the other hand, knew for their game plan to work they needed to be ahead and ahead early, it was vital they got the start they got.
Clogher in their minds probably knew this also and only compounded their nervousness even more.
However Regardless of Clogherhead's floundering's, the Pat's got it and to be handed a five point to no score advantage was an added bonus.
THE GOAL
It is so unfortunate that a massive game like this is impacted hugely on a personal error or mistake.
After eventually getting into the game going in at half time three down would have given clogher a mini boost except the opposite happened.
They even defended manfully, keeping the margin down to three and were basically fighting before half time when a long Eamonn Carroll (i think) effort dropped short but the ball had so much height on it so to be far to Kenneth Shevlin it wasn't a tame short effort but it awkward enough ball under close to the crossbar.
Just enough difficulty to make the keeper second guess himself as to catch it cleanly or punch it away...he did neither. In fact he cushioned the ball so he would take it down at the second attempt but the impact of the ball pushed his momentum backwards and the ball to fall forward.
And like a flash,Aidan McCann was on hand to palm it in but it wasn't that easy as he had to backward scoop it into the net.
Much to the disbelief of both sides at what just happened the game was effectively over at that point.
THE REFEREE
I think Stephen Johnson deserves some credit, coming into his first senior final the game never phased him and was very sharp throughout.
He set the tone early on by booking a few players and picking up on some of the off the ball fouling, by doing so he erradicated a lot of the cynicalness this game could have become.
Also, he wasn't afraid to penalise some of Louth's better known players making him look even more objective all afternoon.
So instead of being a talking point for the wrong reasons The referee is being praised for once!
THE MISS
We knew coming into the game that the Dreadnots were short up front and they needed one of two things to happen or both.
1. Take every Single chance presented
2. New players needed to Step up with the workloads
And neither happened, but credit to Conor Campbell, he really stood out for the Dreadnots in attack (not just for his yellow boots!) He was busy throughout and had a good game having come in to start in the final.
But the missed chances were puncturing their belief balloon all day and the biggest pin to the balloon happened early in the second half.
Having started brightly with a point from Pepe and having alot of possession with the Pats retreating more and more.
They had their greatest chance.
Working a great move in a tight area of congest Lordship men, Pat Lynch timed his run brilliantly and found himself running through and although coming in at a narrow angle you expected him to score he drilled it low and just past the post.
You felt then, that if that had went in, the game would have well and truly been back on! as goals really swing momentum in finals and to get one against the measly Pats defense would have given them a serious boost of confidence.
However, it didn't.
The Pats really turned the screw then after, making it certain they wouldn't be breached and soaked up the pressure brilliantly and countering just as efficiently as they had the luxury of kicking the ball over the bar clinically when a goal could have been on.
THE FUTURE
Alot of people have this attitude that it would have been good for football if the Clogher men won and bad if the Pats won.
I beg to differ, as it was the Pats played with the more imagination and style throughout.
They have their defensive system but they had more idea's up front than the Dreadnots or any other team in Louth for that matter.
They can hurt you in a number of ways, be it by playing the big direct ball into Eoin O'Connor on the Square, Danny O'Connor beside him links up with him well off Eoin's breaks but both can win a low ball and turn and attack that way either taking their points or working a goal.
Or simply they can win it and lay it off as they are always available then with PK, Eamonn Carroll, Karl White coming off them and finishing.
Thats alot of ways already and I haven't even mentioned Ray Finnegan attacking from Deep, Paddy Keenan ghosting from the middle and Karl White's direct running.
So we can all bury our heads and say the Pats are defensive this and negative that.
When in fact the opposite is the case, Anyway I'm sure they don't really care what anyone thinks of them as it masks their variations and brilliant attacking play and makes each sip from the Joe Ward cup even sweeter.
Thanks for Reading and should have IFC build up later on in the Week.
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