Louth TEAM vs Dublin

Usually when the Dubs come to town we don't be ourselves.....we second guess what we do, our ability and our approach.

Inevitably we change.......

So when I Look at this team, I see a set up that is confident in what they believe in and are not afraid to experiment.

Dublin have an abundance of talent and always will....but Louth and management have not got caught up in the hype or the fact that it is a semi final.

1.Neil Gallagher

2. John Bingham 3. Bernard Mulligan 4. Jamie Carr

5. Declan Byrne 6. Liam Shevlin 7. Adrian Reid

8. Conor Rafferty  9. Ronan Carroll

10.Sean McCann 11. Jim McEnaney   12. Ruairi Moore

13. David Reid  14. Eoin  O'Connor 15. Daniel O'Connor

Like this whole competition, We went out and we were not afraid to lose because the result was not important.

Our own performance, regardless of who we played, Was. 

Focus

Luckily for Sunday again, Management hasn't lost that focus.

We know and he knows what Paddy Keenan, Darren Clarke and now what Andy McDonnell is capable of. 

He's testing players and building a squad by using this Dublin game wisely and giving lads that need it, experience.

As well as that, it creates options for management and possibly definite selection headaches.

Test

As Dublin is the best litmus test available, better test those players with Question marks over them now, rather than a crucial league match.

Rookie's Mulligan and Bingham are not sparred for more experienced defenders just because it is Dublin. Other managers might protect them and not throw them in and just leave them to rot away on the bench. 
The experiment of Adrian Reid at left half back also. If he performs well against Dublin he and they can perform against anyone.

Bottom line also, if they don't perform, they will still be better for it, from an experience standpoint alone.

And Management will also know more about them also Because at the end of the day Aidan O'Rourke wants as many options as possible.

Options

Conor Rafferty was Solid in the middle last weekend before he went off. He too, has a chance to impress. Management will then have no doubts if, say Keenan or Ronan is unavailable or go off injured in a league game that Rafferty can come and do a job. Midfield probably suits Rafferty the most, although he does lack height, his mobility can more than make up for it and he can play his own game and join in the attack also without having to be overly tight as a defender.

Then the Forward line, where the majority changes and options are being looked at.

I'll start with half forward line, and a brand new half forward line for 2013.

Debutant Sean McCann is being given the chance to show what he can do. Ruairi Moore gets a chance to shine from the off as he starts on the wing. 

Plus, Jim starts on the forty and playing more deeper than he has before this season. 
Possibly Jim's best position and the one he's most used to a further option on the forty on top of Mark Brennan and Andy McDonnell.

Full forward line 

David Reid gets to lead the line, most experienced member of the line and the most accurate. Louth will look to him most on Sunday to provide the scoring power.

The successful O'Connor Pats double combo starts from the off to show what they can do at county level also. Their synergy could be useful over the fore-coming season.

and 

Eoin O'Connor will be tested as a target man developing him further and also seen as an extra option as a target man along with Shane Lennon and Jim.


Hopefully I've shed some light on what I think the management's focus is and the potential panel O'Rourke is building. 

Which makes it all very exciting come Sunday not because the Dubs are coming to town because Louth are coming.......