NFL Build Up:Live BLOG MY STARTING TEAM

We know the Squad for the League,  We know the Fixtures for the League and we even know the Westmeath team in the league opener!

Two things we don't know, sorry three things we don't know however, are.....

1. Our Team for Sunday

2. Is Darren Clarke and Mark Brennan Suspended for this game?

and

3. How bad are our 3 injury concerns (PK Andy and Shev)?


2 and 3 I cannot answer.......

and 1. Regardless of injuries and possible suspensions I will attempt to Guess, now,  before the Team is named tonight. 

Stay Tuned.....Live Blog on the way


Goalkeeper

 1. Neil Gallagher

Reasons: Best keeper in Louth

Full Back LIne  

 2. John Bingham   3. Jamie Carr  4. Pop Rath 

Reasons: With the lively inside line of Westmeath, there is no need for Dessie back there. Pop will pick up Glennon again.
John Bingham has played his way into the team on Merit and his first league start will be on James Dolan who will suit his game down to the ground.  Starting a debutant will raise everyone else game as his youth and enthusiasm will rub off on others.
Leaving Jaime Carr to possibly go out the field on Foley which will also Suit Jaime's game.

Half Back Line  

5. Derek Crilly   6. Liam Shevlin 7. Adrian Reid


Reasons:  The Whole reason behind the Adrian Reid half back experiment was for him to exploit opposition defensive wing forwards. Sunday will be the perfect platform to attack, attack and attack some more! Hopefully causing them to change their game plan. The Same goes for Crilly on the other flank.
Liam will hold the middle at centre back and will have his hands full with McCormack.

if Liam doesn't pull through, Derek goes Centre half, and Gerry Hoey comes in Right half not ideal in this crucial game as Derek hasn't convinced at 6 but has the potential, shame he got injured there during the O'Byrne cup campaign.

Midfield  
  8. Paddy Keenan        9. Ronan Carroll

Reasons: The old reliable midfield partnership will start the new managements maiden league campaign.
PK wasn't right for the first championship game in Navan last year and missed the qualifer exit....so he'll be chomping at the bit to match up with Bannon and Heslin. Ronan Carroll is a confidence player if he starts the game well he'll play well, lets hope he starts well. Louth definitely have the the potential to gain an upper hand at midfield especially with Heslin playing midweek with UCD.

If PK doesn't play (with a calf strain) I reckon Dessie will start there. played there this year and marked Heslin already this season.


Half Forward Line

10. Andy McDonnell 11. Jim McEneaney 12. Peach Califf 

Reasons: All from the same minor team and all flourishing under the new regime. They all offer something a little different also (Jim free's and Peach is an option for kickouts and Andy's workrate) making the half forward line altogether, very balanced. 

If Andy isn't fit i reckon Brian White will come in on the wing.

I have been informed that Mark Brennan and Darren Clarke are definitely suspended 

 

Full Forward Line 

13. David Reid        14. Shane Lennon 15. Eoin O'Connor


Reasons: Darren Clarke out with suspension leaves us in a pickle especially with JP, Colm Judge and Derek Maguire not fully up and running yet.  

It means we will either have like for like inside with two target men Lennon and O'Connor or we will have David Reid inside with Lennon forcing O'Connor uncomfortably out the field. 
Maybe during the game they will rotate and the variation will help our forward play and chances of creating scores.



Thats it, thats my team. We will hopefully know tonight what the team will be...worringly injuries and suspensions leaves us a little unsettled and somewhat short preparation wise.
We could see a number of changes from the O'Byrne cup sides and some new faces being thrown in for the first time this season. Brian Donnelly, Derek Maguire Colm Judge etc