Louth and Proud: The System UCD examination

First of all, it was great to be back in the Gaelic Grounds to watch a Louth game.

Seeing the same familiar faces in the same familiar settings, with the speckling of new faces supporting their own clubs debutants. All in all you gain a sense of community and comfort for just being there.

A strange warmth if you will, ironically on a weirdly mild January afternoon.

I think it was the optimism of the season opener rubbing off on me.

On Friday, I Suggested that

The UCD examination Sunday will pose a number Questions.

To see how the new players Deal with the step up?

How Players cope in unfamiliar positions?

and

How the whole panel deal with the new system?

Here's how it went

THE Newbies C-

It was a mixed day for the Debutants in their first competitive match.

Gary Connolly from the Mochta's unfortunately went off with an injury early on, robbing him and the management team of some playing time.
The injury looks to be serious enough to rule him out of the next two games and with John O'Brien lurking, the corner back may have missed his opportunity to impress.

Bernard Mulligan at Full back had the toughest of all rookie assignments picking up Donie Kingston the perennial man child from Laois.

Although Bernard had the physical strength for Kingston he is still very green around the edges. Maybe a couple more minutes under the belt might see him grow as he did in the game yesterday. However, you would fear for him against a slightly smaller full forward with added pace.

Aidan O'Rourke obviously has identified finding a full back as a project. Is Bernard going to be the answer? I'm not so sure.

Cathal Bellew looked a little disappointed with himself as he came off but he shouldn't be. He came off after a series of bad passes in a row, the ones that kill your confidence but the reason was fatigue. He had ran himself into the ground in an unfamiliar position and showed signs of promise going forward.

Introduced as Subs

If there was an award for intermediate player of the year Jackie Agnew was your man. He made his competitive debut yesterday at right half and he showed his worth. What you saw all year you saw in his brief cameo. Tigerish in the tackle and driving forward.

Seamus O'Hanlon's son Shane O'Hanlon also came in and made his debut. He joined up in a couple of attacks but not on long enough to impress.

But, like the other Rookies, he has 2 games in the rest of the week to do so.

Ronan Caroll-ing forward

Unfamilar Positions B

Derek Crilly centre half,
Adrian Reid and Cathal Bellew wingback
and
Dessie Finnegan in the middle.

These were all seen as unorthodox positions for each player either at club or county level but they didn't show, as each of them embraced the challenge.

Derek Crilly did have to go off injured so he will have to be given more time to impress.

The relative success of each player ask me to poses this question.
What are positions really about in this modern age?

If we can get majority of our best players on the pitch with specific roles then we stand a better chance of winning matches.

Case in point: Adrian Reid,
we have an abundance of forwards so allow Adrian to play a role that suits him best. Down a channel, facing the play and coming on to the ball.
Although the calibre of forward he will be marking will improve Yesterday's performance could be a taste of whats to come from

The System B-

Yes, we actually have a system!!

and, from what I can figure from the basic outlines that were evident yesterday.

I say outlines as there is plenty of room for improvement, opposition has to be accounted for also, but, regardless of what players are playing they will slot into this similar format.

They were as follows

1. A half forward line and Midfield who worked really really hard to get on the ball and get back to protect the ball when we didn't have it.
Although we conceded 14 scores and didn't keep a clean sheet but our tackling is superior and we forced them to shoot from bad area's.
Special mention also goes to Andy McDonnell at number 10, he was everywhere on the pitch yesterday, everywhere...

2. Half back line as an Attacking outlet
Mentioned earlier in Cathal Bellew, Derek Crilly and Adrian Reid natural attackers, playing half back launching moves and there were plenty of moves resulting in scores.

3. The most accurate players nearest to goal.
David Reid (0-2) Jim McEneaney (1-2) and Darren Clarke (1-7)
The full forward line accounted for all but 3 points of the teams total of 2-15. This, is by no means a fluke.

4. Direct Ball

Easily said, but it was a very noticeable change in Louth's approach play.

Yes, we had our fair share of possession and our forwards got a lot of service but there was method in the use of that possession, long direct foot passes in the corner or diagonally and this can only improve as the season progresses.

Comments

Pre Season performances can give you a false sense of reality especially against weak opposition.
So we have to take this examination with a pinch of salt but, the early impressions are good.
We've beaten colleges team before but none to the control and method like this before usually it was with little off the pitch thought and a couple of flash goals on the pitch.

So Roll on the Wednesday Night Lights in Navan 7.30pm Versus Meath