Louth and Laois Preview: Acid test

Shadow boxing is all about preparation without the consequences.

So today, tactics may well be hidden till championship and players positions may change before then also. 

Come championship, Both sides might add one or two players or injuries may force some players out.....but, I don't think either of the line ups will be too far off what starts come championship. 

Not drastically anyway.....

Sure, Cahir Healy,  will start for Laois come championship and Donie Kingston aswell. While Mark Brennan and Darren Clarke will more than likely end up starting for Louth in May.
So we will still get a chance to see who and how we cope with a number of acid test's ahead of the championship with league points as a small consequence.


Acid test number 1. how we cope with their strength 

They are in year three of Conditioning, we are in year 1. That, we know. but physically how far off we are will only be seen tonight.

How we counteract that will also become more apparent after the game, we could be forced to play our pacier, smaller players to up our skill levels come championship.

Acid test number 2. How they Defend

They get the men behind the ball, they like to crowd you out. They are ultra physical in doing so.
 
We get to see first hand, how our forwards match up. 

They will get to see just how patient they will have to be in attack and getting a shot away and delivering the ball into the forwards under serve pressure. 

Maybe expose some match-ups for the next day

Acid test number 3. Their forward play 

As mentioned before are they are physically imposing set of forwards but lack, natural flair.  

Colm Coss, Colm Begley and Clancy at full forward are mainly midfielders 
Gary Walsh and Billy Sheehan are half forwards named in the corner. 


Their main scoring threat is Ross Munnelly, John O'Brien gets a great opportunity to see what he is up against come the summer time.  
Learning Munnelly's quirks up close and personal look at his left foot will be invaluable. (don't be surprised if a number of our defenders pick him up throughout)

The way they play is the most interesting, they have persisted with Clancy inside all last season and this year. Dessie will relish the challenge.
 
They are direct and can launch majority of attacks from their powerful half back line too. Darren Strong is usually good for a score also.

Newcomers to our Half back line, Adrian Reid and Derek Crilly will face their toughest test so far this season too, how they cope could see the experiement continued or a possibly timely rethink also.

So there is lots to keep an eye on, the performance is key, the points on offer, although important they are not the be all and end all tonight.
 


Tonight the greatest winner will be the team who learns the most about the opposition.

and that, I feel will be us.