Westmeath 4W

WHO: Westmeath
WHAT: Qualifiers Round 1
WHERE: Cusack Park, Mullingar
WHEN: Saturday,7pm

From the outside Louth GAA looks like a business in deep trouble. A large number of unhappy employee’s fed up of their working situation and wants out.
Constant sick days (injuries) and absenteeism (American Exodus) is just a common feature and Morale is low...

And we are at an all time low.

But are we that bad, are things as bad as it seems?

Although he may have his failings as a manager, Fitzer is excellent at spin. The whole country is aware of our mass player exodus even down to our training woe’s and surely that will have permeated into the Westmeath lads head.

By doing so he has lowered the expectation on our lads and the supporters of him.

Brilliant stuff no?

Crisis, What Crisis?

Especially when you look at the facts, Look at the team that beat Westmeath the last day, only two players are completely unavailable. Derek Maguire and Liam Shevlin, who will be replaced by either JP,David Reid,Aaron Hoey in the forwards and Dessie, yes Dessie...he was away on his honeymoon the last day at full back.

Then, the major injury worries.

Of the Quintet of major doubts, Mark Brennan, Ronan Carroll and Jamie Carr will play but it is not looking good for Gerard Hoey and Paddy Keenan. Big losses, as they are our possible two player of the year candidates. nevertheless the show must go on and Ronan Greene will come in and he is more than adequate replacement then Conor Rafferty looks like he is next in line to make his first championship start.

So the team will possibly look like this

1 Gally
2Pops 3Dessie 4 Ronan Greene
5Rayzor 6Jamie Carr 7Decie
8Ronan Carroll 9Jim McEneaney
10Derek Crilly 11Conor Rafferty 12Adrian Reid
13David Reid- 14 Mark Brennan 15Darren Clarke

See not too Bad? Solid and more than capable of getting a result!

16 Joe Flanagan 17 Rory Moore 18Conor McGuiness 19 David Collier
20 Danny O’Connor 21 Mick Fanning unknown Status regards these injured?available? who knows?
22Stephen Fitzpatrick 23JP Rooney
24David McComish 25 Aaron Hoey 26 Errol Boyle
EXTENDED SQUAD: Jamie Clarke, Bernard Osbourne and Kevin Rogers

The exodus does have an effect on the squad as the Bench maybe a little thin but with lads wanting to make impression, it balances itself out.

Where we can win

After 50 plus minutes the first day in Navan, we finally figured out Pops was the right man for Denis Glennon if he does half a good job as that cameo marking job it will go along way to help us get a W.

The midfield area is always crucial, with PK possibly missing out and with Westmeath’s main midfielder John Heslin’s hampered preparation coming into the game makes the form so hard to call. Combine that with a new Keeper and style of kickouts all bets are off.

We will have to gamble though that Ronan Carroll will step up and show some leadership in that area, not to mention keep up his recent form against Westmeath.

Finally, like most games hard work beats talent, the lads know the chips are down and have the character required to raise their work rate and grind out a victory.

In what could be the last 4W of the year

Keep Plugging away lads.

Things to expect: A big, long slow traffic jam the whole way down the centre of Mullingar, Big display from Mark Brennan, Some New faces in strange places, the possible end of the fitzer era and he might even be there and most of all expect a spirited performance from our lads whatever the result.

Important Notice:

To all Louth GAA Players & Fans during these Troubling times..

They say a picture is worth a Thousand words well, 

what do you think?

.....just the 4 will do!?

Qualifer Classification:Positives

We've had the Negatives now, Enjoy the Positives the Westmeath game can bring

Lose 

And Fitzer's reign is over....harsh as it sounds it's true.

You're all thinking it, I'm just Stating it.

The sooner the change comes, the better.

Old School

One thing we can expect on saturday evening, is a match of 15 versus 15, no Blanket defence, Straight knockout.

A throwback to the Old School and like they say 'Old School is the best School'

There's something romantic about the knockout system, For one, It will make the game that bit tighter, the scores more crucial and a whole lot more entertaining gut wretching and tension filled for the spectator.

U.S.A.

So We've lost our fair share to the US this summer and alot more than others in the inter county world.

Westmeath also have been hit with 2 emmigrations, and I would argue that not many other counties could cope with losing The Best ever Player the county has ever produced, Dessie Dolan and The best Goalkeeper they have ever had and This season's Captain, the inspirational Gary Connaughton.

Losing their two leaders give us a serious Chance to test their mettle nevermind their Debutant goalie's





Tendancy

to play well when the chips are down.....are the chips down?

Confidence Low after demoralising Defeat to Dublin CHECK.

only 4 at training, CHECK.

Injury Problems, CHECK.

Underdogs?, PaddyPower seems to think so...they're 4/9 on to win! CHECK.

Not expected to win by their fans. well, Their most optimistic fan is doubting their credentials, yes me so that a big CHECK.

All these factors combine to take the pressure off the lads and give them something to prove when they pull on the red and white jersey and when they do that they give their all, and their all is more than enough to win.

H eslin's Knee

A fitness test aside, he's been passed fit to play on Saturday (well, according to his own twitter feed )

You have to wonder how right he/it, will actually be for 70 minutes of a Qualifier match!? He was massive the last day for them and without him they are a much lesser team.

Our focus well, PK's focus (who is not 100% either) should be, to conserve his limited energy and solely concentrate on unsettling him. 

If, and its a big if that is successful he have a great chance to win!

The team will be named tonight so Selection discussion will be happening tomorrow.

THANKS FOR READING!! L&P 

Qualifier:Classification

Louth Championship Guide:

W.e.s.t.m.e.a.t.h. Edition

lets the get the Negatives out of the way through or next opponents

Woeful

Our Championship form this year and last, has been just that. 

From the Dublin game this year to the Carlow last year, both equally embarrassing for varying reasons.
But Our Qualifier form has been especially awful, One strike and we’re Out.

Highlighting further the lack of influence Fitzer has on his players, Failing to lift and inspire his troops when they’re down.

Experimentation

or lack of, 

Fitzer in his three year term has blooded a measly 4 players for championship. 

Jim McEnaney, Declan Byrne, Stephen Fitzpatrick, Eamon McAuley and Liam Shevlin (Andy McDonnell was involved until a broken league in 2009 scuppered his debut chances )

Basically working off and grinding the panel he had before him, into submission   

Six

This will be our Sixth meeting in 3 years, we’ve won the past Five:

2010 croker semi
2011 Haggardstown at night
2011 Croker league final
2012 Haggardstown league
2012 Navan this year

I said it once and I’ll say it again......law of Averages....

Threat

The two pronged Glennon Brothers Westmeath attack will be more of a Threat than the last day and not will not be as wasteful either.

Added David will feel he has something to prove, after being stretchered off the last day.

Meath

Meah......Yuck, exactly.

 I feel dirty after writing it. 



E xpected  A ttendance 
From Louth fans will be minimal, The Qualifiers was set up to excite and bring up new ties and travel to exotic places.
Many Louth Fans having went to Croker and Navan already this season will not be inspired to see the same Leinster pairing again, as well as the fact both sides play to a similar style, it does not make for a great Saturday nights entertainment for the travelling Louth fan.
If we win, the players will be on their own ....


Tenacity

When was the last time we played with some? 
League or Championship??

It shows in our onfield demeanour from when we take to the field to our defending.

Gerry Hoey apart, we haven't reached that blood thirsty championship intensity since the Kildare game. 

In 2010.... 

Home advantage

Cusack park is a nice compact ground made for nice football but, for opposing teams it's more like fort!

Westmeath took Monaghan, Derry and Galway’s scalp there earlier this year in the league and This strong home form kept them up. 

We will have to Silence the crowd and adapt quickly if we are to advance.

 

 

 

The Qualifiers

Run Down of the week

Tuesday/Wednesday:W.E.S.T.M.E.A.T.H. Negatives L.O.U.T.H positives

Thursday: team Team TEAMS

Friday:4W

The Qualifiers

 30th of June....

Cusack Park......

........The Qualifiers....... 

returns to our screens

will you be there?.........or even tune in?

 NO? didn't think so....(and according to reports, our players might not be there either!)

Drawing Westmeath again is like a bad TV series which won't go away...

no chemistry, lack of drama boor out of poor story line's and familiarity.

Basically waiting for the empty feeling when it eventually ends badly.

This bad ending will see us out in the first round.

 you know it, I know it and they know it.

At home in Mullingar is their perfect opportunity to finally get one over us. 

Put it this way, they've had more chance's than Craig Doyle has had on RTE to beat us!!!

This game kind of sums up the Qualifiers, it's gone stale and badly needs updating...

new format, characters and storylines please!!

Post Mortem Part3

If our MGMT isn't going to think outside the box

I AM!

I'm going to give you some food for thought

Like it or not we have the best talent in the county within the Squad. notwithstanding the 4 emigrates and injured Shane Lennon

(a further knock on Louth this week as Andy McDonnell, Derek Maguire and Liam Shevlin all jetted off Stateside...so that makes it a magnificent 7 of emigrations for louth this year...sign of the times? more on the pitch factors than economic factors if you ask me)

Note: Are we going to have to get players to sign a waiver! when they take the field in January.

but I'll Demonstrate and not just make do with what's there because there is still plenty of talent there.

(Steady on, I'm Sounding abit like Fitzer now,)

Goalkeeper 

1 Neil Gallagher

No Brainer by far our best goalkeeper, has the best all round package within Louth football and not even the finished article yet.

Full Back line

2 Pops, 3 Jaime Carr, 4 Gerry Hoey

These poor three amigo's must be pulling their hair out, the better they play the more they concede. 

By far our top 3 defenders, Gerry Hoey has been a revelation this year, Pops has earned his place on the side  and is now a permanent fixture by merit and Jaime Carr has been consistent all year. 

The problem for them is out the field but our 3 best defenders and more importantly man markers put them in our last line. 

No surprise so far......Here's where it gets interestin'....

Half Back line

5 Mark Brennan,6 Jim McEneaney, 7 Conor Rafferty

Something has to change and change starts in the half back line we've become far too complacent there and just taken that area for granted.

Mark Brennan at right half back will be the nucleus for change he possess's the strength and pace especially on the solo run to play there.

Also I make no qualms about it he is Louth's best tackler.

Not only would right half suit his style of play but the change, of coming on to ball rather than having his back to goal all the time could re-energise him and give Mark the responsibilty of starting the attacks rather than finishing them. which in turn, could give him a massive boost in confidence.

Jim McEnaney has the best Vision and range of passing in the Squad so lets put him in a position where he can see all before him.

 Allow him to Distribute the ball like a American football Quarterback.

The fact he's played on the forty all his life,I'm sure he knows how to mark one....

Left half is a trickey one

Do I persist with Decie or Give Conor Rafferty a Start , Give Ronan Greene a run or Do I Try out JOE BLOGGS way out of left-field.

I go for....... 

Conor Rafferty, Decie's been given enough chances especially by me but I feel it will be good for him in the long run to get his confidence back up and open an opportunity for Conor Rafferty to start, no pressure and have the settling in period he deserves.

But in Reality this applies both.

talented players.time needed.

  
Here comes the Biggest Change

Midfield

8.Liam Shevlin & 9.PK

I had Liam Shevlin pencilled in here before his departure, I felt his size and fitness would have allowed him to play there let and be responsible for the defensive stuff and let PK do what he does best instead of covering Ronan.

Instead Derek Crilly will come in there Strong and powerful enough for Midfield and can compliment PK just as well and if not better than Liam could have.

Half forward line
10 David Reid, 11 Adrian Reid, 12 Ray Finnegan

This has the potential to be the most fluid half forward lines in the country. Or Maybe I've been watching Spain too much in the Euro's! 

But We've tried strength and defence in numbers now, Why not adopt a Skill and attacking approach.

Based on small mobile players with quickness and rapid reactions to the Breaking ball.

David Reid has been the greatest conundrum in Louth GAA this past decade, Louth club 's top scorer and most natural forward if Down's Conor laverty and Mark Poland can do it we're doing something wrong.

Forward play nowadays is about power, more-so than vision So Adrian Reid on the forty with a direct route to goal makes sense.

Finally I'm taking the Shackles off Ray Finnegan and let him roam around the field not having the responsibility of marking someone.

These guys can keep possession cross the gainline and all have a eye to score.

 

Although small in stature they are extremely high intensity, energy and importantly Skill. 


Final Section to Come

Full forward line

14. Ronan Carroll 15. Darren Clarke

Darren Clarke needs ball winners beside him. Playing him inside with Derek Maguire in the wide open spaces of Croker (or navan for that matter) was never going to work, they were too similar.

Ronan Carroll on the edge of the square offers a platform for Darren beside him Aswell as being a focus for our attacks in general.

I'm not saying we bombard the Square with high balls but at least now we have variety in our attacking options. We know Ronan can play there and has the accuracy to Score.

Plus,he could cause havoc with the new square ball rule.

13. Derek Crilly

They say that the full forward line is the first line of Defence, well, in Tyrone it is so with that same ethos we need someone to hound their defenders and set the tone of intensity out the field.

I had Derek Crilly as that man a natural forward but bringing his workrate from on the Wing to the corner could see have seen him turnover defenders at his ease and set the tone for our other forwards.

This role is now will be given to...Rory Moore.

He's not there to make up the numbers, throw him in and give him first taste of inter county football, young enough and on form with the O'Raghaillaghs being a winger in the corner he will have the workrate and ball winnning ability to make an impact in there.

This team will never be picked or some of the players will never play in the positions I have selected for them.

But, I feel they could work and worth a try.....

Most of all, the Selections eradicates staleness and could provide players with some stimulation enabling them to focus on something different could make them play with more enthusiasism and drive.

and dare I say it Hunger

Sure why not, we're in the Qualifiers, what do we have to lose?

MORE TOMORROW!!!