Underdogs not without a chance in Leinster tie

COLIN Kelly has pointed the finger at himself for Louth’s mediocre showing in their Leinster Championship opener against Wicklow, but he insists that his charges will be right come next Sunday’s showdown with Meath in Parnell Park (3pm).

The Royals’ manager Andy McEntee has been quick to refer to that opening-round game, feeling that it hands the Reds a bit of an advantage, but Kelly insists that Louth will be big underdogs as the old foes battle for a place in the provincial semi-finals.

‘It’s great when you get to this time of the year still in the championship, and although we didn’t produce a great performance against Wicklow all the focus is on Sunday now,’ said Kelly ass he ‘It lookedwill hopefullyahead to the be eagerly-a great anticipated clash. occasion. Meath are always a good team with a high skill-set and plenty of physicality. They’re well managed and they had a very good National League. But for one bad result against Down they would have been promoted to Division 1. So they’re in a good place and they’ll be very, very difficult opponents.

‘We got a good eye-opener against Wicklow. It will be a good experience for the lads and will stand them in good stead for Sunday, but you have to go out and perform and that’s the important thing.’

Pressed on why his team produced an underwhelming display on the big day, Kelly responded: ‘When we looked back and analysed our performance it was poor. We had a long, hard look at oursleves and a lot of the stuff we did we wouldn’t be happy with it. Our intensity levels were low, our skillset was off, it was disappointing all round.

‘But that’s the standard this group has set for themselves. A couple of years ago we’d be delighted to just win those games and now we’re disappointed when we win by five points - albeit flattering.

‘Fair dues to Wicklow - they battled very hard and gave us plenty to think about and it is about getting the result and getting into the next round.

‘They players wouldn’t look at Derek [Maguire] or Andy [McDonnell] being missing and say it affected them. The performance against Wicklow can be laid firmly at my door.

‘When I look back at it now, we probably didn’t train hard enough, but we’ve righted thatthat. Injuries are injuries, you can’t do anything about them, they can happen in training and you just have to deal with them.’

Kelly said McDonnell wouldn’t be involved on Sunday as he continues his recovery from injury.

‘It’ll be too soon for Andy, he had surgery on his knee. There are a few other niggles and it will come too soon for some and others it will be just right.’

Whoever is in the starting XV, Kelly feels he has a panel that will work hard as a unit.

‘We’ve concentrated quite a lot on building up a squad and trusting them to do a job.

‘Eoin O’Connor summed it up after the Wicklow game when he said it’s more like a club set-up because everybody is very comfortable with each other and we’re not dependent on star names. It’s about sum of the parts rather than individualism.

‘The supporters are brilliant and the scenes on the pitch in Semple Stadium when we won promotion were fantastic. In fairness it’s been a long time for Louth supporters to wait for a win over Meath and all I can say is that if effort gets you wins these boys will be in the mix on Sunday and hopefully we’ll give the fans something to cheer about.

‘Tipp went to an All-Ireland semi last year and we went down there to their own backyard and beat them. We’ve beaten Meath already in an O’Byrne Cup match. I know that’s a million miles away from the Championship.

‘All I can say is we’ll be trying our absolute best and I’d have the utmost respect and faith in the lads and they have the same in each other.

‘We’ll be overwhelming underdogs - they’re at a level we want to get to - but it’s a level playing surface on Sunday and we’ll just have to see how it pans out.’ •Arrangements have been confirmed for next week’s Leinster Junior Football Championship semi-finals involving Louth and Meath.

Both ties are down for decision on Wednesday June 7th at 7.30pm, when the Reds will play host to Wicklow in Drogheda and Meath take on Wexford in Pairc Tailteann.

All I’d say is that we’ll be trying our absolute best and I have the utmost respect and faith in the lads and they have the same for each other.