Kierans tell troops to embrace the pressure
LOUTH minor manager Wayne Kierans (pictured d right)has urged his players to embrace the pressure and nerves they will undoubtedly feel in Wexford Park tonight (Tuesday).
Kierans’ troops are bidding to become the first Louth minor team to reach a Leinster final since 1971, after wins over Loais and Offaly booked a semi-final showdown with the Yellow Bellies.
‘It is massive and we don’t wnat to shy away from that,’ said Kierans.. ‘What we’ve been sayingg to them the whole time is be different - break the moulduld and do what other teams haven’t ven’t been able to do. And more importantly blaze a trail for the teams coming behind us.
‘There’s no doubt it’s a big occasion but they have to embrace that wee bit of pressure. These are the game and these are the situations we want to be experiencing because it’s the only way you progress and we’ve told the lads that.
‘A wee bit of pressure is fine and nerves or normal, what we always say is that it’s how react.’
Wexford came through the backdoor to reach the last four but Kierans isn’t underestimating the Model County, particularly with the draw affording them home advantage.
‘They suffered a heavy defeat to Offaly in the first round, but I’d imaimagine they are in a far better placplace now after beating Wicklow and Carlow. ‘Liam Kelleher has been down to see them and like Offaly they have a coucouple of very potent forforwards that will take a bit of watching. ‘They have a lot of ddual players too and with the hurlers now out of the championship the football teteam have first call, so that’s probably a fafactor for them too. ‘I wouldn’t read mucmuch into the Offaly defeat. feat.defeat. They juts got a run on thethem, which could just as easily have happened to us in DrogDrogheda.
‘But havhaving said that we know we’rwe’re well capable of beating ththem.
Kierans has no injury concerns and a couple of holiday-makers have returned in the last week or so, ensuring a full turn-out at training and a full deck to draw from on tonight.
Dublin and Kildare do battle in the other semi-final with the final pencilled in before the Leinster senior final in Croke Park on July 17th.