‘Long’ road ahead for Louth after poor opener
WAYNE Kierans has barely had a chance to buckle himself into the Louth hotseat, but he got an early white-knuckle ride on the roller-coaster of inter-county football on Sunday afternoon.
The rookie manager’s nerves and temper were stretched to breaking point as the Reds were edged out by a vastly understrength Longford side in Drogheda.
Louth played just 16 minutes of the game with 15 players on the pitch, were reduced to 13 for the final 20 minutes, and to cap off a frustrating afternoon, Kierans himself was banished to the stand for the second-half by Cavan referee Noel Mooney.
But when the dust settles on his first truly competitive game in charge, it will be the nature of another hot and cold performance from his team that will rankle the most.
With his Mullinilaghta contingent still absent and a few longterm injuries still to clear, new Longford boss Padraic Davis was forced to delve deep into his playing resources, so this was a great chance for Louth to clock up a couple of early points.
Wayne Kierans has a few key me out of action too in William Woods, Ciaran Byrne, Conor Grimes and Derek Maguire, while Sam Mulroy was only deemed fit for a second-half cameo.
But despite being without that kind of experience and expertise Kierans opted to leave an inform Declan Byrne on the bench alongside Emmet Carolan, while James Craven and Jim McEneaney didn’t even make the matchday squad, opting instead for a very inexperienced full back line combination and partnering Ryan Burns with Tadgh McEnaney up front.
Apart from the opening five minutes, Louth’s first-half display was depressingly similar to those produced throughout 2018 under Pete McGrath.
The second period was a lot better, but scoring just nine
points and five from open play on home turf will still be a worry for Kierans.
There was no doubting Louth’s hunger and passion in the opening stages. They started exactly as Kierans would have wanted, pressing Longford high and opening a two-point lead through Conall McKeever and Ciaran Downey.
And yet there was a lack of composure too as Conor Early was sin-binned after just three minutes and Tommy Durnin picked up an eighth-minute booking.
Some of their early decision-making in front of goal was also erratic, with five wides on the board inside the opening quarter.
The early cards, in particular, would come back to bite the Reds as Early lasted a mere 12 minutes after returning from the sin-bin, picking up a second yellow card from Noel Mooney, who was far from fussy in general play, but seems to like flashing the cards.
Louth didn’t actually concede during Early’s time in the sib-bin, but almost immediately after his return they coughed up a slack goal as Pauric Gill’s mis-kick landed perfectly for Robbie Smyth to slap to the net.
Louth lost Darren Marks to an injury moments later and Longford opened a 1-2 to 0-2 lead before Early received his marching orders.
Smyth’s goal proved the difference at the break as Long- ford adjourned with a 1-3 to 0-3 interval lead, a paltry return for Louth having played with a stiff breeze in the opening half.
An elbow into the mouth of Bevan Duffy left the Louth camp incensed at the break and Kierans paid the price for remonstrating a little to strongly with the linesman, by being ordered to spend the second-half in the stand.
A point and a mark from Burns closed that gap to the minimum after the break and Louth were offered another sliver of hope when Peter Lynn was sent to the sin-bin for a trip, making it 14 men apiece in the personnel stakes.
While he was away Robbie Smyth re-established a two-point cushion, but back-to-back points from Tommy Durnin and Sam Murloy levelled it up at 0-7 to 1-4.
Lynn had no sooner returned from the sin-bin than Shane Donohue took his place, ensuring that Early’s absence was negated - for the time being at leat.
Darren Gallagher kicked a fine ‘45’ to edge Longford back in front, but the momentum Louth had been building in that third quarter was soon halted as Durnin picked up a second yellow card and joined Early on the line.
Of all the cards brandished, that second yellow for the Westerns man was particularly harsh as the Longford player lost his footing and slipped face-first into what was a fairly standard tackle by the midfielder.
It’s a decision that definitely cost Louth dearly as they continued to set the pace, only to be caught on the break three times in the closing stages.
A Burns free levelled the game up again with just under 10 minutes of normal-time remaining and the sides were level again when the Hunterstown man cancelled out a Joe Hagan point with another free.
But in the final minute of normal time another Longford sub, Darragh Doherty edge the visitors back in front and this time the didn’t need a second offer as Nigel Rabbitte added the insurance score in injury-time.
Sam Mulroy was presented
with a half chance, but didn’t get enough purchase on his strike to troubel Paddy Collum and with that Louth conceded defeat. LONGFORD: P Collum; D Quinn, A Farrell, B O’Farrell; C Smyth, B McKeon, D Mimnagh; D Gallagher 0-2 (0-1 ‘45’), M Quinn; P Lynn, S Donohoe, P Gill; R Smyth 1-3 (2f, 1mk), L Connerton, C Lee. Subs: D Doherty 0-1 for C Lee (48), J Hagan 0-1 for P Lynn (57), N Rabitte 0-1 for S Donohoe (66)
LOUTH: F Sheekey; H Osborne, D Marks, D Corcoran; A Williams, B Duffy, J Clutterbuck; T Durnin 0-1, C Early; R Moore, C Downey 0-1, C McKeever 0-1; A McDonnell, T McEnaney 0-1, R Burns 0-4 (2f, 1mk). Subs: F Donohoe for D Marks (14), S Mulroy 0-1 for T McEnaney (ht), C Branigan for R Moore (41), E Duffy for C Downey (57), E Callaghan for C McKeever (68)
REFEREE; Noel Mooney (Cavan)