Poor first-half display casts shadow on Wayne’s debut
I’M just in the door from a bitterly cold and disappointing visit to the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda. Although the sunshine was bright in the hours leading up to Louth’s Division Three National League opener against Longford, the clouds cast a shadow over the North Road by the time the 2.30 throw-in came around.
There was quite a reasonable crowd in attendance for Wayne Kierans first real competitive game in charge but unfortunately our recent run of poor league results continues unabated.
We started well in the early exchanges with Andy McDonnell in particular posing all kind of problems for the Longford defence. His advanced full forward deployment suggested an attacking approach from the new manager but we completely lost our shape and attacking threat as the half wore on.
Some of that can be attributed to the first half absence of midfielder Conor Early, first to a black card and then to a red, but it was hugely frustrating to watch Ryan Burns plough such a lone furrow when he had the considerable elements in our favour.
Time and time again we were turned over in the tackle and it was only on the rare occasion that we were able to find players in possession inside the scoring zone.
Prior to the throw-in, several Longford supporters on the bank were lamenting the absence of many regulars. They were crying the poor mouth I presumed, brushing off their complainings as a typical away day ploy. However they weren’t telling fibs.
This Longford team was very ordinary. Take midfielder Mickey Quinn and full forward Robert Smith out of their line-up and they were average at best. The quality of player we had in our starting fifteen allied those who came in off the bench should have been sufficient to deliver two points, or one at a minimum.
Based on our poor first half showing and facing into a stiff breeze for the second period, the game looked almost beyond us at the break, despite trailing by just three points.
Sam Mulroy’s half-time introduction however seemed to add impetus to a previously toothless forward line and we were on level terms by the 45th minute. Tommy Durnin’s second yellow didn’t help our cause but his dismissal was levelled out by two Longford black cards.
As the game entered the closing stages we somehow looked like snatching an unlikely draw but some poor decision making and inexperience when in scoring positions cost us dearly. Longford eventually made their numerical advantage count and kicked the final two scores to claim the spoils, courtesy of some late substitutes.
Neither Longford nor ourselves are expected to be in the promotion shake-up. It is widely anticipated that both counties will be in the scrap for survival so both managers would have been acutely aware of the significance of this result.
I don’t like to be a pessimist but even at this early stage, it’s difficult to see just where the points will come from to remain in the Division. Our two remaining home fixtures against Sligo and Westmeath are now must wins and then we must hope to pick something up on the road against Laois, Offaly, Carlow or Down.
The switching of next weekend’s Laois game from Portlaoise to Croke Park, as punishment for Laois breaching last April’s ‘club only’ training rules, appeared to tilt the balance in our favour. However the O’Moore county’s impressive six point win on Saturday night in Newry would suggest that they are now the firm favourites.
The proposed new championship format consumed last week’s column in its entirety so there was no room for mention of Dundalk Young Ireland’s gallant efforts in the All Ireland Junior Club semi-final in Portlaoise. The Irelander’s 20 game winning streak finally came to an end with defeat at the hands of Kerry side Beaufort on a scoreline of 0-12 to 0-10.
Adrian O Donoghue’s men didn’t go down without a fight and spurred on by the ever impressive Derek Maguire, they took the fight to the Munster champions right from the off, leading by three points at the break.
Fine margins usually decide games at this stage of the competition and unfortunately the close calls didn’t go the Dundalk side’s way. They can however be extremely proud of their achievements in 2018 with the future looking bright for the season ahead.
Dominant
IN local soccer Dundalk maintained their recent dominance over Louth neighbours Drogheda United with a comprehensive 5-1 victory in the annual Jim Malone Cup fixture at Oriel Park on Friday night. A first half hat-trick by Georgie Kelly coupled with a brace from Michael Duffy ensured that new coach Vinny Perth kicked off the post Stephen Kenny era in style.