Reds boss upbeat as Derry given a scare

LOUTH may have lost their opening round Nicky Rackard Cup game against Derry, but their stock definitely rose after a fine display on Saturday afternoon in Dowdallshill.

Nobody had given the Wee County a prayer going into the game, but it was in the balance right up until the final few minutes when Derry scored their second goal to kill off the game.

Afterwards Philip O’Brien, one half of the current management team, praised his players’ performance but said that there is even more to come from his side.

‘Listen, that was a good performance from the team out there today, especially from where we were going beforehand. The boys really dug in and galvanised themselves as a team today.

‘I know there is more in the tank and I know there are good young hurlers out there who should be playing for Louth. That’s the challenge that faces myself and Ken [McKenna].

‘We need to strengthen our panel with more young hurlers as this is all about building for the future of Louth hurling,’ stated O’Brien.

‘We were in the game right up until two or three minutes to go. They got a soft goal at the end there when we probably should have went for a long puck out rather than a short one. But we can build on this performance.

‘We had five young lads making their debut out there today and that game will bring them on lots.

‘The draw for the back-door system is on Monday morning and we could be out again next Saturday, so we have to be ready to go again.

‘I think today was a positive day for the future of Louth hurling, but we need to build on this and improve even more,’ added the former Meath Under-21 hurling manager.

The Reds now face Armagh away on Saturday in a bid to reach the semi-finals.