No escape route for Reds after Cork defeat
AFTER successive promotions it was always going to be a tall order for Louth to make an impact in the lofty heights of Division 2.
The momentum that had been hard gained under the three-year stewardship of Colin Kelly was abruptly ended last summer amidst County Board squabbling with Pete McGrath being parachuted in as an eleventh hour replacement.
I’m not privy to the exact details of Kelly’s departure but safe to say it reflects poorly on all those involved.
Although McGrath had previous experience in the county some years ago with Cooley Kickhams, it was always going to be a hugely difficult task for him to put together a squad and shape and mould a team to compete at this level in such a short period of time.
The teams in this year’s Division 2 are at a much more advanced stage of development than we are and ever since promotion was clinched in Semple Stadium last March, I felt we would be doing well to hold our own in this company.
A minimum tally of five points is usually required to avoid relegation from Division 2 but it was difficult to see where those points would come from.
The opening game against Down was a must-win. I felt we were also capable of sneaking a win in Ennis and then possibly taking a point from either Roscommon or Meath in Drogheda.
I couldn’t see us beating Cavan or Cork on the road and it would be a big ask to turn Tipp over two years running in Thurles.
Unfortunately, even at this early stage, I’m already resigned to the fact that we will be playing Division 3 football in 2019. I hope I’m wrong.
Rebel yell
The Wee County suffered defeat on the double to the Rebels on Sunday when Cork City left Oriel Park with the early season bragging rights and the Presidents Cup.
Ronan Murray, a recent arrival from Galway United, gave Dundalk a 2-0 half time but four second half goals sealed victory for the Leesiders.
Having slugged it out for dominance over the past four years, the country’s two top teams know each other inside out at this stage.
Several new faces have been welcomed into both squads during the off-season and even at this early stage it promises to be another dingdong battle between the rival clubs for supremacy.
Mark McNulty, a controversial figure during last season’s clashes, was a notable absentee following the tragic death of childhood friend Liam Miller who passed away on Friday at the age of 36.
The ex-Ireland, Celtic and Man Utd midfielder spent a season with his hometown club in 2015 and he was remembered with a minute silence prior to kick-off.
Italian job
Ireland followed up their Paris win with an impressive display against the Italians at the Aviva on Saturday.
The 56-19 victory was spoiled somewhat by injuries to Tadhg Furlong (hamstring) and Robbie Henshaw (shoulder) with the latter one looking particularly nasty.
The Westmeath man’s value to Ireland is enormous and to lose him for the remainder of the Six Nations campaign would be a massive blow.
The end-of-season St Patricks Day clash with the English at Twickenham continues to loom large on the horizon.