‘Wee’ seem to have gone backwards this season
AFTER another thumping defeat, our fifth of the campaign, Louth are all but relegated back to Division 3 with two games still remaining.
It was a completely different contest to 12 months ago when we surprised the somewhat complacent hosts and departed Semple Stadium with two precious points and promotion.
Sunday’s Division 2 fixture was done and dusted inside 15 minutes as our defence was cut open yet again and Tipperary led by 2-7 to 0-1.
It was damage limitation for the remainder of the match and we did well to hold it to just a 14-point margin. That’s our biggest defeat of the campaign but it follows hot on the heels of the 12-point loss to Roscommon and a 13-point reversal to Cavan.
We have no points from five games and the worst points difference (-52) by some distance across all four divisions.
We are unlikely to enjoy any favours from our neighbours Meath next weekend and there will be little or no appetite for the long trip to Ennis in our final game.
Most observers openly recognised that we would struggle with the greater quality in the second tier but few anticipated the extent of our limitations.
I thought we were at the outer reaches of our capacity in gaining promotion in 2017. If we were to have any hope of competing at this higher level then all stakeholders needed to raise their game.
Sadly this doesn’t appear to have happened. In fact we appear to have gone backwards.
After citing ongoing disagreements with the top table of the County Board Colin Kelly was allowed to depart during the summer with Pete McGrath hastily appointed as his replacement.
In fairness to the former All-Ireland winning manager he can only work with those who make themselves available and to his credit he has blooded several newcomers.
Even given his previous experience of Louth club football it was always going to take McGrath a period of time to settle into the role and put his stamp on the team. But this was a luxury we couldn’t afford in 2018.
If we were to have any hope of survival in the division then continuity was what was required.
Those with responsibility for allowing Kelly to depart must be feeling a little uneasy especially with Westmeath in with a genuine shot of promotion in Division 3.
Our first round championship opponents on May 13th in Portlaoise, Carlow, are sitting proudly on top of Division Four with five wins from five. They will really fancy their chances of turning us over just like they did in 2011. against their big rivals in eight attempts - the last being a 2-1 win at Oriel in October 2016.
The Lilywhites completely outclassed their opponents in every department and showed a real aggressiveness on the night. They easily could have added two or three more goals to their tally.
Neighbours Drogheda opened their First Division campaign in style as they defeated Athlone 6-0 on Sunday afternoon at United Park. The Drogs opened the scoring early and blitzed the visitors with three goals in 13 minutes at the beginning of the second half. Aviva for Ireland’s 28-8 victory over Scotland on Saturday.
The Scots were very competitive for the opening 60 minutes and could have been a lot closer but for some poor finishing.
England’s defeat in Paris means the championship has been secured, our third in five seasons but nobody will be settling for that. Beating the ‘Old Enemy’ on St Patricks Day in Twickenham to win the Grand Slam would be something special.