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Injury plagued Louth overcome Fermanagh with second half blitz
If there is one thing that can be said about this Louth team, it is that they are not afraid to stare into the face of adversity. Peter Fitzpatrick's side lost three major players in the space of 30 minutes in Brewster Park.
Other teams may have crumbled and slumped into a vortex of self-pity, but not this side. Instead, they took a long, hard look at themselves and realised that, even with the odds stacked against them, they are much better than that.
If the Wee County had of crumbled in the second half, it would have been easy to blame injuries for the sudden change in fortunes in this match, but again, rather than lick their wounds and lie down, Louth, like a wounded animal, went on the attack in the second half and reaped the benefits.
In a week where Irish people will throw money on horses at Cheltenham, Fitzpatrick took a major gamble of his own when he decided to hand starts to Sean O'Neill, Paddy Keenan and Ray Finnegan.
O'Neill may have featured in the Cavan win the week before, but he was carrying a hamstring injury coming into the game. Keenan had not featured since the Sligo defeat, whilst Finnegan damaged his ankle in the challenge match against Dublin over two weeks ago.
Gamble
The gamble paid off, for 30 minutes at least, but then a major reshuffle was on the cards for Fitzpatrick and his backroom staff. Throughout the game, the Louth team featured four midfield combinations, with six players stepping in to fill the breach, something which is not ideal in any game, never mind a league clash.
But again, rather than let that deter them, Louth saw it as a motivation. With their backs against the wall, it was do or die and on Sunday, this Louth team was simply not prepared to roll over for the Erne Men.
After a disastrous start against Cavan last week, there was serious pressure on the Louth defence to show their solidarity from the start. In the space of ten minutes, Cavan had four one-on-one chances, but in Brewster Park, the defence was somewhat transformed.
Gone was the gaping holes that Cavan exploited so well, replaced by a new found composure and tightness. Although Fermanagh hit their first score on five minutes, they did not register another score until the 30th minute, a further indication of how well the defence played on the day.
But for all the plaudits that the defence deserve, it is points and goals that win you games and on the day, Louth's forward line was dazzling.
JP and Aaron Hoey, through a lethal combination of clever play and pace tortured the Fermanagh full back line and when Shane Lennon joined them in the second half, the trio looked as dangerous as any forward line in the country.
Louth got off to a superb start, as Brian White, who started the game on the half forward line, hit a point followed shortly by a Keenan free. The sides traded points then after, with Hoey smacking over a great point after a Stephen Fitzpatrick long ball.
From there, it was all Louth, but their progress was hampered, first by the injury to Ray Finnegan, then one to Sean O'Neill. Derek Maguire replaced O'Neill and Ronan Greene came in for Finnegan and when JP Rooney netted for Louth, things looked rosy for the Wee County.
John O'Brien advanced from his full-back line, receiving a simple pass from Derek Maguire.
O'Brien then waited for perfectly timed run of Rooney, before putting it in his path. Rooney had the keeper to beat and hit a low drive into the corner of the net to take Louth into a 1-3 to 0-2 lead.
Keenan blow
But then, Louth were dealt a blow as they lost Keenan, who was replaced by Shane Lennon. Struggling to find their shape, Louth conceded a couple of points before they finally found their rhythm again and scored another point before half time, this time coming from Mark Brennan, which left the score at 1-4 to 0-5 in favour of Louth.
But despite the two point lead, there was a sense of optimism in the air from the Fermanagh contingent. They could see that Louth were hurting, ravaged by injuries and the home side had a strong wind advantage in the second half.
There was a feeling that Fermanagh were going to circle Louth, like a hungry pack of wolves and pick apart the wounded animal that was backed into the corner. Unfortunately for Fermanagh, Louth's players had no interest in complying with this script. They put a proverbial band-aid on their troubles at half-time as they shuffled the pack yet again.
Derek Crilly dropped back into midfield, accompanying White in what was Louth's fourth midfield duo on the day. Lennon moved up to the full-forward line, with Maguire dropping behind him.
If Fermanagh thought they had the momentum coming into the second half, it all but disappeared very shortly as Louth hit two early points. Lennon's physical presence in the forward line was soon felt as he hit an early score, before Andy McDonnell pointed after good work by Aaron Hoey.
Red card
Fermanagh managed to pull two scores back through Matthew Keenan and Tommy McElroy before a ten minute period changed the shape of the game.
JP Rooney smashed home a second goal, but the referee had already blown for a free, something Rooney was livid about. White hit a score from the resulting free, but then the game was turned on its head when Martin McGrath collided with Shevlin, who was on a surging run. McGrath's challenge looked like it carried intent, but in a moment of madness, referee Martin Sludden lost the run of himself and sent the wrong man off, as Ciaran McElroy, who was already booked, received his marching orders for a second yellow.
From there, the impetus was on Louth to go on and finish the game, something they did with style.
Rooney, who had just previously hit a uncharacteristic wide, made amends when he fisted over the bar to give Louth a 1-9 to 0-8 lead.
With a man spare, Louth's gave an exhibition in possession football, picking out free men all over the pitch. Rooney, Hoey and Lennon carried out their role excellently as they ran ragged a tired Fermanagh back line, creating angles for the like of McDonnell who notched up another score.
Mark Brennan, who had an excellent second half showed great vision when he played the ball on the ground into the feet of Shane Lennon, who did not realise the time and space he had. Lennon thrashed his shot, which was saved by Stephen Jackson.
Five minutes later and Lennon did not make the same mistake as he put his boot through the ball to send the ball crashing into the net to seal the points for Louth.
The question on everyone's mind was; will the real Louth team please stand up? The performances against Sligo and DCU were not ones to send a sense of hope throughout the county.
However, the performance in Brewster Park, especially the second half one certainly lifted the belief levels and for Louth fans, the hope is that this Louth team turns up every week from now on.
Scorers: Louth: JP Rooney (1-2), Shane Lennon (1-1), Brian White (0-3, 2f), Andy McDonnell (0-2), Aaron Hoey, Mark Brennan, Paddy Keenan, 0-1 each.
Fermanagh: Matthew Keenan (0-5, 5f), Eamonn Maguire, Kevin Cosgrove, James Sherry, Ciaran Flaherty, Tommy McElroy 0-1 each.
LOUTH: Neil Gallagher, Declan Byrne, Dessie Finnegan, John O'Brien, Stephen Fitzpatrick (Liam Shevlin, 45mins), Michael Fanning, Derek Crilly, Sean O'Neill (Derek Maguire, 13mins), Paddy Keenan, (Shane Lennon, 29mins), Brian White, Mark Brennan (Adrian Reid, 69mins), Andy McDonnell, Ray Finnegan (Ronan Greene, 18mins), Aaron Hoey.
FERMANAGH: Stephen Jackson, Niall Bogue (Daniel Ward, 60mins), Martin O'Brien, Ryan McCluskey, Peter Sherry, Barry Mulrone, Tommy McElroy, James Sherry, Kevin Cosgrove (Ryan Keenan, 53mins), Ciaran McElroy, Matthew Keenan, Aidan McCarron (Paul Ward, 47mins), Ciaran Flaherty, Matthew McGrath, Eamon Maguire.
Referee: Martin Sludden
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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