Inside Track: Last weekend's results puts an extra shine on Pairc Tailteann game

It would be better had Louth turned in a more encouraging performance against Limerick on Sunday, but as it was a winner, and with Meath taking a trimming from Derry the day before, there’s more of a gloss on this weekend’s outing at Pairc Tailteann than we thought there might be a week ago.

Meath had won their first two matches, and looked to be working up a head of steam under their new management, while Louth were pointless at the same stage having lost two games that could easily have gone their way.

Meath hit the buffers at Owenbeg, unable to overcome the home team’s whirlwind start. The task facing Louth looked easier, but while it produced a win and a decent score, to have finished just two points clear, making mistakes and missing some gilt-edged chances, didn’t paint the prettiest of pictures.

Most of what was low key about the Louth outing came in the second half. Playing against a strong wind in the opening half, Mickey Harte’s side were well placed at the break, level at 0-6 apiece.

It got better soon after the restart with a couple of points sailing over, and when that lead was increased to six, there were those of us whose thoughts turned to what was coming up a week later.

But not for the first time in this campaign, Louth failed to press home the advantage. It happened in Ennis and was repeated against Derry. The outcome wasn’t fatal this time – coming under sustained pressure from a rejuvenated Limerick side, Louth just managed to hold out.

It shouldn’t have been like that. Limerick were gift-wrapped a goal, while at the other end two glorious chances were passed up.

If the fight to the finish in this campaign is not to be about trying to avoid relegation, Louth will have to be more clinical around goals and better able to avoid serious mistakes. It would also help if a growing goalkeeping problem could be sorted out.