Joe Carroll: Louth must get those kick-outs away more speedily

Any analysis of Louth’s Leinster final performance would have to give kick-outs most attention. Dublin, as nearly always, were mostly spot-on with theirs, Stephen Cluxton putting in only a couple which his side didn’t claim.

That was a return that was way better than Louth’s. Most of James Califf’s fell into Dublin midfield hands, the Dreadnots player left with no alternative but to direct them there because there was no-one running for him.

Rarely did Brian Fenton or James McCarthy have to go for a clean catch – it wasn’t necessary. Knowing there were waiting colleagues well placed around them, they had only to knock the ball down. This almost guaranteed another win for their side in this vital area, and after that the forwards had it easy.

Of course, we’re talking here about arguably the country’s best midfield partnership, a couple of players, each with a bundle of All-Irelands to his credit.

The different duos Louth tried would need to have given All-Star performances to win even parity. However, it might not have been such a wasteland had others in a red jersey been alert to what was happening.

Can Louth learn from the Dublin way of doing things, especially the kick-outs, which have become such an integral part of the game? Yes, and that’s by replicating how Cluxton goes about his work.

The ball has only to go over the bar or just wide of the post when the No 1 is reaching for a replacement. And before the opposing forwards can settle, the ball is quickly dispatched to a waiting colleague.

It’s said that Dublin used to have a ballboy behind the goals, playing his part in quickly getting the game back in motion. But even if this has been outlawed, there’s always other footballs available and there doesn’t have to be the delay that, for instance, happened before each of Louth’s kickouts.

Mickey Harte and Gavin Devlin have, no doubt, been working on that and all else that was damaging in Louth’s Leinster final performance.

The near-fortnight between that game and Saturday’s meeting with Cork in the second match in Louth’s group in the All-Ireland series – Kerry and Mayo were out last weekend – would have been welcomed; given only a week to recover would have been difficult for players and management.

League form would suggest Louth will win this one. The round six fixture between the counties was close, the Reds prevailing by a goal, 1-10 to 0-10.  But it’s going to be different this time.

That match was at Ardee’s Pairc Mhuire, a venue where the home team won two other games – against Limerick and Kildare – and gave Ulster champions, Derry, one of their closest games on the Oak Leaf’s way to heading the table. We equated the advantage at about three or four points.

This time the meeting goes ahead at Pairc Tailteann, and while Louth have done well there this year, beating Meath in the league and Westmeath in the championship, the Navan grounds’ wide open spaces are going to suit Cork better than Pairc Mhuire.

In addition, the Rebels are likely to field a stronger team this time. Brian Hurley, missing the last day, is expected to be playing, having been named in the starting 15, and here’s one who can’t be given a clear view of the posts.

Cork had a disastrous Munster Championship, going out to Clare first pop. This followed a league campaign that had them failing to win promotion. This is their last chance of taking something from the season.

Cork are not expected to win either of their meetings with Kerry or Mayo, so to have any chance of advancing to the quarter-finals they must win this one.

Louth are in the same boat; but having given promotion to the league’s top flight a right good rattle, and then making it to the provincial decider, this will go down as one of the county’s best in quite some time. It will be enhanced even further with a win over Cork.