Richard Brennan annoyed by poor Cooley attack in Leinster defeat

Cooley Kickhams midfielder Richard Brennan reckoned his side went down to a worthy opponent in Dunshaughlin last Saturday afternoon in Navan, a tie which the men from Louth exit the Leinster Championship.

“They are a very good side,” Brennan began. “A big, physical side, all over the field. They knew what they were about. 

“We dug in the first half, we probably gave it away too much in that first half. We came in at half time and we were told we gave the ball away 17 times. So that is never going to help matters. 

“Then the second half we came out, unfortunately they got the first two or three points and from then it was always going be a tough ask. But they are a very good team. You would wonder why they are at this level of competition.”

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The Meath champions were relegated last season and were well fancied going into this campaign, but regardless of the opponent’s quality, Brennan wasn’t happy with certain aspects of his own side's play. A sole point in the second half was never going to trouble them. 

“That is the most disappointing thing I would say,” he stressed. “We dug deep, we tried to stay in the game, but it just wasn't to be.

“They probably fell into their shape, a wee bit more defensive when they got five, six ahead. They knew we had to come at them. We couldn't really break them down. If there is a disappointment from today, I would say it’s that, only scoring one point in the second half.

“But look we have no qualms, we came out here knowing it was going to be hard, into the lion's den and we knew they were going to be a very good team. We gave it our best shot it, but wasn't to be.”

With ace free taker Cian Connor fracturing his hand during the week, Brennan felt the disruption did eventually catch up on the Louth champions.

“Look Cian had a fantastic season, he is a brilliant chap, he is only going to get better. When he went out, fortunately we had Brian White to put in.

“We were saying to ourselves we need to find a place for Brian White to get in, you don't obviously want someone to get injured and things were thrown into the air with Cian's injury, but these things happen.

“It has been a long season and really we've only had two injuries worth talking about, Eoin McDaid and now Cian over the whole course of the year which changed the team. So apart from that we've been motoring away nicely.”

Reflecting on the season as a whole Brennan pinpointed the impact departing coach Colm Nally has had on their successful season on and off the field.

“Look we've had a great season,” Gooch finished. “We set out to compete and win an intermediate which we have done. We got a couple of rounds under our belts in Leinster, so we are delighted.

“Colm Nally coming in has been unbelievable. Since he came in, I've been asked what exactly he does. It is just his training methods, belief in players, the way he trained us and found a system and the way we played.

“He has just been fantastic, and it has lifted everybody including myself and a few of the older boys to really give it another go. We'll be back in January, February to go at the wheel again, spend a bit of time in the gym over the winter and try to get up to the size of some of them Meath boys.”