Louth’s change of direction in Boyneside clash was costly

A team that goes over 30 minutes without a score while playing with the wind, and misses three gilt-edged goal chances, can’t really have any complaints when the result goes against them.

This was Louth in Sunday’s National League tie with Meath at Navan. But there was another factor in the 1-11 to 1-9 defeat.

Having played brilliantly in the first half to take a one-point lead, then go four ahead soon after the change-over, all the time making Meath look very ordinary, Louth changed tack.

Whereas the ball had been most times moved forward with speed, Louth went on the defensive, appearing content to defend the lead rather than go all out to increase it. The problem with that was, there was still about a half-hour to go, and it was always likely Meath, poorly as they were playing, would get some kind of an innings.

And that’s what happened. Meath picked off one point and then another, and having been silent for a long stretch, the home crowd began to make noise. More important to them, their team got more pep in their step and a couple more points had them on level terms.

Louth, having drawn Meath on to them, were now on the back foot. And all the time, Ryan Burns’ fourth point soon after half-time, faded more and more into the background, especially when Meath, now firing on all cylinders, went five points up.

Ironically, when Louth eventually did add to their nine-point tally, it was with the score of the match. It fell to sub, Tom Jackson, whose low shot from about 20 yards gave the diving Seán Brennan no chance. It shouldn’t have come in isolation, however.

Earlier, Jackson’s St Mary’s colleague, Ciarán Keenan, was put clean through with only the goalie to beat when he was hauled to the ground from behind. Instead of awarding what looked to many a nailed on penalty, referee Liam Devenney waved play on. This just one of a number of baffling decisions the Mayo official hung his name on over the 70 minutes-plus.

This Louth campaign is following much the same pattern as last season’s. The hope is it has the same conclusion. After three 2023 matches, there were just two points on the board, defeats by Clare and Derry followed by a win over Limerick. There was then a run of three wins, and had Mickey Harte’s team made it four-in-row by beating Dublin, Louth would now be playing in Division One.

Ardee was a happy hunting ground last year; and it’s to there that Cavan are travelling next Sunday. It’s a tough one, but with a less conservative approach, Louth can get back on a winning trail.