Inside Track: Ten points would have earned Reds promotion last season

Proof that Louth seniors are adapting to the ‘new’ game better than many other counties came in the league campaign just ended.

Results, combined with performances, were much better than last season, this despite Gavin Devlin being unable to field the same team in any two of the seven matches.

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It is now a 21-man game in which fitness is the key, and when it comes to preparation, there has to be more than just turning up for training.

On match days, no longer is a player sent out to only watch his own patch, daring not to leave it under any circumstances.

A defender won’t be chastised if he finds himself hanging around the forty, or a forward back helping to relieve pressure. In fact, it might be expected of him. The field is there to be traversed, jersey numbers only required to identify the wearers.

As he sought replacements for injured players, Devlin could look confidently to his panel. He knew there had been no hiding place in Darver; only the fittest could stand up to the regime.

Of all the new rules, the two-pointer is the most innovative. Its introduction, plus the three-up, three-down, is responsible for high-scoring matches, and that’s something you won’t have spectators complaining about.

Okay, so the slow build-up, peppered with short and crossfield passes, is still there. But that’s not a product of today’s game – it was alive and boring before Jim Gavin and his committee gathered for the first time.

Neither is the ugly sight of one half of the field being populated by just a goalkeeper. That has also been given the red card.

All that’s new has been embraced by the Louth team, perfected in many cases. Two-pointers figured prominently in the league, coming from frees and play.

Much more was needed, however, such as discipline, fitness and a willingness to fight for every ball. Midfield was a problem area in the competition’s early stages, but more came from it in recent games.

Louth had an abundance of what was good, and must be considered more than a little unlucky not to have won promotion on the back of their overall performance. Ten points from seven games was impressive – last year, it was a big enough tally to earn Monaghan promotion, while the other side that moved up to Division One, Roscommon, came in with two fewer.

Let’s take a look to see how Louth’s league unfolded. It had a tentative beginning, relegation a real possibility after three rounds.

But then all that was good about the overall performance began to kick in, and it didn’t matter that management was constantly dealing with an injury issue.

Round One, Tullamore.

Offaly 0-19 Louth 1-21

One of the games seen at the start, as one Louth must win if they were to avoid relegation.

(Yes, that was seen as the priority, staying in Division Two). Offaly kicked two-pointers for fun when playing with the wind, and went in at the break leading by three points.

They went further ahead early in the second half, but were soon clawed back. The first of Sam Mulroy’s goals for the campaign made sure the points would go for export.

Round Two, Drogheda

Louth 1-12 Cork 1-17

Nothing from this game and nothing deserved. Missed chances and, possibly, the switch of venue from Ardee didn’t help.

Cork always had the look of winners about them after taking an early lead. A late rally trimmed the visitors’ advantage to an unflattering five points. Talk of relegation was thick in the air.

Round Three, Croke Park

Meath 1-22 Louth 0-22

The one that got away. A missed Mulroy penalty and a giveaway goal were costly. Meath, having led by a mile at the interval, were hauled back in a spirited, wind-assisted second half display.

The difference kept reducing until Louth drew level. Craig Lennon then put his side in front, and a thousand Louth eyes looked to the clock.

It said there was less than a minute to be played when Jack Flynn landed a two-pointer to win in for the Royals. A near successful comeback, but with just two points from a possible six on the board, several were looking into the rear-view mirror.

Round Four, Ardee

Louth 1-15 Tyrone 0-13

The beginning of the fightback. Ardee’s Páirc Mhuire was deemed played at the end of a week of incessant rain. The venue had been good to Louth in the past, and was again this time.

Just three in front after being helped by the conditions, Louth turned in a heartwarming second-half performance.

Tyrone got to with two points on 61 minutes, but that was the end of their gallop. Late Mulroy, Lennon and Conor Grimes points contributed to the sweetest of wins.

Round Five, Cavan

Cavan 1-12 Louth 1-22

Louth were devastating in the first half, and at one stage after the interval showed 18 points in front. Cavan were given a foothold after that, playing with the conditions in their favour, but at the end were still ten points in arrears.

There were now six points on the board, but more would be needed to be certain of staying up.

This was Ciarán Downey’s game, the goal in his 1-4 return a thing of beauty, Niall, O’Donnell, Mulroy and Ryan Burns chipping in as the ball covered the length of the field in double-quick time before being dispatched.

Round Six, Ardee

Louth 1-19 Derry 0-18

Arguably, the most satisfying of the five wins. As it says on elsewhere on these pages, it had been 43 years since Louth last beat the Oak Leaf, but more than that, five who had played against Cavan were out injured.

Not for the first time in the campaign did Devlin’s team look to be in a bit of bother at the break, leading by just a few points after being wind-assisted. No need for the Páirc Mhuire faithful to be concerned.

The lead was actually added to. Mulroy netted from the penalty spot for the second time in the competition, while at the other end, Niall McDonnell denied Shane McGuigan. Relegation worries forgotten with a wild outside chance of going up.

Round Seven, Newbridge

Kildare 0-25 Louth 1-25

No promotion, but the curtain came down in style. There hadn’t been a winning score as big as this one. In addition, Niall McDonnell kept a fourth clean sheet.

The St Fechin’s goalie had been dropped for the Cork match, but instead of sulking got the bit between his teeth, justifying his recall.

Kieran McArdle put his name on another goal, Ciarán ‘Kiki’ Keenan threw away the creator-only tag, and Mulroy was exceptional. Kildare were relegated.