McKenny says “It could have been any man in there; it just happened to be me”
Louth goalscorer Donal McKenny happy with goal but knows there is room for improvement
Louth booked their place in the All-Ireland quarter final after a dramatic win over Cork on Sunday at Grattan Park in Inniskeen. Goal scorer Donal McKenny shared his thoughts on the game and the team's performance. Reflecting on the intense match.
McKenny told the Democrat, "It was dramatic at the end. It was a frustrating game. It was very much just keeping the ball and getting one score after another."
The defender praised his team's defensive efforts, particularly in the closing stages of the game. "I thought our defense was really solid at the end; we shut up shop well and didn’t let them through," he noted.
He acknowledged Cork's strength and the competitive nature of their previous encounters, stating, "Cork is a very strong side. We always have a good battle when we are playing them. The last five times with them have been close."
The St. Mary's Ardee clubman highlighted the danger posed by their opponents, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance. "They are a very good side. You can’t switch off for a second, or they will punish you.
“They could have come back there at the end only for Niall (McDonnell) making a great save and a few blocks by Dermott (Campbell) and the boys," McKenny said.
Despite the victory, McKenny identified areas for improvement, particularly in their offensive play. "We have lots to work on in attack," he admitted.
“I thought we were a bit passive at times with few balls going down to the feet. We have lots to work on going forward if we are going to win the next match.”
When talking about his goal McKenny added, "There was a sharp wind up there. I can just see it again. There is no ball lost; you have to fight for every ball. It could have been any man in there; it just happened to be me in this scenario. It landed nicely for me."
Looking ahead, McKenny expressed a pragmatic view on their next opponents with no preference on playing Armagh or Donegal in the next round. "I have no preferences in who we end up playing next. We are going to give it our best shot, whoever it is," he asserted.
With a short recovery time before their next match, he acknowledged the challenge but remained determined. "It is a very short turnaround now with recovery.
“It is going to be tough to get all the bodies right, but whoever it is that we play, we will keep fighting until the end like we did today and give it our best shot."