Louth look to bounce back in the league against the Mournemen

Louth senior footballers will aim to get their Allianz National Football League campaign back on track this afternoon when they take on Down at the Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda. Throw-in is at 2.20pm.

After an opening-round win over Westmeath, the Wee County have suffered back-to-back defeats against Roscommon and Cavan.

Last weekend’s loss to Cavan was a tough one to take, but manager Ger Brennan knows his side must put it behind them quickly.

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He said: "Every game is important in Division 2 and all the National League games. They are great competitions across the board because there is so much at stake.

"Particularly in Division 2 and certainly in Division 3 in terms of keeping your status for the All-Ireland series, so each game is hugely important."

(Louth senior football manager Ger Brennan, right, with head of coaching and selector Professor Niall Moyna. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile)

Sitting fifth in the Division 2 table with two points from three games, Louth needs a win to stay in the hunt for promotion.

Down, who are just behind them in sixth place, are also desperate for a result after suffering defeats to Roscommon and Meath, either side of a narrow win over Cork.

(Allianz National Football League, Division 2, Round 3 standings)

The game marks a key opportunity for the Reds to reassert themselves in the division. Brennan has made changes to his starting team, bringing in Dan Corcoran, Ciarán Byrne, and Ciarán Keenan, while Liam Jackson and Val Leddy drop to the bench, and Fearghal Malone misses out on the matchday squad.

Louth’s named starting fifteen is as follows:

1. Niall McDonnell; 2. Daire Nally, 3. Dermot Campbell, 4. Donal McKenny; 5. Conall McKeever, 6. Peter Lynch, 7. Dan Corcoran; 8. Tommy Durnin, 9. Ciarán Byrne; 10. Andy McDonnell, 11. Ciarán Downey, 12. Conor Grimes; 13. Ciarán Keenan, 14. Sam Mulroy (c), 15. Ryan Burns.

Substitutes: 16. Tiernan Markey, 17. Anthony Williams, 18. Ciarán Murphy, 19. Emmet Carolan, 20. Val Leddy, 21. Paul Matthews, 22. Kieran McArdle, 23. Seán Reynolds, 24. Leonard Gray, 25. Daire McConnon, 26. Liam Jackson.

(The Louth senior football squad team photo ahead of their game against Cavan. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile)

Louth will need a strong performance from their key players, and the manager is expecting a positive response from his squad after last week’s disappointment.

Brennan added: "We have to try to recover the bodies and the minds as quick as we can. An awful lot of disappointed fellas inside that we didn’t come away from Cavan with two points. So, we have to seek to improve as quick as we can for Down on Sunday."

With home advantage and a point to prove, Louth will be eager to put in a big performance. A win here could reignite their push for promotion, while a defeat would leave them looking over their shoulder in an ultra-competitive Division 2.

Referee Martin McNally from Monaghan will take charge of the game.