Brennan: "Is this the memory you want to give the Louth faithful?"

Louth senior footballers produced a spirited second-half fightback but it wasn't enough to overcome Monaghan at Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda, this afternoon, as they fell to a 1-21 to 1-27 defeat in the Allianz National Football League.

A poor first half left them with too much to do, and while they clawed back a sizable deficit, it was Monaghan who left with the two points.

Speaking after the game, Louth manager Ger Brennan expressed his disappointment at his side’s sluggish start.

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He admitted: “We are very disappointed with the first half, it was really poor. Monaghan cut through us at their ease.

“They won breaking balls, and they just totally dominated us in the first half. It was very disappointing.

“To be fair to the lads, in the second half they showed what they can do, but unfortunately, we need to be able to demonstrate that talent and honesty that they have for over 70 minutes as opposed to 35.”

(Daire Nally of Louth signs the shirt of a Louth supporter after the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Monaghan at Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile)

The first-half performance was uncharacteristic of Louth, and Brennan acknowledged that they need to examine the reasons behind it.

“It’s something that we are going to sit down and chat to the group about, to try and pick their brains on it. I thought we started sluggishly against Down last week as well and sluggishly against Roscommon.

“Against Westmeath, we started well, and in the Cavan game it was probably shot for shot for large parts, but in three of our five National League games we have started really, really poorly.”

(Conall McKeever of Louth in action against Micheal Bannigan of Monaghan during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Monaghan at Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile)

Clinical Monaghan

Monaghan who have dropped from Division 1, showed their class and were clinical throughout as they only had one wide in the first half.

“They were extremely accurate and very fluent, and their ability to pick us apart was certainly tough watching on the sideline,” Brennan said.

“Again, there is a lot of learning out of it that we want to try and take into the next game. But you have to give credit to Gabriel Bannigan and his team.

“They came out of the firing blocks a lot quicker than we did. We left too much of a mountain to climb in the second half.”

(Conor McCarthy of Monaghan, right, celebrates with teammate David Garland after scoring their side's first goal during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Monaghan at Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile)

First half substitutions.

Brennan made a bold move just before the break by making four substitutions at once, but he insists it was not a panic decision.

“I don’t do panic. Everything is thought out and planned. I have a very strong management team, and you make a decision then, and you have to stand by that decision.

“I just want to acknowledge the work and the effort of the four lads that came out. It is not easy or not nice, but it happens to all of us at some stage in our careers where you are taken off before half-time.

“But those four guys have put in a huge shift as well in terms of their work and preparation in trying to represent their county.

“The reality is we could have taken 14 fellas off, and I think we could all agree with that. Those lads were maybe sacrificial lambs on this particular occasion, and you would really feel for them.”

(Seán Reynolds of Louth reacts after his side's defeat in the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Monaghan at Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile)

Paul Mathews’ performance

One bright spark in Louth’s second half was Paul Mathews, who made a real difference when he was introduced.

The manager said: “Paul looked really, really sharp, he gave us a bit more of a presence there in that middle third.

“His go-forward directness turned the Monaghan defence and created overlaps. He certainly did what was asked.”

(18 February 2024; Paul Mathews of Louth during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Meath and Louth at Páirc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile)

Half-time team talk

With his side trailing by 15 points at the break, Brennan’s message was simple.

“Well, what do you say, what tactics? I was fairly calm. You just have to say to the lads: is this how good you are?

“So, I think they were all a bit disappointed, as we were as well as the management, in that we hadn’t shown our true colours.

“The lads were aware there is a full house here for the game today. There is a massive support behind them, a huge support for Monaghan too, to be fair.

“Is this the memory you want to give the Louth faithful when they leave the grounds today? That we are 15 points shy of Monaghan?”

The Wee County responded in the second half, and as they closed the gap to six points, belief grew in the stands.

(Sam Mulroy of Louth celebrates after scoring his side's first goal, a penalty, during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Monaghan at Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile)

Important decisions

Louth were dealt a hammer blow when Rory Beggan capitalised on a three-on-three infringement to score a two-pointer, effectively ending the contest.

He said: “It was, and that is part of the game. We got caught maybe twice against Westmeath the first day, and I’m not sure what happened in the other games in between, but we got caught twice there today.

“Again, it is a rule, how it is officiated is something which I would certainly question. It is extremely draconian, the punishment.

“Then to be able to bring the ball back out for a two-pointer for an inter-county free-kick taker—I don’t think it should be a two-pointer.”

(16 June 2024; Monaghan goalkeeper Rory Beggan kicks a free during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 3 match between Monaghan and Meath at Kingspan Breffni in Cavan. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile)

Injuries

Injuries have played their part in Louth’s season, with key players like Andy McDonnell, All-Star Craig Lennon, and Ciarán Keenan unavailable.

“Well, if you have fellas of that calibre taken out of any squad, then you are going to miss what they bring,” Brennan said.

“To be fair to the panel as a whole, the guys are putting in a huge shift and a huge effort. We are, through design and through injuries, able to give lads game time to see how they stand out at this level.

“That in itself is a positive, but in the here and now it is just disappointing not to be able to get the results.

“There are other lads working hard in the background, and hopefully, they will be back in a couple of weeks.”

With two weeks until their trip to Páirc Uí Chaoimh to face Cork, Brennan hopes to have some of those players back.

“I hope so. Ah no, it would be nice to get them back in. I say that flippantly, but they are working hard behind the scenes.

“We probably have been looking at it as a management team, and we are just quite unlucky with some of the niggles and knocks we are taking, and it’s probably an accumulation of the load over the last few seasons.

“To go from Division 4 up to Division 2 in such a short amount of time takes an awful lot of hard work off the field.

“Fellas’ bodies just need a bit more time to be able to adapt to the demands of playing at this level.”

(Andy McDonnell of Louth in action against Miceal Rooney of Down during the Allianz Football League Division 2 match between Louth and Down at Integral GAA Grounds in Drogheda, Louth. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile)

Up next

Louth sit in a similar league position to last year, but Brennan believes they have made progress and would like to see the final fixture against Meath switched from Inniskeen to Drogheda.

“Were we two points at this stage last year? I guess here we have four points, and we have blooded a whole lot of players - I think eight or ten new lads all getting game time at different stages.

“So, in terms of black-and-white progress compared to last year, you would say we are ahead. However, there are two tough games left, and Páirc Uí Chaoimh will be a very tough challenge.”