Louth U20 hurlers "Will get there" says management team

Louth U20 hurlers fell to a 0-9 to 0-14 loss to Monaghan in the Ulster GAA Hurling U20 Development League final at Dowdallshill this afternoon.

Despite a determined effort, the Wee County struggled to take their opportunities, and Monaghan were full value to secure their win. 

The management team of Aidan Carter and Ronan Mulholland reflected on the game afterward, acknowledging the disappointment but also focusing on the positives of their young squad's journey. 

READ NEXT: Louth U20 hurlers undone by Monaghan in Ulster GAA Development League final

Speaking after the game, Carter noted how they had gone into halftime just a point behind and believed that they could push on in the second half with the wind at their backs. 

He told the Dundalk Democrat: “I suppose at the end of the first half we went in a point down and we thought that we would lift it in the second and kick on with a bit of a breeze behind us. 

“Monaghan kind of came out with the same attitude and we were second to every ball, and our touch at times just didn’t fall. 

“We gave too many frees away too, which was kind of our downfall really on the day.” 

Missed chances

Both sides had their fair share of wides, but Louth struggled to make their chances count when it mattered most. 

“We put a couple of balls in around the square there where they just went on the wrong side of the post for us at times,” Carter explained. 

“I suppose you need that little bit of luck to go with you as well and it just seemed that even our free talking. 

“Lads who were normally reliable and can put them over with their eyes closed they just seemed to either fall short or drop wide or whatever, but it didn’t happen for us.” 

Player development 

Mulholland spoke of the the importance of this competition for player development rather than just silverware. 

He said: “It is great that we have this competition and that we have lads out playing, especially at this time of the year when the clubs are only starting to come back now towards the end of this month. 

“For the players as individuals, their character building and making sure that they are making big strides themselves both on and off the pitch is a massive thing. 

“Playing other counties and seeing where the counties around us are at as well is a massive thing and unfortunately for us today we weren't at the races fully. 

“Fair play to Monaghan, they came out and they got the job done. If we were to say at the beginning of the year that we were going to make it to an Ulster final, I think we would have been laughed at. 

“We have punched well above our weight, and we are absolutely delighted with the effort that the lads have given us so far. 

“We look forward now to two or three weeks’ time when we have our championship rolling around, so we will go and give that a good bash. We will regroup and go again.” 

Carter echoed these thoughts and pointed out the youth in the squad and how this team will only improve with time. 

“The majority of the team we have are U20s for the next two years, so it is good, and it is about building on what you have there,” he said. “The idea then is to feed into the senior team.” 

Monaghan and the future 

Monaghan have now beaten the Wee County twice this season, and Carter acknowledged that they were simply the better side on the day. 

He admitted: “I think the first day we really left it behind us and again it was kind of missed opportunities and decision-making. 

“Today I think overall they were the better team to be fair to them. They had that hunger in them, and they drove on. 

“They took their scores when they came up and their free-taking was exemplary as well, so fair play to them and hats off to them.” 

Looking ahead, Mulholland is determined to use this setback as a learning experience. 

“We will continue on and we will get back out on the pitch and work on what didn’t happen today and make sure we correct them for the next championship game that is coming up,” he said. 

“We will get it sorted. Our team is very young, we have another two years probably with the vast majority of the panel, and we will get there.” 

Despite the disappointment, there is a clear sense of optimism in the Louth camp. With a young squad and lessons learned from this campaign, they are confident that better days lie ahead.