Louth hurlers aim for strong start in Nickey Rackard Cup opener

Louth senior hurlers will make the trip west this Saturday for their opening Nickey Rackard Cup clash against Sligo at Markievicz Park at 3.00pm.

There’s a strong sense of quiet confidence building within the Wee County camp after an impressive league run that saw Trevor Hilliard’s men go unbeaten in Allianz National Hurling League, Division Four and lift the league title.

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Speaking with the Dundalk Democrat ahead of the game, Hilliard said: “Winning the league and especially then winning the cup against Fermanagh, you can't put yourself in a better place.

“Going into the Sligo game, you're on a winning run. I wouldn't be under any illusions what Sligo will have. Even though they came down this year, they can still get themselves back right for the Championship.

“But on our own front, we have to be happy where we are after winning the league and topping the group. So, we're unbeaten, hopefully we can take that unbeaten run in against Sligo and keep driving forward.”

(Louth manager Trevor Hilliard before the Allianz Hurling League Division 4 final match between Fermanagh and Louth at St Mellans Park in Truagh, Monaghan. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile)

High morale

The Red camp is in good spirits following their successful Allianz National Hurling League campaign, and are fully focused on the task at hand this weekend.

“There was a good buzz about the place, the morale and that is good there was a bit of a buzz about the place when we won the league,” Hilliard said.

“From here on in it has to be full concentration on championship now so the boys know the focus is back and they're all going at it together.”

(Louth goalkeeper Conor Clancy celebrates with team mates after their side's victory in the Allianz Hurling League Division 4 final match between Fermanagh and Louth at St Mellans Park in Truagh, Monaghan. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile)

Injuries

However, not everything is smooth sailing heading into Saturday, with several players carrying knocks and remain a doubt for the Magpies clash.

“On the injury front, we have a lot of injuries, probably still, just carrying knocks and that,” he revealed. 

“Adam (Plunkett), Andrew Smyth, Brian Corcoran, and Thomas McCreesh, we've got a few knocks and that, and Sam Phelan.

“So, these are things we hope we can tidy up in another week, maybe we might get one or two of them back, but we'll definitely be short a few of them (for the Sligo game) I'd say anyway.”

(Mark Gahan of Louth during the Allianz Hurling League Division 4 final match between Fermanagh and Louth at St Mellans Park in Truagh, Monaghan. Photo by Stephen Marken/Sportsfile)

Opponents

Sligo are expected to bring serious intensity to the contest, and Hilliard is under no illusions about the challenge they pose.

“I expect Sligo to bring aggression, and they've Conor Hanniffy in the forward line, so they're going to be tough. Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch is going to be in the inside line.

“You know, he's their free taker, but he still is scoring off play at the minute. So they have a good lot of men to watch. They'll bring a big fight to the game.

“There'll be something very similar to Fermanagh. You know, there'll be no ball won easily on the ground. We'd be probably hoping that the weather stays good.

“But there are definitely plenty of threats up front, so we'd have to be making sure that our men are well aware of them. So, we're taking nothing for granted.

“And, you know, a championship is a different ballgame. You know, the league's over, done and dusted. So, Sligo will be saying that to their buddies.

“We have to make sure that we prepare our team best possible, and get the matchups right hopefully on the day that we can get over the line.”

(Gerard O'Kelly Lynch of Sligo during the Allianz Hurling League Division 3A Final match between Mayo and Sligo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile)

Rest of the group

Beyond Sligo, the Wee County will also face Fermanagh, Mayo, Roscommon, and Armagh in a group where every point will matter.

“You have to look at some of the other teams. You look at probably Mayo's going to be strong after winning Division Three, so they’re a full division nearly ahead of you after beating London.

“But you have to look at the rest of them then, like Fermanagh, Armagh, Roscommon, Sligo. Like, these teams probably are all very evenly matched. I can't see a point or two between any of these teams.

“So it's whoever gets a bit of a rub in the green on the day if it's taking our scores, not striking the wides, is going to get over the line in these games. So we hopefully will be, the ones that get things going for us.”

(Oisin Greally of Mayo in action against Gerard O'Kelly Lynch of Sligo during the Allianz Hurling League Division 3A Final match between Mayo and Sligo at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile)

Chasing more silverware

Louth have reached the Nickey Rackard Cup final four times before with the most recent in 2012 but are still chasing that elusive title. It is something Hilliard, who played in the 2005 and 2008 finals, wants to rectify.

“The competition probably has gotten even tougher as well. I played back in 2005 and 2008 myself. It's very disheartening when you get up there and you don't bring the silverware home, that's something that still stays with me.

“And then we were beaten in 2011 and 2012. You know, so it's something you have to think about. It's in the game. It'd be great to get the likes of Louth back to that.

“The good days. It's been a while, like you are thirteen years down the line, since you've last played in it. So, we'd be hoping.

“We're in a building process with our boys, we have a lot of new lads in, and working on fresh faces, working on young lads as well.

“We're kind of hoping that we'd be able to, between this year and next year or whatever and build and see how far we can push in this Nickey Rackard. 

“And, you know, confidence is high in the camp of the minute. So hopefully, we can bring that confidence into the Nicky Rackard and please, God, we can deliver in the game.”

(Trevor Hilliard, Louth, in action against Fergus McMahon, left, and Brian Foley, London. Nickey Rackard Cup Final, Louth v London, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture by Brian Lawless/Sportsfile)