Louth aim to bounce back against Down

Louth head north to Newry this evening in need of a response, as they face Down in an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Group Three clash at Páirc Esler. Throw-in is at 5.30pm.

The Wee County were left licking their wounds after a tough outing against Monaghan last weekend, losing 4-8 to 1-23 in Newbridge. 

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(All-Ireland SFC Group 3, Round 2 table)

Down, on the other hand, made a statement in their opening game, easing past Clare on a scoreline of 3-27 to 1-16. It was a performance that caught the eye of Louth manager Ger Brennan.

“They had a superb performance against Clare,” Brennan admitted. “We had people watching that, their ability to break from the back was second to none.”

While Brennan had originally hoped his side could top the group and secure a direct route to the quarter-finals, that goal has now shifted.

“It’s a four-way league competition and we would have liked to have pushed hard to finish top of the group,” he said. “But now we’re going to have to fight our way and slog it out against Down and Clare.”

There is good news on the team front, though, as Brennan has freshened up the starting fifteen for this second-round tie.

Defenders Dermot Campbell and Peter Lynch both return after missing the Monaghan match due to injury. St. Mochta’s man Ciarán Byrne has also done enough to earn a starting spot in midfield, following some impressive displays of late.

Louth will again look to captain Sam Mulroy to lead the charge up front, with support from Ryan Burns, Ciarán Keenan and Conor Grimes.

Here’s how Louth will line out: 1. Niall McDonnell; 2. Daire Nally, 3. Dermot Campbell, 4. Donal McKenny; 5. Conal McKeever, 6. Peter Lynch, 7. Craig Lennon; 8. Tommy Durnin, 9. Ciarán Byrne; 10. Bevan Duffy, 11. Ciarán Downey, 12. Conor Grimes; 13. Ciarán Keenan, 14. Sam Mulroy (c), 15. Ryan Burns.

The road to the knockout stages won’t be easy, but a win today would throw Louth right back into the mix. The referee selected for today's game is Meath native David Gough.