Louth Ladies “focused on winning the All-Ireland” says boss

Louth Ladies' footballers are just one game away from booking their place in a second straight All-Ireland Junior Football Championship final.

The Wee County take on Longford tomorrow at St. Tiernach’s Park, Clones, aiming to build on their unbeaten run through the group stages and return to Croke Park. Throw-in at 2.00pm.

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While Louth topped their group with four wins from four, manager Kevin Larkin is under no illusions about the challenge ahead.

Having guided Louth to the Leinster title earlier in the summer, Larkin now has his sights set firmly on a return to GAA HQ. He said: “Obviously that was our goal at the start of the year to get back to Croke Park and we're one match away now.

“But Longford are a very good team, and we'll take them very, very seriously, it's the semi-final, anything can happen.

“I think the results in both the ladies and the men over the last few months, you look at Meath, you look at the Limerick hurlers or whatever, you'd be very foolish to underestimate anybody at this stage of the championship.

“So, we'll be going in fully focused like we have been in every game and it's all just about the performance on the day for us. 

“We believe that if we perform to the level that we're capable of, we'll get over the line and hopefully be in Croke Park then.”

Longford test

The sides met earlier in the year during the Leinster Championship, where Louth just edged it. That match left a strong impression on Larkin.

“The one thing is they were very tough to break down. Yeah, they're very physical as well. No, they're definitely a good side and like that I suppose they're probably going in with the mentality that they've nothing to lose and we're favourites.

“That can be dangerous as well, a team that's nothing to lose but they caused us huge problems in the Leinster Championship.

“We only won that match by a point, Aine Breen got the last two points and like I said, we found it very tough in the second half to break them down defensively.

“They were very well set up so no, it's by absolutely no means a given and as I said, we're just kind of fully focused on our performance and we firmly believe that if we do perform, that we'll get the result.”

Squad development

Larkin, in his first season in charge, has seen steady improvement as the team found its shape and structure.

“I suppose just from my own perspective coming in with a new management team this year, it takes a while to implement your style of play and things like that. We were maybe playing players in different positions that weren't used to.

“But look on a positive in that Leinster campaign, every single member of our panel played at least one match in that Leinster campaign and every single player contributed to that Leinster win.

“I believe we're a different team now. We have a different structure and yeah, we've just gone from strength to strength, but I couldn't be happier with the performances.

“There's games there we probably should have lost because we weren't playing that well but that's, for me, that's the sign of a good team when you're, I suppose, you're not playing well and you're still getting results.

“We tried a few different things, tried a few different players in different positions and I feel now we know what works best for us.

“We're in a good place at the moment. Training is going great and every girl on the panel seems to be happy so yeah, all about the performance, like I keep saying.”

Leinster victory

The Leinster Championship, while not the highest-profile competition, gave Louth the perfect platform to build confidence and unity.

“It's a very, very worthwhile competition and we were able to play all of our panel, we were able to maybe try a few different things. Like the league can be very pressurised... in the Leinster Championship, you do get to try different players.

“At the end of the day winning a trophy, like at any level, at any competition is very hard and it meant so much to the girls. The girls had a great night out that night and every single player in that panel contributed to winning that.

“So, it was just a great occasion and, yeah, it's a great competition and great preparation for the junior.

“But, like I said, at the end of it, there is a trophy and every team wants to win that and it gives you great momentum and gives you a great boost going into a junior All-Ireland.”

Down defeat

Louth’s last loss came in the league against Down, a result that ultimately cost them promotion but also served as a wake-up call.

“Down are obviously a very good team and they're playing a grade above us but... we really believe in that Down game that we just didn't perform on the day.

“We spoke about it after, and it wasn't panic stations... We had a meet, and we went through the reasons why and since then we've just kicked on and we haven't lost a match.

“That league game was a great league game to learn from because we missed out on promotion by one point... So, from that standpoint, it was a good lesson for us... that's something that we've taken into the junior All-Ireland.

“You look ahead to an All-Ireland semi-final, the games against Sligo and Limerick will mean nothing if we don't beat Longford.

“We know we have to perform and if we don't it can cost us promotion like it did in the league and it could cost us a day in Croke Park.”

Group winners 

While Louth’s win over Sligo ensured they finished top of the group, Larkin stressed that they remained focused on what they could control.

“We weren't really focused on finishing top because... you can't focus on stuff that you can't control. We were focusing on the controllables... and keeping our momentum up and that's exactly what we did.

“If you're going to win, you're going to have to beat every team in it... the tougher games, the better and, like I said, if you're going to win, you're going to have to beat everybody.

“Whoever we were going to play in the semi-final, that was it and we were just going to get on with it.”

Injuries

The squad is largely healthy, but one experienced head may still miss out.

“Aoife Russell hurt her ankle but it's not serious or anything like that. Laura Collins... She rolled her ankle in training a few weeks ago and she's been a massive loss.

“Even her experience around the panel and just her cuteness, like, go back to that Wexford goal that she got in the league... You can't train that experience.

“She’s a fantastic player and a great role model... we're hoping to have her back, Laura, hopefully for the semi-final but being honest, we're not sure. But I can tell you one thing, she'll try her absolute damnedest to get back as quick as she can.”

Last year

Louth lost last year’s All-Ireland final to Fermanagh, and though Larkin wasn’t in charge then, he knows how much it drives the players still involved.

“Yeah, absolutely and sometimes the hardest thing to do when you lose a final like that is get back to a final. It's a credit to them that they were able to pick themselves up, get back training and the work that they've put in is just phenomenal.

“They're very determined and driven... and I suppose it's not so much getting back to Croke Park... it's playing at the level that maybe they think they should be at.

“There’s some very, very, very good teams left... it’s not a given by any fact. But... It's a long road back when you lose one... and these girls have done it absolutely fantastic.

“We brought in a few new players to the panel... and then we have a few minors coming in as well... We just have a great blend of freshness... and we're all just really focused on winning the All-Ireland, simple as.”

Clones

Larkin believes Clones is a fitting venue for such an occasion and hopes the players rise to it.

“Yeah, I played there, oh God, years and years and years ago with the minors but to be honest I don't really remember...

“I'm pretty sure the girls played a National League final here maybe two or three years ago and they won so they love the ground and it's a fantastic stadium like it really is, the pitch is perfect.

“Yeah, we're just really looking forward to it now it has all the makings to be a great match... 

“The girls, every ladies football player in Ireland puts in a savage amount of work, just as hard as the men do and they deserve these platforms, and they deserve these big days out...

“I can tell you one thing... the sacrifices, the time, everything that the players give, they deserve these big platforms and these big days... Hopefully going forward that's just a given... but no, look, we're really excited for it and looking forward to it.”