Larkin looks ahead to Louth LGFA clash against the Mourne County

Louth LGFA manager Kevin Larkin is not given to empty promises as his side prepares for their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division Three opener against Down this afternoon.

A demanding pre-season, including tough challenge games and fresh faces, has sharpened standards across the panel. According to the manager, a demanding winter has built belief within the squad.

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He said: “The mood in the camp is really positive. We are in preseason mode, so the training is very tough, but in fairness to the players, they are really putting in the effort.

“We played three challenge matches, and our last challenge match against Dublin was really positive.

“Every player got equal game time, and I suppose it was a great match to start the league. You are playing the All-Ireland champions.

“Now I know obviously they might have been missing a few players, but so were we, but there were plenty of girls who played in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park a few months ago for Dublin playing.

“So, it was a really positive game and a great introduction, I suppose, for the new players to be able to play against the All-Ireland champions.

“That is what we want to emulate. So, the mood is really positive, and we have new management as well this year.

“Danny McGarvey, Linda Martin, Sean Temple, and David here from last year as well. They are really enthusiastic, and I am really happy with how everything is going.”

Big turnover

Competition for jerseys has never been stronger.

“We have a big turnover this year. All in all, we are probably down about seven or eight girls from last year for various reasons.

“Obviously, Kate Flood retired and a few others. Girls have gone travelling, etc., girls have decided to take a step back from the panel this year.

“So, it is a bit of a turnover, but to be honest, the players who have come in have really hit the ground running.

“It has been really good. They have come in, they have worked extremely hard, and they have put their names right in the mix for the opening match of the national league.

“It's going to be a very difficult team to pick, and every girl seems to be stepping up to the plate.

“It has been great because there is not one player on the panel who is not willing to work hard.

“When you have a panel full of players who are willing to work hard, that is a good base and a good starting point. The world is your oyster after that, I suppose.

“The new players have come in and settled in. But it is a very good team to come into and a very good culture to come into.

“When you have players like Aine Breen, Eimear Murray, Eilish Hand, Ceire Nolan, Shannon (McLoughlin), Aoife Halligan, and Laura Collins – I could go on.

“I'm probably missing a few players there, Louise (Byrne), Seoda (Matthews), Holly (Lambe-Fagan), these girls set the tone in training, they set the standards and players have to meet those standards.

“So, we are blessed in that sense that we have those senior players there who are driving on the standards.

“They are also very welcoming to new girls and new players coming onto the team. It is just a great atmosphere, and I am absolutely thrilled with the panel we have this year.

“We can't kid ourselves either; it might take the new players one or two matches to get up to the pace of the inter-county game with the new rules coming in as well.

“We are in a bit of a transition, but in terms of our preparation and the new players that have come on to the team, their work rate, I cannot ask for more.

“It is exciting and nervous because, like I said, it might take one or two games to get up to the pace, but by God, they are trying hard.”

Injuries

Setbacks have been met with commitment and patience.

“We have a few players that have picked up little niggly injuries, and we have a few players who, unfortunately, probably won't be back for a while.

“Moya Corrigan broke her hand in a pre-season game. She was very unlucky and had an excellent year with the Fechins.

“She was fantastic for her club and brilliant last year for the minors as well. But listen, Moya is a great girl. She was up at training, and she was running and working hard.

“Obviously, she is limited to what she can do with her hand, but again, the attitude there is absolutely spot on and no doubt she will be back soon.

“Caoimhe (Boyle) did her ACL last year, but she is a fantastic player as well. She was very unlucky last year with injury. I think she broke her hand as well in the Leinster match against Carlow.

“But again, she had a really positive attitude about it. Knows what she has to do to get back and is working really hard to get back.

“When she is back fit and back onto the panel, she will be an absolutely amazing addition to come back in and will strengthen our defence.

“Naturally, you have a few niggly injuries. Mia (Duffy) picked up a quad injury in one of the games as well, so she is coming back.

“Then you have a few players – Eilish (Hand) got married, and she is on her honeymoon at the moment, and we will be getting her back.

"No matter what you say about Eilish Hand, she is a Louth legend, so we can't wait to get her back.

“Look, you are always going to have your injuries, but the big strength with our team is that we have amazing players to come in and take their place, but hopefully we get all those girls back.”

Pre-season prep

Tough tests have sharpened tactics and standards.

“We have played four challenge games we played against Offaly, TUD, Kildare, and Dublin. Sometimes it is hard to gauge where you are at with challenge matches.

“A team we could be playing against could have gone back before you have, you’re only back a week.

“Obviously, then there are girls who are not used to your system and who might be trialling and things like that, so you always take challenge games with a pinch of salt.

“But I have to say I think in every game we have improved, and getting the challenge matches in particular against Kildare and Dublin.

“Obviously, Dublin are the All-Ireland champions, but Kildare are a very good team too. They are Division One, and they are senior.

“So, playing teams like that is who you want to be playing. You want to get up to that pace of the game; you want to get up to the strength and conditioning.

“But I would say we have definitely improved on every challenge game, and they were invaluable, especially now with the new rules.

“We got to practice the new rules and to try and work on our shape a bit. Most teams will still be figuring that out come the start of the league.”

Down

An early test with unfinished business attached.

“Down are a fantastic team. They are an established intermediate team, and they always give us a good battle.

“Last year, they beat us by two points. I am not taking anything away from Down because they were very good that day.

“But from our own perspective, we felt that we didn’t really perform well that day. But Down are an excellent team.

“I am sure they are looking at promotion and looking at going on to win an intermediate championship because they are good enough to do both.

“We kind of have to take every game as it comes. We are in a bit of a transition period, but like that, we’re not here to just survive; we are here to compete and to hopefully win.

“Going up to Down is always going to be a tough game, but we are hoping for a better performance than last year because we felt we didn’t do ourselves justice last year.

“It is probably the one game you could pick out and say we only lost out on promotion by one point, and that is probably the game you could go back and approach differently.

“But these are all lessons to be learned. I am looking forward to it, Down are an excellent team and it will be a great challenge for us.”

Target

A squad determined to turn potential into progress.

“We spoke briefly about targets for the year, but we are going to take it each game at a time but Louth have been here before.

“Louth have won junior All-Irelands and unfortunately not been able to compete at intermediate level and gone back down. So, we are at a bit of a crossroads in terms of what we really want to do.

“But I feel like this group of players and all the good work that is being done underage with Louth girls, we are definitely good enough to not just survive at intermediate level but to actually compete and go on and try to win it.

“I suppose last year in the league we were playing the likes of Wexford and Laois. We were beating the intermediate teams, and there are no intermediate teams we would fear.

“I can guarantee that there are no intermediate teams that want to play Louth. Like I said, we are going to take it game by game and try to be patient.

“We are looking forward to the year, but we really do have to try and push on as a group, and we are definitely good enough to do that.

“We have amazing young talent coming through, even at club level. Look at what the Fechins did this year. It was fantastic winning their first senior county title and then going on to win a Leinster championship, and unlucky not to get to an All-Ireland final.

“It is an amazing achievement and hopefully that inspires not just players at St Fechins but club players all around the county.

“There are very good things happening in Louth at the moment, both at club level and at inter-county level.

“We are hoping to keep that momentum going and try and build on what we achieved last year and push on at intermediate.”