Louth “Didn't bring A-game” says Devlin

Louth suffered a 1-12 to 1-17 defeat to Cork in the Allianz National Football League at Integral GAA Grounds, Drogheda this afternoon. Manager Gavin Devlin admitted his side never truly found their rhythm when it mattered most.

Speaking after the game, he said: “At the start of the game, we started pretty well, but the lack of efficiency again cost us, like in the new game, when you're not putting the ball dead.

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“We had something like 10 wides and six balls dropping short in the goalkeeper's hands. It's just so unlike us. Last week was such a different picture, but I suppose Cork has to take some credit for that.

“Just in the new game and then the suicides running back the other way, it just drains you. But look, in terms of every other aspect of the game, I thought our kick-outs with young Tiernan (Markey) in goals, I thought he was fine.

“Some super kick-outs and from the restarts, which was really, really good, but the efficiency in the new game, you've just got to put the ball dead.”

Cork’s goal shifted the momentum.

“I think that's something as well that we felt on the sideline that was seeping into our game, that we started really well.

“But they got the goal, and they pushed a bit of a lead for four or five points, and then we started reacting to that lead, we started doing things that were so unlike us.

“We were shooting slightly outside of the scoring zone, and we were forcing things, and we were just creating negative energy from that.

“So, yes, I think that's all part of the learning, and that's the journey that we're on. Speaking to the lads there, if we thought this was going to be pain-free or anything, we were absolutely deluded.

“That's the journey we're on, and Division Two is so tight and so difficult. There'll be peaks and troughs the whole way through, and we can't affect that result right now.

“It's gone, it's over, and it's two weeks now to the Meath game, and we've just got to refocus really, really quickly, dust ourselves down and go again, and that's the name of the game here.”

Second-half

Louth closed the gap after half-time but could not sustain it.

“At half-time again, we got in and got settled again. We knew we could nip away at the lead and chip away at it.

“For the start of the second half, again we were doing that and missed a few goal chances that we normally would put away.

“Then they got a couple of breakaway scores again, and then we started reacting to the scoreboard again and forcing things and shooting.

“Then whenever they were leading, Cork was able to play that control game around the periphery, playing around the outsides and keeping the ball.

“Cork's so physical, big and strong and athletic and when you push out, and you try to do that wee bit braver, that's when you're caught for goals.

“So we had to find that balance, and that's the way I felt in the second half, the game lacked energy and intensity, and I think that was due to the scoreboard as well.”

Cork’s control

The visitors managed the closing stages of the game well.

“I think Cork have to take credit for that because of the way they controlled the ball, and I think they played the game really, really well, and when they were in the lead, they knew what to do with the lead.

“They made us suffer when they picked up possession, and they run the clock down, and then we had to be that wee bit braver, and that's whenever they went over the top, and that's what left it so difficult, the scoreboard.

“Then whenever we had opportunities to catch them in the counters and go, then we were rushing it and shooting and doing things that the scoreboard pressure was hurting us the most, I felt.

“I felt that we should have kept playing our game and not playing the scoreboard and just kept chipping away, and I think that's the learning that we took out of that today.”

Consolation goal

Dermot Campbell’s late goal offered small comfort for the Wee County.

“That's it, but that's small gains there, the annoying thing about it is the results are so, so important, but we've got to set it down, think the most important thing is the performance.

“I wouldn't be happy with the performance. The players aren't happy with the performance; they know that.

“So that's the learning we've got to go again and look to improve for the Meath game because that certainly wouldn't be me.”

Disjointed

Louth uncharacteristically failed to link their play for much of the afternoon.

“That's football, and that's coaching. The couple of threads that we really went after this week, we only had a six- or seven-day turnaround from the Offaly game.

“The things that were working so well this week are the elements and the threads in the game that let us down today.

“I felt the things that last week that we needed to improve on, we actually got a considerable improvement today, but that's it.

“It's tying everything together in the game from one thread to the next, and I just felt that today our efficiency cost us massively.”

Debuts

U20 graduates Tiernan Markey and Padraic Tinnelly were given their league debuts.

“It's just we have a big panel, I know that's one change that catches everyone's eyes, but there's three changes today and Tiernan (Markey) and Niall (McDonnell) have been doing really well all year.

“Tiernan has got serious potential, as does Niall, and we just felt that today was a game to give Tiernan a bit of game time and as was Padraic (Tinnelly).

“Padraic again today, I thought he equipped himself really well in the corner back there for his debut.

“He has so much potential, and it's trying to just drip them in as nicely as we can without forcing them in too early, but in-game time at home, particularly, is a good time to get them in.”

Response

The focus inside the Louth camp now turns to recovery.

“The beauty of it is these boys have been here many times before, they have a lot of experience, and we have got to lean on that, this is no new charity for them.

“As I said at the start of the interview, it's never going to be pain-free, and then sometimes as the league goals and if you don't get that wee bit of pain or a wee bit of slap in the mouth, you get a wee bit complacent.

“I think it's nice, although you don't go chasing these things, it's a good chance now to reset again with a bit of a break to the Meath game.

“Our guys, no doubt about it, will react to that, and that's the name of the game now, we've got to improve, and it's a good learning curve for us.”

Break

The fortnight break between games will be used for reflection and work.

“I'd be happy now to get the two-week break where we can get back on the training field now and really go after things that we feel we need to brush up on and improve.

“The last three weeks, the boys have trained and equipped themselves really, really well. It's a journey that we're on, we know it's never going to be pain-free. Cork are a very, very strong team, make no mistake about that.

“They’ll take a lot of points this year from many teams. The most disappointing thing is we didn't bring our ‘A-game’, I suppose Cork take some credit for that. But I feel that today we just didn't bring our ‘A-game’ and that's the itch.”

Cork

The Tyrone native dismissed any talk of complacency.

“Absolutely no underestimating at all. They played Kerry earlier in the season and played really, really well as well.

“I thought the Cavan game last week was fantastic down in Cork, and they put it really up to Cork. The score is all over the pitch; players on the bench can all make a massive difference as well.

“They made two changes today before the game, Matty Taylor and (Steven) Sherlock, which was two big changes for them that was certainly going to make them even better. Cork's a good team and that was a good measuring stick for us.”

Meath

Attention now turns to the next game against rivals Meath at Croke Park.

“Louth seems to like Croke Park, they have got a bit accustomed to it over the last number of years now.

“It's a lovely place to go and play, and we all look forward to those types of fixtures. Meath are our local rivals, that'll be another spicy affair.

“I'm sure they'll be mad to get at us as well and try and put things right after the Leinster final defeat. That's going to be another exciting game.

“No one wants to compete, but very quickly you learn that you have to set these things down and move on and get ready for the next one. That's the most important thing now.”