Louth hurlers "got scores at the right time" says McArdle

Louth senior hurlers secured a four-point victory over Fermanagh at Brewster Park, Enniskillen, on Sunday afternoon.

When speaking after the game, joint manager Paddy McArdle said: “Happy with the two points, surely. Yeah, we probably made hard work of it there in the end.

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“We started flying, we looked like we'd kicked on, and we let them back into the game at the end of the first half.

“We came out at the start of the second half, got the first couple of scores, let them back into it again, couple of soft scores there running through the middle.

“A sloppy old goal, but we showed a lot of character to come back into it there and get the scores at the right time at the end to finish it out.”

In a blistering opening spell, the forwards clicked early and often to stretch Fermanagh before the hosts could settle. McArdle saw both the promise and the flaws.

“Happy in one way, not happy in the other, happy with them, they're getting the scores, but there's a whole lot of tackles there that they're missing and probably tracking and hustling and hurrying.

“But yeah, we're happy with them, there's a couple of them there, they're only coming back to fitness from long-term injuries.

“So, we're happy to get them on the field, and we're going in the right direction with them. We're just trying to get them all fit at this stage, and once we get them all fit, there'll be a different animal.”

Defence

At the back, Louth found their platform as their defence stood firm when the pressure came, particularly through the middle.

“Aaron (McGuinness) has been very good for us, actually. A bit of a surprise package. He was put in there forcibly from injuries and whatever else.

“Conor Quigley's out for a brave while, Conor has been the Louth full back for the last two years.

“Aaron was then, has went in, and he's been superb in there, very steady when there's a ball in the ground, he normally comes out with.

“He's very good coming out of the ball with (Stephen) Kettle and ‘Hodgy’ (Sean Hodgins) on either side of him playing excellent hurling too.

“Then you go into that halfback line - big Mick (Michael O’Shea) there is a great addition for us as well. I know he was there last year, but we didn't see a big pile of him.

“Peter (Fortune) is just as usual self in centre halfback, and then you have on the other side, there we have John Casey as well. John hurled very, very well there as well.”

Midfield

In midfield, the balance was telling with the talented Seán Flynn joined by marksman Darren Geogheghan.

“Sean's excellent. Sean's a great player. Sean has a great attitude. He just tracks everything and chases everything.

“And if there's a score to be taken, as you've seen there at the very end, he'll definitely take the score.

“The two of them complement each other. Darren sort of likes floating out into wee pockets of space. And Sean just gets through a mountain of work and tries to find Darren with the ball to make him look like a bit of a superstar.”

Fermanagh comeback

Momentum swung after the break as Fermanagh surged. Louth wobbled before they hit back.

“Maybe they were two (points) ahead at one stage, was it? They went two ahead, and then we got the scores at the right times.

“We took Andrew (Cosgrave) out to the middle of the field, and he got us a couple of great scores from in around the middle there and sort of steadied the ship a wee bit.

“Seán Flynn got one, Conor Murphy got one. You know, as I say, we got the right scores at the right time of the game.

“And here listen, there's nothing won after 60 minutes, it's who's on the right side of it after 70.”

Debut double

For Cosgrove, it was a debut to remember as he netted a brace.

“Two goals for Andrew on his debut, aye, he's a great addition for us as you can see he's not anywhere close to being fit there at the minute.

“But that's something we'll be working on over the next lock of months.”

Clancy save

There was a moment when it might have slipped. A crucial Conor Clancy save and a contentious goal.

“Conor made an excellent save in the first half. He was probably unlucky for that one down there. I thought the man came in and pulled on him.

“But here listen, the referee's seen it differently, and all that ends up is balls in the back of the net.

“Aaron probably should have dealt with it a wee bit better. There's maybe a black mark against his name.

“He should have probably dealt with it a bit better, but listen, we showed a bit of character to get the scores at the right time to get us over the line.”

Break

Now, a two-week break and a chance to heal bodies and sharpen edges before Roscommon.

“Oh absolutely, you'll take a break any time you can get it, especially when we're lads trying to come back from fitness, from different injuries and that.

“In the two weeks, you'll maybe see Conor Quigley coming out onto the field soon for us. Mark Gahan played his first game there today for this season.

“So, we'll be happy enough to get a wee break now, we can regroup this weekend, get a bit of work done and get back out for Roscommon in two weeks' time.”