Mulory: Lessons learned for Louth

One point separated Louth and Meath in the Allianz National Football League clash at Croke Park on Saturday evening. A disappointed Louth captain, Sam Mulroy, shared his thoughts on the narrow defeat.

READ NEXT: PICTURES | Photos from Louth's National Football League defeat to Meath

He said, “It's just very disappointing right now. I think at half-time it was about just trying to get back into the game and showing a bit of fighting character, which I thought the lads did exceptionally well.

“When you put yourself in a position to win, and you don't with the last kick of the ball, it's pure disappointment, and it's hard to sit with it right now. It was, as I said, a lot of character shown, which is a positive, I suppose, we can take from that.”

Louth found a rhythm in the second half and very nearly turned the tide on an 11-point deficit.

“I think we were very disappointed with our first half, and we know that wasn't us.

“But look, we knew there was a big breeze there, and if we started playing a little bit and got a little bit closer to their key players, took their time away a little bit more and just chipped away at the scoreboard and tried to wrestle back momentum, that was the plan, and we'd done that.

“So yeah, there's lots of positives with that second half, but there's definitely lots of lessons within the first half and the end of the game.”

Mulory and teammate Ciarán Downey were among the four players who received black cards within the opening seconds.

“I was trying to piece it together there, but when the referee says at the start of the game that if a charging man runs in, then he is going to get a red card, and then you hand out four black cards.

“So it's hard. Yeah, I don't know. I don't know. It's one of those where there's a bit of pushing and shoving, and it boils over.

“But yeah, look, it's one of those things that I haven't seen happen before. And yeah, just learn from it as well.”

The Wee County must dust themselves down as they prepare to take on Tyrone next week in Ardee.

“Yeah, big time, big time. It's going to be a massive test next week. It's one that we'll have to get ready for throughout the course of the week and see where we can improve and hopefully take a result, because we've lots to improve on.”

The Naomh Máirtín clubman spoke on Meath’s performance.

“I know how good they are, and they have six points on the board for a reason. They're after beating Derry and Cavan, who are two good sides.

“And yeah, they've lots of quality forwards, and they're a big physical team around the middle. And yeah, they're a hell of a side. But look, I think, as we've seen in the second half, no bother to our boys to stand up to that as well.”

Mulroy notched 0-9 on the day, including four two-point frees and a missed penalty.

“It's a bit of a mad day. Black card before the ball was thrown in, and then I missed a penalty. But yeah, probably overall disappointed. But yeah, look, it's one of those things”

“It's not always going to be perfect. But yeah, like the team, I'll learn from it, and we'll continue to grow.”