Louth LGFA “taking nothing for granted” says boss

Louth LGFA team put their unbeaten record on the line this weekend as they host Limerick in a pivotal Division Three encounter.

The Wee County started their national league campaign with an opening day draw to Down, followed by a win over Clare, and most recently, a 4-9 to 0-8 victory against Fermanagh.

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Manager Kevin Larkin has liked what he has seen, but refuses to become complacent for the remainder of the league.

He told the Dundalk Democrat: “I am delighted with the start so far. I mean, we have played three really strong teams in Down, Clare, and Fermanagh.

“Clare were in an All-Ireland intermediate final a few years ago. They are a very good team. They beat us last year, so to get a result and to go unbeaten against them is really good.

“Obviously, Fermanagh beat the girls two years ago in the All-Ireland final, so it is nice to get a win there, but look, it is only the start of the league, and we’re only three games in, so we won't be taking anything for granted.

“It’s great that we are unbeaten, but we need to go the full league unbeaten if we have to have a chance of promotion because all the teams are so evenly matched.

“But it is a great start, and I am very proud of all the work that the girls are putting in and the management team as well, and it is showing on the pitch.”

Fine margins

Louth sit second in the table, level on points with Antrim, as Down lurk close behind. Draws have shaped the early rounds.

“To get two wins and one draw from your opening three games, I am very happy with that because there is genuinely not much between any of the teams.

“The proof of that is that there have been so many draws. I can’t remember a division where so many teams have drawn.

“I think maybe Fermanagh have drawn two of their games, Roscommon are the same, I think Laois have drawn a game, we have drawn a game, obviously Down have drawn a game.

“So there is genuinely only a kick of a ball in it between a lot of these teams. So to get two wins on the board and be unbeaten so far is very good, and I’m very happy with it.

“But look, again, as I said before, it’s a very tough, long league. The games don’t get easier; we have Limerick at home next.

“Limerick gave us a scare last year in the All-Ireland series. They are a very tough team. I know the results probably haven’t been going their way, but they are well capable of bouncing back.

“The it doesn’t get any easier after that, you have Laois, Roscommon, and Antrim.

“It is great to get the wins, but we are not taking anything for granted, and we are not patting ourselves on the back just yet. We just need to get over Limerick and then on to the last three games.”

Belief

There is quiet confidence in the Louth camp that has been built on work-rate and backed by experience.

“Look, we are happy with where we are at now, but every player is under no illusion about how tough the last few games are going to be.

“The girls are very mentally strong. You have the Fechins players in there who won the Leinster championship this year.

“We also have Pats who have won a few, we have girls who have won stuff with their minor teams and intermediate stuff with their clubs.

“So it is a dressing room full of winners, but the girls’ mental toughness comes from all the hard work they are doing, it's not arrogance.

“They believe in what they are doing because they are all working very hard, and it is just great to be a part of.

“We have a bit of momentum on our side. Momentum is very important in football, and we have that now, so we just have to keep that momentum going.

“I said to the girls before the Fermanagh game, win or lose, it is not going to be a defining game in our season, and I still believe that. We still have big games to come. We have a Leinster championship and then an All-Ireland series.

“We believe in what we are doing, which is really important, and everybody is rowing in the same direction, so it’s a great dressing room to be a part of.”

Limerick

Larkin knows the visitors’ league position offers little reassurance.

“I know, probably looking at the table and the results, Limerick probably haven’t been going as well as they would have hoped, but it can happen some years, you just lose a few players.

“Limerick have always been traditionally strong, and I don’t know if they have players to come back or players who were injured and have come back.

“I tell you one thing, we won't be taking them for granted because they are a very good team. Last year in the All-Ireland series, they probably gave us one of our toughest games down in Limerick.

“It was looking at one stage that it wasn’t going our way, but again the girls pulled it out of the bag.

“Irrespective of the results that they’ve had in the previous games, we don’t really read too much into that. We take every game on merit, and we also give every team the respect that they deserve.

“We will be doing our homework on them, and we will be putting our heads down now to get ready for them, but we will definitely not be taking them for granted because they are a very good team.”

Injuries

Preparation has not been without its knocks, although nothing major; careful management is required.

“We have a few niggly injuries, alright. Mia (Duffy) is coming back from an injury, and we have Rachel Beirth coming back as well, hopefully will be getting minutes.

“We have a few girls who are carrying knocks and stuff. It is tough because we have had to do a lot of our training on the astro.

“We are very lucky that we have the astro to train on, but you know yourself, it can be a bit taxing on the body, and we’ve played two matches on the astro as well.

“We played on in Darver, and we played one down in Clare, and that is tough. It is hard on the body. But we have no major injury concerns going into the game, so hopefully we just plough on and get the win.”