Devlin “So proud” of his Louth players

Louth senior football manager Gavin Devlin admitted he was immensely proud of his players after they secured a fourth successive victory in the Allianz National Football League with a win over Kildare at Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge on Sunday afternoon.

The result saw the Wee County finish third in Division Two, just one point outside the promotion places, capping an impressive run of form after a difficult start to the campaign.

READ NEXT: PHOTOS | Pictures from Louth's win over Kildare in the National Football League

Speaking after the game, Devlin said: “It was brilliant to finish with another win, and we knew it wasn't going to be easy because, again, after last week's game with Derry, there were no new players in.

“We were still picking from the same players. Not only that, but lads also that haven’t played all year after the Derry game, it was a really tough week trying to get them back and trying to get their bodies right.

“You could see we only had 24 (players) today in the subs, and there was one stage I looked around at Ciarán Sloan, the S&C coach, and said, 'You might have to put on a red jersey here'.

“We needed them to sustain it at half-time when the boys were so sore at half-time. We're like, you've got to get us through here, you’ve got to see this game out.

“I'm so proud of these guys from after that game against Meath after round three. It was such a difficult place and then to do what they've done, four games on the trot, it's all credit to them really.”

Louth’s surge in the league has underlined the resilience within the panel, with Devlin pointing to the group’s determination to keep going despite injuries and fatigue.

“Today was a different game from last week. The game was different conditions, and the game was so open.

“It was like ping pong from one side to the other, and that last 15 minutes, particularly, it was a bit of chaos in it, and that's the new game as well.

“You've got to be able to roll the dice in that as well, and the boys were going down and cramping and sore, and we just had to find a way, and I'm just delighted for them that they found a way.

“We knew the permutations coming here today was so unlikely that we'd want to go to Division One, but we still, that aside, we still so badly wanted to win this game.

“Just to keep momentum and to see it through the way they did, I'm just delighted for them.”

Callaghan and Campbell injuries

Louth’s task became even tougher when Eoghan Callaghan and Dermot Campbell were forced off early, but the visitors regrouped quickly to stay in control.

“We had to make a jump right away because at that stage Kildare had a lot of momentum and they started really fast, Kildare, which we knew they would because there's so much riding on the game for Kildare.

“So, we had to work that out, but ‘Callo’, it looks nasty with ‘Callo’, and we'll have to assess him tomorrow, Dermot, I think is grand.

“But ‘Callo's’ is a rotten one again, and ‘Callo’ over the last, from his comeback in after Christmas, after Naomh Mairtin, he's been the revelation.

“It's guys like him that has us in this position that we're in today, and it's just devastating, and we spoke about it actually last night. Because we knew that Kildare had a lot riding on the game as opposed to us, because we knew the permutations.

“But we had to find a way to win the game, and we spoke about that because when you go out there to represent Louth, there's no guarantee that you're going to be, from one week on the training field to after the game, Peter Lynch can tell you, there's no guarantee.

“Just take one game at a time and lo and behold there, ‘Callo’ got a nasty one.”

Impact subs

Louth’s substitutes again played a key role, something Devlin had demanded throughout the campaign.

“I just keep saying this, but that's what we're after. We're after lads, they're not panel players, they're in to make a difference. What's the point?

“The amount of sacrifice these boys give on a weekly basis, they put their life on hold. They want minutes, they need minutes, and to know that every one of them is capable of coming in and adding value.

“I thought today, (Ciarán) ‘Kiki’ Keenan was immense, from start to finish, his touch, and he kept forcing the issue to Kildare and even at difficult periods of the game for us, he was one player for me that stood up today.

“I don't like singling out players, but for him today, I thought ‘Kiki’ was immense.”

Kieran McArdle

Louth’s scoring power again proved decisive, with Kieran McArdle’s goal coming at a crucial stage.

“What a goal it was again, it was through the foot in a transitional moment again, and yeah, Kildare were coming on strong in that moment, and they were leaving the space in behind.

“We had to catch them to keep their paws off us a wee bit, so that was a very, very important score, and it wasn't an easy finish either, he just tucked it away nicely, so yeah, he's had a great National League campaign as well.”

Focus on Leinster

Attention now switches to the Leinster championship clash with Wexford in four weeks’ time, with Devlin hopeful the squad will have bodies back.

“There's none of them too bad, I don't feel, I feel that it's not the injuries we have now, it's injuries between now and then that we pick up in the training field, we train quite hard.

“So yeah, look, everyone's dealing with these hurdles, but yeah, look, I feel we'll be in a good enough place for Wexford.

“I just alluded out there in another interview that I had this same feeling with Derry under Mickey (Harte) a couple of years ago, we were National League champions and then all of a sudden, the wheels came off.

“As a coach, I got to learn from that and know that that's this season, this part of the season's over, and we'll be defined by what happens hereafter.

“We just got to get a bit of recovery now for a week or so, let the lads get reset, but we quickly got to get after it and hound this Leinster championship.”

Grounded

A large Louth support travelled to Newbridge to reflect the growing optimism around the team, but Devlin is determined to keep the focus on what lies ahead.

“It's a completely different competition now, it really is, and yeah, you could be trying to, the taps in the back is difficult to take sometimes when you're not used to them.

“But I think our lads, in fairness to them, have navigated this so well over the last number of weeks, and they're experienced now, they've been here.

“They've been around the block now, and they know the pitfalls, so yeah, I'm very encouraged in what I'm seeing here.”

Recovery

With no competitive games before the championship, the Louth management will carefully manage the next few weeks.

“It's just getting that balance now with games because we've played so many games now, and boys have to recover, and then we have to go after a different competition where it's a different detail.

“The ground's starting to tighten up now, it's a new game now, today's game compared to even last week's game, it's a completely different game, so it's trying to get that balance.

“You know, we have work to do in the training field, and when you plan games or plan too many games, it really nullifies your training. I'm not ruling any challenge games out, but at this moment in time, I wouldn't be jumping at them.”

Division Two

While promotion slipped away, Devlin believes the campaign achieved its main objectives.

“We don't get too complacent because we genuinely keep saying with the new stadium, we had to make sure and guarantee that we were in Division Two.

“That's not an easy obstacle, it's so tough, and then thereafter we had to make sure that we were in the All-Ireland series, and after the derby game we cemented that as well.

“Then today was like let's just go and finish the job off and whatever happens, happens and we have a nice meal now back in Muldoon's in Ardee, and I think we'll enjoy that tonight.”