"We're not in a bad place", says Louth boss Devlin

Louth senior football manager, Gavin Devlin, was pleased with his side's response after their composed Leinster SFC quarter-final win over Wexford GAA at Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow, this afternoon.

A strong second-half display ultimately carried the Wee County through, but their manager acknowledged the challenge his side faced coming into the tie.

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Speaking at full-time, Devlin said: “Just delighted to get the win because it was a difficult fixture. Right from straight after the Kildare game, we knew we had four weeks, we knew we had broken bodies that we needed at least a reset.

“We had four weeks we needed to kill, and we're like, how do we navigate this moment? Because we couldn't even play a challenge game in the fear of throwing them into the fire again, and then God knows who you're left with.

“So, we had to be really clever in how we navigated that four weeks. And I think you could see early in that game today that we were a wee bit rusty. We were ring rusty for 10 or 15 minutes, and it took a wee bit of time to kick in.

“But, you know, we were able to lean on threads of the game that we worked really, really hard on in the training field, and that kept solidity in our game that kept us together.

“Then from there we were able to grow into the game and find our rhythm. But there's early parts of that game that we wouldn't be happy with, and even towards the end, it got a wee bit disjointed again.

“But look, just delighted to get over the line because we know championship football, anything can happen and yeah, just delighted to be in the hat for the next round again.”

Wexford

The Wee County's sluggish opening was tempered by the quality of the opposition.

“Wexford again is a quality team and has loads of strengths. They have two-point kickers, and the way they defend and the big, strong physical players that are awesome.

“So, we knew we had a big task on our hands here today, and so we had one eye on Wexford, but we stayed true to ourselves, which I feel it was really, really important today.”

Conall McCaul

The contest began to tilt midway through the first half, and Conall McCaul proved central to that shift as he helped steady Louth.

“I think Conall McCaul, you mentioned him there, I think he was excellent because in that shaky period in the game, he is the one that kept us, like he lit the match, he was the one that kept us in the game and got something going in our attack.

“So fair play to Conall, and from when we introduced him against Derry, he has been doing that, he's been finding his feet really, really well, so I guess that's a positive.

“Then getting a few boys on in the second half there, the Ryan Burns’ and the Ciaran Downey's and the guys who came in, it was good they could just get minutes into their legs.

“And it'd be interesting now to see; all bets are off now for two weeks, and see can everyone get out on the training field and push themselves up that ladder to see where they land.”

A nine-point cushion before the break, aided by two late two-pointers, gave Louth control. The bench added further impact, notably through St. Mary's clubman Tadhg McDonnell.

“Tadhg's been a revelation for us, and yeah, but he's not starting for a reason. He has things that he needs to grow on in his game, and yeah, look, he has the potential to be one of the very, very best.

“But it's keeping his feet on the ground and not getting too far ahead of himself and knowing that he's only a young lad and he's got to be patient and he's going to get starts, make no mistake about that.

“He's going to play for the Louth senior team for a long time, God willing. He's a lovely young man; he's a lovely, infectious lad around the squad.

“He's just a lovely personality. I had the job of going and telling him that he wasn't starting a few days ago, when I was sort of half-dreading it, but he takes it so, so well.

“You see the way he came on to that game again today with his shoulders back, and he wasn't feeling sorry for himself one bit, and he made a brilliant impact like many others.”

Squad depth

Experienced figures also returned to influence proceedings as the Reds closed out the tie.

“I feel that it was important to get minutes in the legs. Unfortunately, Craig Lennon didn't get on today either, and that'll be a race now to see where he's at against Dublin.

“And then, like, coming into the latter ends of tournaments, you want your key men available to us. So yeah, look, we're not in a bad place. I keep saying this, we're not in a bad place, but yeah, we're just looking forward to two weeks.”

Knockout competition

Results elsewhere in Leinster reinforced the unpredictable nature of knockout football, which is something Devlin had stressed in advance.

"Being able to set the National League down to come into a new chapter of the season and championship football.

“I mentioned to you earlier, a couple of days ago, that the opposition only have to get it right one day, and you only have to get it wrong, and the new game, that momentum can just turn on you, and before you know it, you look up the scoreboard, and you're in a really bad dark place.

“So, look, Meath will be bitterly disappointed that they had high hopes of doing something really major in Leinster.

“But now they'll have an opportunity to go away now and get ready for the All-Ireland Series, but they're still a formidable team, and they'll still feel that they've got a lot to offer in the All-Ireland Series.”

Dublin next

Attention now turns quickly to a semi-final meeting with Dublin, and recovery and reset are immediate priorities.

“Absolutely, I think we've been in a big four-week block there, and we've been away now a couple of days now from friends and family.

“So yeah, let them enjoy tonight, get something nice to eat and relax, get home on the bus and let them chill out for 24 hours before I torture them with the next one of the ladder.”

Calm

For Devlin, this marked a first championship outing as sole manager.

“It was definitely a tricky fixture, make no mistake about it. Like, it was one of those fixtures that if you win, then you're expected to do it, and if you lose, well then, God help you.

“So you definitely felt that, but the thing about our guys, like, they give you great confidence because they learn fast, and we had a really good weekend, we were down in Johnstown House, and just there's a really, really good energy in the hotel.

“And yeah, when you're in them boys' company, they make you feel relaxed. I'm not that easy to feel relaxed, but I felt going out on that field today that we were in a really good place, and they gave me that sense.”