Very little went right for Louth in clash with Kerry

When a team goes into a match as a rank outsider, it needs to get most things right. That means making as few mistakes as possible and taking most of its chances. And it needs a fair shake of the stick from the referee.

Louth made a number of mistakes in last Sunday’s All-Ireland qualifier with Kerry at Portlaoise, most of them costing scores; and when a couple of gilt-edged goal chances came along they weren’t taken.

The day ended with Kerry winning by 14 points, 2-21 to 1-10, and that’s a hefty defeat in anyone’s language. But it was much worse in last year’s corresponding fixture with the All-Ireland finalists of the last two years, winners of the title in 2022.

The dividing margin on Sunday would not have been as wide had Craig Lennon and Ciarán Keenan hit the rigging in the second half. A gambler would have had his maximum bet on Lennon scoring when left with only the goalie to beat, four minutes after the restart.

A feature of Louth’s excellent run in recent months has been the St Mochta’s player‘s eye for a goal. He scored four from three championship outings leading up to Sunday, and was even shorter odds than Kerry were to win the game when he ran on to a perfect pass. The lad could only bury his head, like the rest of us, when his attempt at placing the ball was wide of the target.

A goal then would have brought Louth back to within three points after they had trailed by five at the break. When Keenan got his chance, ten points separated the sides. Some compensation for the Ardee clubman was the point he got from his effort.

By then Kerry had 1-18 to their credit, the goal coming after a blatant run ball; and even at that, there was doubt whether the ball crossed the line after coming off the crossbar.

This was just another occasion when referee, Conor Lane, posted a decision that infuriated the Louth contingent in the crowd and on the field.

Players remonstrated with the referee, and this was followed by a barging match which resulted in two from either side being booked. A big majority of players were involved.

A free out should have been awarded, but Lane wasn’t looking Louth’s way, just as he hadn’t been when Donal McKenny was dumped to the ground inside the square after 15 minutes

Play on, he said, and not for the first time we were left to wonder if there is some kind of mantra which says the strong should be allowed to get stronger, and those trying their best to improve their lot can hump off.

McKenny had an earlier claim for a penalty when he was grounded by the goalkeeper in the 6th minute. Nothing was awarded, but the Louth wing-full managed to retain possession, and though remaining under pressure got the ball over the line.

Is dragging a player to the ground not the reason why the black card was introduced? Shane Ryan got off scot-free.
McKenny’s goal made it a draw after Kerry had scored on each of their first three attacks.

In going on to build a 0-13 to 1-5 half-time lead, Kerry benefitted from some fine score-taking, but also Louth mistakes. Misplaced passes were punished, as was a poor Niall McDonnell kick-out.

However, the Louth goalie more than redeemed himself by making the save of the match, denying Paul Geaney, whose low shot from the left hand goal written all over it.

Some of Louth’s first half points were top class. Mulroy converted a free from beyond the 45m line, and the always industrious Conor Grimes got his angles spot-on. Then just before the break, the team’s outstanding player, Bevan Duffy, landed a beauty from well out to the right.

A goal from either Lennon or Keenan would have helped Louth’s cause – two would have kept the game alive to the finish. As it was, all scores in the last 15 minutes came from Kerry, while Louth appeared to slow things down whenever they could, perhaps having been informed of what was happening at Cavan’s Breffni Park.

Meath, still in with a chance of staying in the competition and at one stage trailing Monaghan by nine points, were on a comeback.

This was the other game in Group 4, and had Meath not fought to the end, trimming the Monaghan lead to three points, Louth would have gone into yesterday’s draw as third in the group, which would have meant an away game in next weekend’s quarter-final qualifiers.

The longest championship run Louth have ever been on in terms of games played continues. Next up is another game against Munster opposition, Cork having to travel up to these parts for the second year running. At the time of writing, a venue has still to be announced.

A win would not only put the Wee County into the last eight, but also push to the background last Sunday’s defeat, the only blot on an excellent run over the past few months.