Brennan “very proud” after Louth secure Division Two status against Kildare

Louth manager Ger Brennan was a happy man in Carlow on Saturday night as his side defeated Kildare to secure Division Two for 2025. “I’m delighted for the lads,” he began.

“It was a well-rounded performance that was scrappy on occasion but it was very controlled and the way we managed to grasp control each time Kildare seemed to be getting some momentum, I’m very proud of how the lads did.

“We knew Kildare had a free shot and they were playing for pride so they could dust off the shackles a small bit and really go at us, which they did.

“The half-time score coming in, we were relatively happy with the draw given the strong breeze but at the same time, we were probably a bit concerned at how we were giving the ball away in our own attacks and Kildare countered quite quickly.”

At the same time in another venue Fermanagh were keeping up their end of the bargain by leading and ultimately beating Cavan. Were Louth aware of the goings on in Kingspan Breffni? “We were,” Brennan smirked.

“I might have told them that Fermanagh were winning by a bit more… and they responded. We started the second half really well and there were just a couple of shot options where we could have taken the wind out of Kildare’s sails a bit earlier but we didn’t and they came back at us.

“But fair play to the one to fifteen and the boys who came in, they scrambled back each time and never gave in.”
On the other side of the crunch game, Brennan reflected overall on his own pressures he was feeling at the helm in his first season in charge. 

“When I came in initially and spoke to a few of the older fellas, I said the aim was to make me redundant and it shouldn’t matter who’s managing Louth. I could be here for two, three or four years, I don’t know. I’ll get another year out of it now… but they have to keep driving things on regardless of who’s in charge.

“I’m picking their brains and learning some of the things that they would have learned from the previous management, and I’m sharing some of the stuff that I’d have picked up from the guys who have looked after me. “Then you have Niall (Moyna), James (McCartan), Peter Dooley and David Whyte.

“It’s the sharing of ideas and then key values are important, the like of honesty, resilience and hard work, and loyalty to the group, which is hugely important and the lads have it.”

Despite being buoyed by the relief of safety Brennan felt the season was one filled with regrets. “It’s kill or be killed sometimes so there definitely is a bit of relief that Louth, based on the last 10 days, have been able to maintain Division 2 status but, overall, I wouldn’t be particularly happy. We could have, should have, been pushing closer for promotion.”