Brennan says Louth “can’t go out like that at Croke Park” in the semi-final
The Wee County boss wants an improved performance from him players in two weeks
Louth manager Ger Brennan got the result but not the performance from his side's victory over Wexford on Sunday. “Championship is about winning,” Brennan mused. “Was it pretty? It wasn’t, but there were collective moments of very impressive attack play which resulted in the two penalties and the goals by Ciarán Downey from play.
“Overall, you’d be disappointed with large parts of our play. Wexford outscored us by 15 scores to 4-10 and we dropped back quite a bit defensively, allowed them to build up a head of steam and making very little contact in the tackle.
“It was just a bit of a flat, lethargic performance for large parts and the lads know there is a lot more in them and that we can’t go out like that at Croke Park in two weeks’ time.”
A sub par Louth lacked control on proceedings on the day and Brennan felt that his side were passive and pinpointed where his side can improve on for the next day.
“There is a huge amount to work on. We have to be a bit more adventurous in our defensive play and step up and make contact. I felt we were just dropping back.
“I would like us to be far more aggressive in our tackling, step up and not let the opposition play or get their hands on the ball to get into the game.
“I would use the word adventurous where you’re closing the gap between you and the ball-carrier, and also cutting off the ball-carrier’s options too.
“When we do do that, we’re quite effective, but we were just passive for a large part here. It’s a mindset thing. We’re going to have to review the build-up to the game because it was a bit flat. Sometimes that can happen.
“I’ve played in games where you’re going in as a favourite and expected to win but the juices aren’t always flowing when the ball is thrown in. I don’t think they were flowing enough for us.”
Brennan finished with some praise of Man of the Match Ciarán Downey and how the Blues man’s switch to midfield came about. “You’re looking at teams with low block defences and how you unpick that lock,” Brennan began.
“Because of Ciarán’s football brain, he has the ability to see passes. You’re looking to get him on the ball and orchestrate those attacks. He was probably a bit deep in the first half and we’d like him further up the pitch, but that’s probably something across the whole team where we were all a bit deep.
“He showed his bit of class, which has nothing got to do with me. It’s just what he has.”