Devlin backing his Louth players to answer critics
Manager Devlin says the Wee County have consistently shown resilience during difficult periods
Louth senior football manager, Gavin Devlin, believes his players will respond strongly after the disappointment of the Leinster semi-final defeat to Dublin four weeks ago.
Ahead of the Croke Park clash, he said: “Leading into the Dublin game the last day, we were hot favourites in certain quarters.
“Then all of a sudden, 70 minutes later, you're the whipping boys. It's keeping the balance and keeping everything protractive and knowing that we are on thin field on any given night.”
Devlin says the players have consistently shown resilience during difficult periods.
“We took them from a very low position, and every single time they've got these slaps on the faces before.
“They normally find the answer, they normally dust themselves down and go again.”
The Tyrone native says his side must now embrace the All-Ireland series.
“This game matters so much in terms of these boys just taking it in their own isolation and getting a performance for this game because you're only as good as your last game.
“That wasn't a very good game, so I'm expecting our boys to go out and show a different version this time and embrace the All-Ireland series.”
The manager feels the squad are determined to show their true level.
“We work hard. We do genuinely work hard. Our boys, I know for a fact, are getting better on a nightly basis in the way they live their lives and the way they take care of themselves.
“There's a belief and a confidence there that we are going in the right direction.”
The Louth boss also stressed that the group-stage safety net has not altered their mentality.
“Honestly, it's this game. No other game matters. It won't be a different game at all if we don't bring our best stuff.
“To me, it's of absolutely of no relevance because if we don't bring our best stuff, it won't matter who Dublin has back or doesn't have back.”