Devlin delighted as Louth find a way to overcome Armagh
Gavin Devlin reflects on Louth’s All-Ireland victory over Armagh
Gavin Devlin admitted the dramatic nature of Louth GAA’s victory over Armagh left him on the edge of his seat after Sam Mulroy's late goal secured a one point victory.
Speaking at full time, he said: “It was a hectic finish. It's something you don't go looking for, but when it happens, what a way to finish a game.
“I was just so delighted for the boys, particularly in the first half, the way that we played. We started quite slow, but then whenever we got into a groove and a rhythm, like in the first half, I thought we were excellent.
“We started okay again in the second half, but then when they got the goal from the kick-out, it rocked us a wee bit.
“Then when we were making our changes, we were through for a goal, I think, prior to the one we got at the end, when our two boys collided, I thought we lost our opportunity.
“Then when we turned the last ball over again, I thought, maybe we've got a chance here again, because I still knew we'd back Sam (Mulroy) for a two-pointer.
“And I seen him sitting around the pivots going, get him on the ball, get him on the ball. When the ball left his foot, I looked right in, and I seen big (Conor) Early there, and I knew that we had a chance.
“It's something we talked about, with the two-pointer, when we go for two-pointers, a lot of balls drop short, so we try and get a big man in there, but look, it's sweet.”
Devlin believes teams must learn to adapt to the games unpredictable nature under the new rules.
“I think everything lends itself to the hooter, the rules. We have a new product here, and there's a right bit of chaos in it.
“I think the more that you embrace the chaos, with a wee bit of structure, I think the better you are for it, because out there, that game is on a life of its own.
“And there's nuances that you can try and coach, but the team that can freestyle the best, and play off the hoof, and move things, and adjust things, and communicate well, those type of principles, rather than stuck to a perfect script.
“I think you've got a better chance, because out there, it's the game that they want to create, the FRC, and I suppose they need credit for that.
“Because we have a new game here, and wow, even the games last night in Celtic Park, we've got a brilliant product, and something to be proud of here.”
Executing the gameplan
Devlin was pleased with how his players handled the challenge.
“I think I alluded to after the Dublin game, the way that Armagh play, and those fast transitional moments, they're so slick, so fast.
“Every one of them keeping making impacts, and we knew we were up against today, and we had to bring balance to it.
“Hit them with our transitional moments, but then maybe take this thing out of the game when we could, and we don't get it all right, but we're just so proud of our boys today the shift they put in.”
Goalkeeper switch
The Louth management also had to adjust after Armagh started Ethan Rafferty in goal instead of Blaine Hughes.
“Yeah, previous to the last two games, there's been a shift to a goalkeeper at Dublin, and the game previous to that as well, with Wexford, and it was three in a row again today.
“We heard rumblings during the week that Blaine had hurt himself in a training camp, so if you don't know until you land, and the switch is made.
“Kieran (McGeeney) wouldn't give us any foregone notice, so yeah, I'm like the two very capable keepers, like Ethan's immense, particularly around that arc, and that pivot for the two-pointer.
“And when that game stretches, whenever we concede a one-pointer, and we get caught for a couple of two-pointers.
“Two-pointers are a no-no, because it's so hard to get them back, particularly when the wee breeze was against us so Ethan was a real threat in that.”
Quarter-final reward
Avoiding another championship weekend can prove important for the Wee County.
“I think that was the big card for today, that ideally you don't want to be going three weeks in a row.
“But the counties like Donegal and Armagh, as a big massive squad, it could actually do them good that they get more game time under the legs, and get working on things.
“So all we can do is worry about ourselves, and it certainly suits us, and it suits us to get into the quarter-final with our squad, and our depth and our numbers.”