Louth "are going to go out fighting" declares Brennan
Wee County manager knows his side are up against it at Croker
Ahead of Louth's All-Ireland quarter-final clash against Donegal at Croke Park, manager Ger Brennan shared his thoughts on the big game.When asked about any fitness concerns, Brennan provided updates on key players.
"Peter Lynch is another four weeks he pulled his hamstring just before the Kerry game and Niall Sharkey has gone overseas," he revealed.
He also discussed Ciarán Downey's recent knee surgery and the hopeful return of Ciarán ‘Casey’ Byrne after a fatigue-related issue.
"Casey had a horrific knee injury in the Clare game in the National League in 2023 and he had done incredible work to get himself back and fit on the pitch.
"It was more of a fatigue issue with his groin more than anything so we are hoping we will have Casey available for the weekend and everyone else is fit and healthy and raring to go."
Reflecting on the All-Ireland quarter-final draw, Brennan expressed a calm and confident attitude. "We were aware of the permutations of playing either Armagh or Donegal. It doesn’t bother me, and I don't think it bothers the players either," he stated.
Having previously played both teams, Brennan feels the familiarity will reduce the fear factor. "It was Donegal that came out of the hat, the Louth players will be used to them, and the Donegal players will be used to Louth so there won't be too much of a fear factor going into the match at the weekend."
Brennan also addressed the importance of ensuring the Wee Countys presence in the quarter-final is more than just making up the numbers. Drawing from his own playing career, he emphasized the significance of emotional and physical readiness.
"When I started off my career, we used to get the crap kicked out of us at the quarter-final stage by Tyrone, Kerry, or Cork when they were motoring well back then too," he recalled.
He believes the current management team's experience will help manage the group effectively. "They will be as fresh physically and mentally as possible with the seven-day turnaround when they take to the field in Croke Park at 1.15pm."
Momentum is high within the team, and Brennan believes it could be a key factor in their performance against Donegal. "We won’t know if it is enough until about 3 o’clock on Sunday. I would be very confident that the feel-good factor can help us," he said.
The recent support from fans has been overwhelming and motivating for the players. "There were a couple of thousand people on the pitch at the end of the game in Inniskeen. You could barely see a blade of grass with so many supporters on it."
Brennan emphasized the need for the Reds to be more clinical in their attacking play to secure a win against Donegal. He highlighted their shooting statistics from the match against Cork and compared them to the standards set by top teams like Dublin and Kerry.
"We got 19 shots off against Cork at the weekend and so did Cork. We just came out with a plus one which is great. You have got to be getting mid 20’s to 30 shots off. The Dublin’s and the Kerry’s that’s what they manage to do, and they are getting the shot-to-score ratio up around 65%.
Promoting Louth football and raising the profile of individual players has been a conscious effort for Brennan. He noted the increased media attention and the importance of recognizing the talent within the team.
"Context is key and context for Louth means take the opportunity to promote the GAA in the Wee County as much as possible," he explained.
Highlighting the progress of players like Sam Mulroy and others, Brennan expressed pride in the team's development and the recognition they are receiving.
"There is now an understanding and appreciation nationally that we are not just here to make up the numbers. We are there to compete and represent the county with pride."
Looking ahead to the challenge against Donegal, Brennan acknowledged their opponent's strengths and momentum but reaffirmed his team's readiness to fight.
"Donegal has the extra week break, they have a bit of momentum behind them, and they have an experienced manager. They have been doing quite well this season, so we know we are going up against it, but the lads are going to go out fighting."