Louth boss welcomes new competitiveness in Leinster football
Gavin Devlin believes counties across the province can now realistically target provincial honours
Gavin Devlin believes Leinster football has entered a new era after the recent successes of Louth and Westmeath.
The Louth senior football manager says counties across the province can now realistically target provincial honours.
He said, “What Louth did last year and what Westmeath did this year. I think that's good for the game, particularly in Leinster.
“If you're a Laois looking in or an Offaly looking in or a Meath looking in or everyone else, you're thinking this is achievable.
“If we can get our act together and invest in everything that we have, we too can do it.”
Devlin says the provincial championship is now far less predictable than in previous years.
“Dublin aren't going anywhere either. The Leinster Championship isn't going to be going anywhere anytime soon.
“There's a competition that so many teams can look at and think, we can win this. That's good.”
The Louth boss also pointed to changing dynamics in Ulster football.
“That's beautiful. We have the same competition down in Ulster.
“There's five or six teams good in Ulster, but maybe that's not the case now. It looks as if Donegal and Armagh are starting to creep away from everyone else.
“Maybe here in Leinster it's going the other way. That's exciting.”
Devlin says competing consistently in the All-Ireland series is now vital for Louth’s development.
“Over the last number of years, we haven't competed at this level, and we want to grow and get better as a county.
“If we're serious about that, then we've got to compete, and there's no bigger test coming than Sunday.”
He also believes recent experiences have strengthened the county.
“We find ourselves in a place now where it was great having the experience of winning and having the joys of that.
“But now we find ourselves in a place again where we've got to evolve and improve and know that we've got to find another level and find new ground.”