Here’s my reaction
To the Team Colin Kelly has picked
Injuries
Eoin O’Connor has a broken thumb, So that’s the explanation for his omission.
Suspensions
Kevin Toner is in fact still suspended it seems from the sending off in the last league game.
It means our Defence and cover is quite thin as a result.
Surprises
I’ll get to that in a tick
Goalkeeper
Gally gets the axe, you actually felt it was coming for a long time whether he deserved it or not is another issue.
Lynch’s kicking out is marginally better than Gally’s but Gally is no doubt about it the better overall goalie.
You have to feel for Gally who is made out to be the scapegoat for the westmeath performance as he is the only defensive component from the last day that has been dropped.
The bottom line is: Kelly has gambled.
Dessie
Dessie comes in for the departed Reilly.
The pats man knows the full back position inside out.
Interestingly Darren O’Hanlon plays full back for the Pats while Dessie plays at 6 for them.
Dessie hasn’t played there all year either way, him and Darren O’Hanlon are best equipped to pick up Leitrims star man Donal Wrynn wherever he plays, down the centre.
Midfield
Peach comes in for Bevan directly and joins Tommy Durnin, the Termonfeckin man pushes out on to the wing.
you actually could argue that this is the tallest midfield pairing the county has ever had!
Well, since Ken Reilly and Seamus O’Hanlon anyway and even at that, this midfield pairing would dwarf them!
These lads only job on Saturday night will be to win kickouts and compete very simplistic view but if they do solely do that, the responsibility of tracking and work-rate around the middle will be shown a blind eye.
Hence Bevan is on the wing. His work rate and ability is too good to be left out and he now can play without the worry of gaining primary possession.
Good move for me.
Debutants
Conall McKeever and Ronan Holdcroft will make their championship debuts.
Both have been awarded for good form with the Juniors.
McKeever makes his full Louth debut in fact.
He comes from good Clans stock and has been in fine form for them in the league this season. He’s an excellent solo runner.
However, his defence will be tested as He’ll have to keep an eye out for McWeeney going forward too.
He was involved with the under21s with Kelly and it’s nice to see new blood coming through.
If ever a chap has earned his place on merit Ronan Holdcroft has…
he was excellent for the juniors; a real leader, he’s been excellent for the Fechins too.
He won’t let us down in the corner.
Missing in Action
12.40
Three lads that will feel they will have a part to play on Saturday.
Jim McEneaney
Derek Maguire
and
Conor Grimes
They’ll be a massive boost off the bench and offer us a little something different too.
Small ball
1pm finished
Taking Conor off the edge of the square changes our mindset.
We’ve gone small all over the forward line.
That’s not a bad thing. What we give up in size we make up in skill and movement.
Also, it might make us retain possession a little better knowing that we can’t just lump it long to Conor.
Pepe has been given the role on the forty but he could easily swap with Judge that will keep Leitrim thinking.
We’ve now a set of hard working, fluid forwards with scoring ability. That will cause most teams problems. Hopefully Leitrim on Saturday evening!
Let me know what you think below…
AND Live Match tracker will be live on here tomorrow from 6.30pm if you can’t make Drogheda!!
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d be pretty happy with the team but Pepe Smith !!! Come on !
Not picking Blackie Judge is an error. Has Kelly fallen out with the Blues?
This game may come down to a few points as Declan Byrne , Ryan Burns , Dessie Finnegan and Bevan Duffy are all struggling with injury. Do you think Louth will have enough?
I have a feeling leitrim might steal this one.
Totally agree
How can you say Moore is not good enough for the panel , you have to be deluded to think that.
You’re being very harsh on Craig lynch in my opinion! Firstly his kickouts are more than marginally better than gallys and he is far less error prone than gally who is a very good keeper in his own right too but I just think Lynch is more deserving of his spot
Manager is a joke. Terrible team, more like a junior team with 1 or 2 exceptions. Far better players out there not involved. Manager setting county back years. If lose tomorro we are at our lowest ebb ever. Kelly out
Yes great boost to football in that end of the county! Thanks for the comment and optimism Seamus!
Fechins are Division 1 club and IFC runners up with some good young players hardly average!
Ha great positivity!!
Yep injured !
Yep Williams is not comfortable at half back hit still did okay considering no cover…
But Defenders seem to be thin since Reilly Crilly and Stewart departed.
Agree judge will help burns playing in the full forward line
Why does he not like the North? Still plenty of pats Cooley and Dundalk men there no?
Cheers for Jim info!
Jim Mac done his hamstring Kelly dosnt like north of the county
I’ll be getting my money down on Leitrim @2/1 before the bookies get wind of this Louth team.
Williams was cleaned against Westmeath yet still starts , Darren ohanlon very bad against Westmeath yet still starts , Declan Byrne is one of our best scores shud he not be on the fourth instead of smyth who was desperate against Westmeath , if can get enough ball ️into burns and judge have a gud chance , Mcenaney shud have started poor team but hopefully gud enough to beat letrim
That’s why it’s a difficult time because we are choosing players from average clubs like the fechins.
Moore isn’t good enough for the panel I’d stick with Duffy but I would be starting Maguire before pepe
6 of the starting 15 are from the east coast clubs, Dreadnots/Fechins. That has to be the biggest combined representation on the county team from both these clubs. Its a difficult period in Louth football but, there should be enough talent and ability there to beat Leitrim. Best of Luck.
Is Danny Grimes back playing?
I think lynch is playing because of his kickouts. We need to win good ball from the kickouts and crouchy is more equipped to find his man in the middle of the field.
I’d swap Ruairi Moore or Jim McEneaney for Bevan Duffy. No disrespect to him but his work rate alone cannot justify his place in the team.
What’s the bench? Jim Mc is injured
I say there might be a few positional changes on that team before kick off. I’d swap duffy for Moore as Moore plays that position week in week out on half forward line.
We’re screwed
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