Meath Recap

Preface: yesterday was not a moral victory.

We were beaten in a game we should have won. Here’s the positives.

Once you get over the sickening loss and thoughts of missing out on a final . There was some comfort in yesterday’s viewing and if can’t see it hopefully I’ll point them out for you.

#aims

Let’s start with a reminder that this was the O’Byrne cup our aim this year is to get out of Division 4
And to get another crack at Meath in the Championship yesterday will make this already group hard working group of Louth players work even harder to make that happen.

The comeback alone showed the character this group possesses.

#Sweepstakes

We’ve unearthed a natural born sweeper and who’d of thought It would come in the form of Corner forward Derek Maguire!
He shone yesterday, intercepted a lot of Meath kick passes and got through a Trojan amount of work and scored a superb point from distance.

Derek’s powerful running out of defence is key to his suitability there. It relieves the pressure off our defence and starts our attacks with purpose.

He’s getting better and better as the games go on. Masterstroke by new coach Paddy Crozier.
Positionally in the Gaelic grounds he was huge positive for the system as well.

#jamesblunt

The first half when we let Meath build a lead was our downfall. We failed to get quality ball to our two men up top and when we did it was turned over too easily.
It killed us.
However, It forced Jim to come out on the forty to spray the ball about and we got back in the game too.

Three positives here.
1 We now know our forward line, 2. by the second half we adapted and ran the ball much better showing we learned and 3 with Burnsey and Grimes and Judge to come in we have options. Match winning options.

Those three positives will secure us promotion from division 4. No doubt about it.

#rife

Tons and tons of fellas not only put up their hand yesterday some of them put both of them up and the sleeves of a starting jersey slipped on over them.

Experienced fellas aside.
In no particular order, Darren McMahon, Tommy D, Conall McKeever, James Stewart and Craig Lynch are all there on a perch now to be knocked off.
So with two full weeks before we play London competition for places will be savage. That bodes so well for the league opener and our season in general.

sum-mary

The system worked yesterday. We were never out of the game and won’t be all year because of it.

We are set up so we won’t be overrun at any stage or concede goals like we did last year either. Biggest positive of all.

Division 4 like the rest of Monday should be a doddle after reading this.

Your thoughts on yesterday’s game? Post them below and not on Hoganstand!