Football

Leinster SFC: 'This is ultimately what you train for all year' - Kelly

25 May 2018 - 2:40PM

GAA.ie hears from players and management involved in this Saturday's Louth vs Carlow game in the 2016 Leinster Senior Football Championship - both Adrian Reid and Louth bainisteoir Colin Kelly discuss their preparations leading into the game, while Carlow's Kieran Nolan discusses the challenge ahead in facing the reigning Allianz Leagues Division IV champions in Portlaoise on Saturday (May 15) Tickets are available for purchase in selected SuperValu and Centra stores nationwide, as well as from Portlaoise on matchday.

Saturday May 14

Leinster Senior Football Championship First Round

Louth v Carlow, O’Moore Park, Portlaoise, 5pm

By Cian O'Connell

Encouraged by the ‘feel good factor’ winning the Allianz Football League Division Four title brought Louth manager Colin Kelly still expects a ‘tough game’ against Carlow.

Back in 2011 Louth claimed the Division Three title, but were subsequently beaten by a pumped up Carlow outfit in the Leinster Championship.

“I've no doubt that it will be a tough game,” Kelly told GAA.ie. “There is history there because we won a divisional title at Croke Park in 2011 and then weeks later we lost to Carlow in the Championship in Portlaoise.

“So there is history there, it has happened in the past. Turlough (O’Brien) will have Carlow prepared well, they got a good look at us. They've seen us play in the league, they will be ready for it, so we know that it will be a tough assignment.”

Remaining firmly focused on the Carlow task is what a youthful Louth panel need to do according to Kelly. “Look we can talk to them as best we can, but ultimately it is what is in their head and what their thoughts are. We've tried to get them back to the ground as quickly as we can, we need to keep them working hard. Ultimately it is about us being the best we can be.

“As long as they work hard and be the best they can against Carlow then we cannot ask anymore than that. Hopefully that will be good enough to get us a win, if it isn't we will tip our hats to Carlow.

“We are looking forward to it. The Championship is the time of year that everybody looks forward to, this is ultimately what you train for all year.”

Carlow defeated Louth in the 2011 Leinster SFC.

A satisfactory spring ensures Louth hope to embark on a summer adventure now. “It was a nice boost,” Kelly said about claiming silverware. “To win any competition brings a feel good factor.

“Hopefully we can carry momentum from the win against Antrim into the Championship. It doesn't necessarily suggest that it will happen, but we just have to keep working as hard as we can. We need to be fully prepared for the Championship.”

Carlow’s league was mixed featuring three victories and four defeats, but Kelly insists Louth will work hard for the rest of the campaign.

“We had a good experience in the league, it was one of our goals to make sure we got promotion. That wasn't guaranteed, but through the hard work and the fact the lads embraced what we asked them to do, we got the results we needed to get us over the line.

“It is just about continuing in that vein, working as hard as we can as a group trying to improve as a team.”

2016 ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD

LOUTH (Played 8, Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 1)

Allianz Football League Division Four

** **

Sunday January 31

Darver: Louth 2-9 London 0-9

Sunday February 7

Carriganore: Louth 1-10 Waterford 1-9

***Sunday February 28

Drogheda: Louth 0-15 Wicklow 1-2

Sunday March 6