Sport

Louth should be too strong

LEINSTER SFC FIRST ROUND: LOUTH STARTED the year in excellent form, picking up the O’Byrne Cup in January, but having gone into…

Sat May 16 2009 - 01:00

LEINSTER SFC FIRST ROUND:LOUTH STARTED the year in excellent form, picking up the O'Byrne Cup in January, but having gone into the league looking likely candidates for promotion from Division Three their challenge never materialised until too late and the chance was lost.

Aaron Hoey, a survivor of the last championship meeting between the sides, is injured as is Carlow’s Alan Curran, but Louth manager Eamonn McEneaney is able to recall Colm Judge after injury. Luke Dempsey is trying to re-invigorate a team that is conceding too many goals and raise the work-rate.

The gap between divisions three and four is, however, substantial and teams from the bottom section have a very poor record against higher-ranked sides.

CARLOW: J Clarke; S Myers, J Hayden, K Nolan; S Gannon, B English, S Redmond; J Murphy, W Minchin; B Murphy, D Hayden, JJ Smith; E McCormack, D St Ledger, M Carpenter.

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LOUTH: S Reynolds; P Rath, D Finnegan, J O’Brien; D Crilly, M Fanning, G Hoey; B White, P Keenan; R Finnegan, R Carroll, D Reid; C Judge, S Lennon, D Clarke.

Referee: P Fox (Westmeath).

In the last episode: You have to go back 12 years for the last championship encounter between the counties. On a baking day in Newbridge, Carlow, managed by the late Bobby Miller, couldn't close the gap beyond three points.

You bet: Louth are available at a prohibitive 2/9 with Carlow distant outsiders at 4/1, and 10/1 the draw.

On your marks: In recent years, Paddy Keenan has been Louth's most influential player and his presence emphasises the loss to Carlow of Thomas Walsh's move to Wicklow.

Gaining ground: Parnell Park has attracted plenty of matches in the qualifiers given its central location, but there have only been two football championship fixtures here in the past 10 years, both featuring Louth and neither of which the county won.

Just the ticket: Stand tickets (€20) are available only through the counties. Family tickets (adults €15 and children €3) are for the terraces only. Terrace (€15). OAPs can get €10 rebate on stand tickets and €5 on terrace tickets. Students can get €5 rebate on terrace tickets.

Crystal gazing: Whereas there have been signs of life in Carlow, it's unlikely that the improvement will be sufficient to spring a surprise.