By Rory Houston - @RTESundayGame
While much is still made of Louth’s controversial defeat against Meath in the Leinster Football Championship final, it is easy to forget about the achievements of Peter Fitzpatrick’s men in getting to that provincial decider.
The quick exit from the qualifiers that followed the lost against the Royals was unsurprising, given the furore from that winning goal, but Louth looked to have bounced back with an impressive league campaign.
It was vital for the Wee County players to get back to playing football.
It must be frustrating to be remembered for being on the end of such a heart-breaking and shameful decision, rather than the football they played that left them within minutes of claiming a Leinster title.
The only way to truly banish the memories is to make the extra step this year and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility.
Fitxpatrick has assembled a tight group of players that has been steadily built over a period of time.
While the Louth manager has taken the step into politics in recent months, he has a strong backroom team that will make sure complacency does not drift into their camp.
And that could prove a vital trait in this Leinster Championship littered with teams filled with flaws and inconsistencies.
Carlow are the opposition for Fitzpatrick’s this weekend and they go into the match with hope rather than expectation.
Luke Dempsey has one of the hardest jobs in the country and spoke of his delight at finally getting a discipline and correct mix of players in his panel this year.
Whether it is a group good enough to trouble the likes of Louth remains to be seen.
It may be that Carlow are improving and to see five Championship debutants in their side in on Saturday shows they are building for the future.
However, it will be a lot further away than this weekend.
Verdict: Louth
