Louth manager Colm Kelly believes his charges are more than capable of pulling off a minor shock against Westmeath when the two sides meet in the first round of the Leinster SFC at the Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda (3.30pm).
Louth endured a lamentable league campaign which culminated in relegation to the bottom rung of the Allianz League.
Kelly, in conversation with RTÉ Sport, was quick to acknowledge the Wee County’s defensive frailties this spring and pointed to the loss of midfield colossus Paddy Keenan through retirement last years as one of the key reasons for the team’s defensive malaise.
“We probably had a totally inexperienced midfield set-up and we lost Paddy Keenan, who was a huge, huge loss,” Kelly admitted.
“In games past, you were secure in the sense that you had a supply of ball coming out of middle third. We just found it really difficult to get the balance right throughout the national league.
“People alluded to the fact that defensively we were poor and I’d be in agreement with that.
“We did put up high scores but we just couldn’t seem to keep teams out.”
Keenan became Louth’s first ever recipient of an All Star in 2010, and his retirement at the age of 29 has left a massive void at the heart of the Louth team.
“He’d so much more to offer,” Kelly insisted.
“But in fairness to Paddy no one can question what he’s given to both club and county.
“Whenever there was a calling for Paddy to play, he played, and he served the county unquestionably with great honour and talent.
“It was fantastic to sit there and watch someone of Paddy’s calibre.”
The bookmakers make Louth small underdogs to oust Westmeath, but Kelly heads into the match in bullish mood.
“I would like to think that we’ve an outstanding chance of winning the game,” he enthused.
“We’ve a lot of stuff going for us; it’s in Drogheda, it’s a home game.
“Hopefully we give the Louth supporters something they can cheer and get on the back off.
“If we get that performance and get that belief about ourselves, and become intense and improve on some of the things that have let us down throughout the national league, we'll be difficult to beat.”
