Louth happy to name a team after recent injuries and results

If there is such a thing as rising above even the worst circumstances then the Louth footballers will kick off the Leinster championship on Sunday with the sort of shock result that could set the trend for the whole summer. It's not just that they're not fancied to beat Offaly at Páirc Tailteann, and that they've had their worst league in several seasons, but that they're also forced to field a team significantly weakened by injury.

That manager Val Andrews was able to put together 15 starting players last night has at least brought some relief. He has named four championship debutants - defenders David Mackin and Conor Sheridan and wing forwards John Kermath and Ronan Carroll - but still missing through injury are Niall Sharkey and Shane Lennon with ankle injuries, as well as Brendan Reilly, Gavin Long, Colin Goss and Peter McGinnity, who has a long-term groin injury.

"Shane Lennon has been the rising star in the county so he's a real loss," said Andrews. "And Niall Sharkey was actually in excellent scoring form during the league. He hit around 1-20 for us. They were both sharing the free-taking as well, so that's another problem in itself."

With a lengthy injury list it could be assumed that Andrews had pushed his players a little too hard in dragging them up the Cooley mountains for one last morale-building session.

"Well I wish I was. But most of these injuries have happened in club matches, which I had absolutely no control over. To be honest, absolutely nothing has gone to plan in the build-up to the championship. And that's not to sound like I'm just moaning.

"I've haven't had a settled team at any stage this year. I think I've gone through something like 37 players since the start of the league because there's been such a turnover with all the injuries."

Andrews has found the last seven days particularly testing on his nerves and his patience; "Right now I feel like calling the Samaritans. Well no, I mean you do go through a phase of real depression, but then you have to stay optimistic about it. The players I know are staying positive about it.

"More often than not that will happen with a small county like Louth. Because of the smaller numbers we have we're always going to be struggling a little after playing seven league matches in nine weeks. But it's when they're out playing club football as well that's when the real danger is.

"I'll definitely not be sending out my first-choice team. I know I have debutants, but I've no option there. Aaron Hoey will be okay for midfield but he hasn't trained right in six weeks. But I know I'll be sending out a few players knowing I'll be lucky to get 30 minutes out of them."

Offaly's experience in Division One of the league is expected to stand to them beyond Sunday. Laois manager Mick O'Dwyer let it slip recently that he was looking forward to playing Offaly in Croke Park on May 29th. If Louth do lose on Sunday they won't be out again in the qualifiers until June 18th.

"Well, sure there's major pressure on Offaly," said Andrews. " We'll be hoping that they're made such strong favourites that they might actually get a little lazy. They know they won't be going out to play the All-Ireland champions anyway. But we know what players we have to stop and what we have to do. After that we'll see."

LOUTH (SF v Offaly): S McCoy; A Page, D Mackin, J Carr; C Sheridan, A Hoey, S Gerard; D Devenny, J Kermath; P Keenan, N McDonnell, R Carroll; M Stanfield capt, JP Rooney, D Clarke.