Gavin Devlin: 'The more than you embrace the chaos, the better you are for it'
If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, then you'll thrive in the Championship.
That was Gavin Devlin's Kipling-esque message after watching Louth pick their neighbour's pockets to steal through to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
In truth, there wasn't a lot of science behind Sam Mulroy's late Hail Mary. Louth trailed by two, time was virtually up and he simply had to move the ball towards goal. So he hoofed it. And it went in!
But at the end of a game in which Louth had lived on their wits and duked it out in an absorbing back-and-forth, maybe Mulroy deserved the break for having the presence of mind to get his shot away into a dangerous area.
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"It's something we've talked about, the two-pointer, that a lot of balls drop short, so we try to get a big man in there," said manager Devlin. "I seen big Conor Early in there and I knew we had a chance."
Early didn't actually get a touch but his presence, in a packed goalmouth, was enough to upset Armagh goalkeeper Ethan Rafferty who got his timing wrong, jumped too early and got caught underneath the ball, which dropped in behind him.
"I think everything lends itself to a finish like that; the hooter, the rules, the new product we have, there's a right bit of chaos in it," said Devlin, whose team are through to the Championship's last eight.
"I think the more than you embrace the chaos, and maybe try to have a wee bit of structure, then the better you are for it because out there that game takes on a life of its own.
"There's nuances that you can try to coach but the team that can freestyle the best, and play off the hoof and move things and adjust things and communicate well, it's those types of principles you need rather than sticking to what you might think is a perfect script."
It's some turnaround for Louth after losing a Leinster semi-final to Dublin in early May. They gained revenge with a first Championship win over Dublin since 1973 in Round 1, and have now made more history, beating Armagh in their first ever Championship meeting.
Mulroy's goal was a victory for perseverance as much as anything else and he finished with 1-2, but Dara McDonnell was the standout performer, sniping 1-3 despite the number six on his back.
James Maguire, just out of U-20s, was inspired again too while Ciarán Downey's scores will all make the highlights reel.
A draw and extra time would have been a fairer result. Louth dominated the second quarter to lead 0-14 to 1-9 at half time but Armagh took over for most of the second half.
They twice held three-point leads in the final quarter and seemed set to finish the day as the only unbeaten team left in the Championship.
But Mulroy's point from a free, won by the excellent Downey in the 67th minute, cut the deficit to two.
And then the skipper took on the responsibility, accepting a pass from Craig Lennon and getting his shot away just before Joe McElroy could dive on his boot.
Devlin said getting next weekend off is a big help for his relatively thin squad. It should also give them 24 hours or so to simply soak in this landmark win over the 2024 All-Ireland champions.
"It's special," said Devlin. "I think this day will live in the memories for supporters for a long time. For our players, we'll enjoy tonight but we'll get back to it tomorrow."
Armagh didn't play terrible. Boss Kieran McGeeney was frustrated with the amount of times they coughed up possession but they delivered some quality moments.
The recalled Rafferty operated as a sweeper 'keeper and assisted an early Ross McQuillan point as they opened up a 1-5 to 0-3 lead, Gareth Murphy with the second minute goal.
And even when Louth took over in the second quarter and strode two ahead at half time, the Orchard didn't look panicked.
Oisín Conaty sniped a 38th minute goal, following up on his initial blocked shot, and Jarlath Óg Burns nailed a stunning two-pointer.
McDonnell's 45th minute Louth goal kept them in it, Kieran McArdle this time assisting. Downey and Lennon picked off important points as well but still Armagh were largely setting the terms.
And when Jason Duffy fisted over his second point in the 62nd minute, they were three clear, 2-19 to 1-19, and eyeing the last eight.
"It's a kick in the bollocks but that's the way it goes," shrugged McGeeney of the final moments.
Asked if kick-outs and winning possession were a problem, McGeeney shrugged again.
"It's more what you do in front of the posts," he said. "We kicked a good few wides when we were on top, very easy scores. It was giving the ball away when we had it. We had it plenty. If we'd kept it, we would have been alright.
"Most teams have the same amount of possessions, it's just what you do with it. Today, we gave the ball away a wee bit more. And they're a great team, they've shown that all year. They're going to continue to show it."
S Mulroy (1-4, 1 tpf, 1 free); D McDonnell (1-3); C Downey (0-4); J Maguire, C Lennon (0-3 each); R Burns, C Grimes, C Early (0-1 each).
O Conaty (1-1); R McQuillan (0-4); G Murphy (1-0); C McConville (1 free), J Óg Burns (1 tp) (0-3 each); E Rafferty (1 tpf), C Turbitt (1 free), J Duffy (0-2 each); O O'Neill (1 free), D McMullan (0-1 each).
N McDonnell; E Carolan, D McKenny, D Nally; C McKeever, D McDonnell, C Lennon; S Callaghan, J Maguire; P Matthews, S Mulroy, C Grimes; K McArdle, C Downey, R Burns.
C Byrne for Grimes (50); T Durnin for Matthews (52); T McDonnell for McKeever (53); C Early for Callaghan (57); C McCaul for Burns (66).
E Rafferty; P McGrane, A McKay, G Murphy; G McCabe, T Kelly, J Óg Burns; R McQuillan, J McElroy; C McConville, D McMullan, T McCormack; C Turbitt, J Duffy, O Conaty.
O O'Neill for McCabe (34-42); McCabe for Kelly (42); D Magee for McCormack (59); R Grugan for McQuillan (64); A Forker for McConville (67).
C Lane (Cork).
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