Gavin Devlin: 'There was a gap out there today, physically and speed-wise'

Louth Manager Gavin Devlin consoles a dejected Ciaran Keenan. Pic: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

All-Ireland SFC semi-final: Mayo 3-23 Louth 0-15

Louth manager Gavin Devlin felt there was a discernible gulf in speed and strength between his team and victorious Mayo.

Devlin was delighted for the build-up Louth as a county experienced before this All-Ireland semi-final but was “bitterly disappointed” with the performance.

“There was a gap out there today,” noted the Tyrone native. “There was a gap physically, speed-wise. When we were coming out with the ball, we were getting turned back. That's the first thing I felt. All year we've been able to break lines and make impacts. Today we were getting turned back. You can see that visibly early on in the game.” 

Devlin complimented Mayo’s foot-passing and believes it is something Louth have to embrace. “Their transition play, their variations to keeping the ball and being in control of the ball, to moving the foot when the opportunity arises. That is a new game now. You've got to bring that to the top level. Quickly they can transition that ball through the foot.

Tadgh McDonnell, left, and Ryan Burns hang their heads after being comprehensively beaten by Mayo. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

“They could have scored five more goals today, moving that ball through the foot. To get to the next level, you've got to be prepared to do that. You can't constantly run the ball. You want to score majors.

“Whatever the three points, it's the momentum that gives the stadium. That place out there, it was rocking. It's just disappointing the support that we've been getting.

“Coming in there today, I'm a Liverpool supporter. It felt like we were driving into Anfield. There was a buzz there that was electric. It's just disappointing for the spectacular supporters we have not to turn up today. It's just so disappointing. We're better than that, although I do believe there's a level or two that we have to go again.” Facing the second half wind, Devlin felt losing Craig Lennon to a knee injury in the first half and a four-point half-time deficit was a factor. “It was so disappointing that we got four down at half-time. Losing Craig today was mammoth. In terms of our impacts and our subs, it just rearranged absolutely everything.

“The boys that we were planning after 40 minutes that we could bring in more energy were staying on an extra seven or eight minutes. It just disjointed everything. But that's sport.” He continued: “We were kicking into the breeze in the warm-up down into the Hill. We even knew from the first game (Tailteann Cup final) that Down were nine or 10 up. So, we had that feel and when we were shooting into the breeze the ball was holding up.

Tommy Conroy of Mayo drives forward with the ball. Pic: James Lawlor/Inpho

“I genuinely believe in our attack today in the first half that that had a burn. We were rushing things. We spoke before we went out when we knew we were playing with the breeze. We said let's be controlled, let's not rush this. But it looked like our attacks were so rushed. Things that we hadn't been doing all year, they appeared.” Devlin was keen to point to highs Louth have enjoyed this season. “We've won big games this year and it's much more difficult when you come in after a defeat like that. But honestly this journey that we've been on this year has been absolutely magical.

“The scenes the last two weeks in Louth, sometimes it's just bigger than the team. What our young people experienced this week and our clubs and the local area, it's been amazing.

“The performance today was disappointing and the result was bitterly disappointing. It just seemed in one of those games today that whatever could go wrong, went wrong.”