Longford's Louth line-up was really fooling nobody

Frank Roche

THE Curve Ball award for Dummy Team of the Month goes to the Longford footballers, for their midweek inclusion of Brian Kavanagh at full-forward on the team to face Louth last Sunday.

Hmmm, wasn't that the same Brian Kavanagh who, according to reports, had only recently broken a bone in his ankle? Yes, the very same one. "It's just unfortunate that at this time of the year Brian picks up an injury," Longford boss Glenn Ryan was quoted as saying. "Brian is going to be a big loss for us."

That didn't stop the Kildare man 'selecting' his star forward the following week, but it seems very few Longford people fell for the ruse.

"The dogs on the street knew he wasn't going to play," said one ... so it was no surprise to see Kavanagh wearing tracksuit bottoms and runners as he emerged from the O'Moore Park tunnel last Sunday.

Given their subsequent Leinster exit to Louth -- the latest defeat in a demoralising season -- the midlanders must pray that Kavanagh recovers in time for the qualifiers. They need every fit body they can find.