. . . but Louth know that a good 70 minutes today will reignite their season, writes JOHN O'KEEFFE

LOUTH, MONAGHAN, Sligo and Limerick face a challenge in today’s fourth-round qualifiers in the All-Ireland senior football championship that is as much mental as physical. The losing provincial finalists can not afford to dwell on the disappointment of their respective recent defeats or they risk a similar outcome.

It’s a very tough task to pick up a losing team in these circumstances, particularly within the tight timeframe, without a slight hangover.

The most obvious example of the acute disappointment is the fate that befell Louth. In the normal course of events they would have beaten Meath but instead find themselves staring down Dublin at Croke Park.

It would be perfectly understandable if they were a little mentally brittle and that’s why there is a huge onus on Peter Fitzpatrick to try to reinvigorate the confidence and belief that saw them sweep into the Leinster final and win it in all but name only. Louth set out their stall to win Leinster; it was their Everest.

They must now dust themselves off but should be facilitated by the fact that they are facing the Dubs. It’s an ideal tie to resurrect their season. If winning Leinster is viewed as the pinnacle then beating Dublin would be the next best thing, especially at Croke Park.

In examining the Louth team it’s obvious the calibre of player they possess: Shane Lennon, Paddy Keenan, Brian White, Colm Judge and JP Rooney would flourish in most company.

There’ll have to be a bit of honest soul-searching in their dressingroom to identify just how, given the second-half dominance against Meath, they failed to take their chances to close out the match. If they come up with the right answers then it will stand them in good stead today.

They dominated midfield in the second half and their backs contained a highly-rated Meath attack. It was a terrific effort.

They won’t fear Dublin, realising their opponents are a team in transition. Louth know that a good 70 minutes today will reignite their season.

Dublin manager Pat Gilroy will be pleased with some aspects of their victory against Armagh, notably a massive improvement in the team’s defending. The decision to start Bryan Cullen and Michael Dara MacAuley’s performance in midfield helped the Dubs to be less porous. They epitomised the work-rate and the attitude to defence on the day.

The number of turnovers forced was central to the victory as was the performance of the full-back line in which Rory O’Carroll in particular reacted well despite the pressure he must have been under going into the game.

It’s hardly a revelation to continue to point to the fact that Dublin need to spread the scoring further than Bernard Brogan if they wish to progress. It’s been a constant failing over the past few years and it’s unfair and unrealistic to expect him to continue to contribute so handsomely on the scoreboard.

Alan Brogan needs to step up in terms of chipping in with more scores while Conal Keaney certainly has the aptitude if he’s given a chance.

The Dubs are going to have to be a little more attack-minded today because if they’re not they won’t amass a winning tally. They defended well the last day but Louth possess a better midfield and more scoring forwards than Armagh.

Dublin though have been improving and look a little more comfortable with the game plan.

There is a question mark as whether Louth can rediscover the intensity and standard of their second-half performance against Meath or whether the baggage from that day will overwhelm them.

I fancy the Dubs to progress.

In something of a recurring theme I believe Kildare might have a little too much in hand for the beaten Ulster finalists, Monaghan. The latter endured a humiliating defeat to Tyrone and while they can’t be as bad, it’s going to be so difficult to regroup so quickly. They really miss Vinnie Corey at centre-half back.

Kildare have discovered the joy of winning on the road and in keeping with a team coached by Kieran McGeeney, they have a high work-rate where the sum of the parts rather than a handful of outstanding individuals drives the team on. Dermot Earley and Johnny Doyle are obvious exceptions.

Monaghan will improve and will look to get Paul Finlay and Tommy Freeman into the game more often. Eoin Lennon and Dick Clerkin should be more physically abrasive around the middle of the pitch while Séamus McEnaney will encourage a free-running half-back line, so evident in previous matches, to display that appetite once again. In a close, low-scoring encounter, I think Kildare may hold sway.

Cork won’t be as clear-cut in terms of favouritism as they would have been if their clash with Limerick took place anywhere but the Gaelic Grounds. While acting as a fillip, it certainly doesn’t camouflage the serious depth to the Leesiders’ panel. They are too powerful with too many options. I don’t think Limerick will be able to reproduce the heroics of the Kerry match.

To complete a disappointing weekend for the beaten provincial finalists, I fancy that a young, if unproven, Down side, might sneak past Sligo, another county to endure recent defeat. Sligo manager Kevin Walsh has a huge task to lift his charges and it is for that reason that a fresher Down may hold sway in Breffni Park.