That will transpire if they defeat Kerry, which is the only possible way for the Reds to top the group and advance to the last eight without having to negotiate a preliminary tie in between.
And manager Ger Brennan has been boosted by positive news regarding the fitness of goalscorer-in-chief Craig Lennon, who had to go off due to a hamstring injury in the draw with Monaghan.
“Craig should be okay,” the Dubliner said.
“He’s back doing a bit of running. These type of speed merchants tend to pick up little nicks but given Craig’s profile, he recovers really quickly, which is a huge plus for Louth as, ultimately, we’re looking to finish first.
“Louth don’t get to play Kerry too often and they’ve been fortunate in the last two seasons to get the opportunity, regardless of last season’s result, but only one team last year who were in the preliminary quarter-final managed to win their quarter-final. Playing three games on the bounce, if we do end up in the preliminary quarter-final and then into the quarter-final, will be a tough challenge.
“But it’s an opportunity to play Kerry in the championship and to go and beat them. We have to put our best foot forward to ensure that we’re as close to Kerry as we can be, with a view to getting over the line.
“Coming out of Clones, there was a sense that we really could have, should have and would have won the game by five or six points. But, paradoxically, we were lucky to come out with a draw.
“To be on three points and qualified, if you’re looking at how things went last year, it’s evident that the lads and the group have matured, and that they’re starting to take these opportunities and make less mistakes. Hopefully we can put in a similar type of shift against Kerry.”
Systematically, Louth are expected to set-up as they did in the Leinster final, where they frustrated Dublin for long periods and remained in the contest for approximately an hour before falling away somewhat.
“You’re always trying to be pragmatic,” added Brennan.
“You want to give the group an opportunity to play to their strengths. We’ve probably mixed and matched tactics through the Leinster campaign and National League. To be able to flow between one style and another based on what the opposition presents is probably where you’re looking to get to.
“If there is the opportunity to squeeze Kerry, we’ll do it, but we’ll also be conscious of Kerry being the aristocrats of GAA. That kicking game they have, their inside men, those outlet men, and their ability to win possession, get their head up and kick those diagonal or straight-line passes over 30 or 40 metres, that’s something we will have to be wary of if we’re caught out of possession further up the field.
“We’re hoping to mix and match but to ask questions of Kerry. We saw Cavan’s set-up against Dublin last week and it suggested they were focusing on the Roscommon game. Cavan won’t know if that worked until they play Roscommon in a few days’ time. That’s a risk we certainly won’t be taking.
“We’ll be looking to give our best performance against Kerry. There’s no fear but a healthy respect and an excitement of playing against the best teams. If you can win more than 50pc of the battles, you’ve done your job.”
Brennan, a two-time winner of the Sam Maguire Cup during his playing career, was part of a Dublin team that defeated the Kingdom in a National League clash 14 years ago, a term prior to overcoming the Munster champions in the All-Ireland final.
That, many have observed, was a watershed moment for Pat Gilroy’s side and sparked a remarkable era of Dublin dominance.
“In 2009, in the All-Ireland quarter-final, we lost to Kerry by 17 points. The following year, in the National League, down in Killarney, we became the first Dublin team to win on Kerry soil since the ’70s.
“Fourteen or 15 months later, we were playing Kerry in an All-Ireland final and got over the line by one point.
“It is about de-stigmatising different counties and having a cut at them. Kerry have earned that respect and a lot of teams may have them four or five points ahead on the scoreboard before a ball is thrown in so it’s about trying to break through that. Once you do it once, all sorts of wonderful things can happen.
“This Louth group have already broken so many boundaries, it’s amazing what a bit of belief, structure and experience can do. All you’re trying to do is close the gap and hopefully break through that glass ceiling.”
