Louth Ladies grind out win against the Shannonsiders

A late scoring salvo from Kate Flood was the difference between defeat and victory for Louth as they eked out a four point victory over Limerick in their opening round clash of the TG4 All Ireland Junior Football Championship, in Doon’s GAA Grounds on Sunday.

Louth had to grind this win out, having trailed Limerick by a point with 55 minutes on the clock prior to Flood’s late intervention.

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Keen to make the most of the first half wind advantage, Louth got off to the ideal start, when Kate Flood seized on a loose ball in the Limerick square to poke the ball to the net, after an Aoife Russell shot had dropped short.

Limerick’s defensive set up of players behind the ball afforded Louth defenders the chance to try to break lines and see plenty of possession, including Eilis Hand who finished with 23 possessions over the hour.

A foul on the Geraldines defender saw Kate Flood convert the first of back to back frees from the sharpshooter.

Following a turnover from Rachel Beirth in defence, Louth moved quickly down the pitch, with Eimear Byrne setting up captain Aine Breen to score from play to leave Louth ahead by 1-3 to no score by the end of the first quarter.

Limerick’s inefficiency in attack saw them amass 0-8 from 23 shots in open play in this game, but Deborah Murphy got them off the mark in a move involving Rosin Ambrose and Grace Lee.

Deborah Murphy was involved in the next Limerick score, which saw Rebecca Delee raise a white flag following a bulldozing run, despite having several Louth defenders for company.

Kate Flood’s sweetly struck effort from around 40 metres out cleared the crossbar, as Louth led by 1-4 to 0-2 inside 20 minutes.

The Wee County came close to a second major when Aine Breen’s fizzing effort was blocked by Limerick’s Lucy O’Brien, following a lung bursting run from Ceire Nolan, who finished with 29 possessions to her name.

Caoimhe McGrath who was lively for Limerick, set up Cathy Mee to land their third point of the game, as Limerick posed a problem for Louth in the transition at times.

Louth who won 20 out of 22 on their own kickout over the hour, got a long one away to Eimear Byrne in acres of space just inside the Limerick half. The St Mochtas player set up Aine Breen to fired over from play to make it 1-5 to 0-3 in Louth’s favour approaching the break.

Limerick instantly responded, as Caoimhe McGrath pointed to leave four between the sides at the break.

Second Half:

In the second half, Limerick put the squeeze on Louth, and enjoyed a purple patch, which saw them rattle off those five points without reply, all coming from turnovers, with Roisin Ambrose, Rebecca Delee, and Caoimhe McGrath seeing more of the ball, while Karen O’Leary was an impressive outlet ball off the home side’s kickout on the left flank.

Deborah Murphy (2), Karen O’Leary, Caoimhe McGrath, and Roisin Ambrose all found the range to give the Treaty County the lead, at 0-9 to 1-5 with 55minutes on the clock.

However, Limerick will probably feel they should have added to that tally, with Louth still very much in the game down the home straight. Louth were guilty of some poor decision in the final third, having failed to score in the first 25 minutes of that second time.

To their credit, the Leinster champions made changes, with Clan na Gael’s Ciara Woods having a key impact off the bench, winning a free which saw Kate Flood equalise, as well as creating a goal chance for Lucy White which was kept out by Limerick’s Sophie Hennessey.

Kate Flood showed nerves of steel to convert that free, bringing Louth back on level terms at 1-6 to 0-9 approaching the 57^th minute.

Moments later, Flood fired over another free following a foul on the hard running Louise Byrne, to give Louth the lead for the first time since the interval.

As Limerick tried to engineer a goal chance, working a short kickout, fine foraging from Aoife Halligan saw Kate Flood pick up a loose ball to lob keeper Sophie Hennessey, with the ball sailing in the wind to the back of Limerick’s net to give Louth that four point opening round victory, a scenario which did not appear likely five minutes earlier.

Louth’s late run of scores saw them begin their All Ireland JFC campaign on a winning note. Kate Flood’s 1-2 was crucial, while key leaders, Aoife Halligan, Aine Breen, Ceire Nolan, Shannen McLaughlin, Rachel Beirth, Eimear Murray and Eilis Hand stepped up when needed, while the impact of Ciara Woods and Zara Sweeney off the bench offered them something different in attack.

Louth: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Eimear Murray, Eilís Hand, Rachel Beirth; Louise Byrne, Shannen McLaughlin, Holly Lambe Sally; Aine Breen (0-2), Aoife Halligan; Seoda Matthews, Eimear Byrne, Lucy White; Aoife Russell, Kate Flood (2-5) (4f), Ceire Nolan.

Subs: Ciara Woods for Matthews (47), Zara Sweeney for White (58).

Limerick: Sophie Hennessey; Sarah Dillon, Yvonne Lee, Joanne McGuire; Meadhbh MacNamara, Lucy O’Brien, Grace Lee; Orla Ryan, Karen O’Leary (0-1); Caoimhe McGrath (0-2), Rebecca Delee (0-1), Caoimhe McNamara; Deborah Murphy (0-3) (1f), Cathy Mee (0-1), Roisin Ambrose (0-1).

Subs: Georgia Keane for McNamara (53), Lauren Ryan for Lee (55).

Referee: Aaron Clogher (Co Roscommon).