Louth GAA: St Brides win Intermediate title for the first time in eight years

St Brides won the Louth GAA Ladies Intermediate Championship for the first time since 2016 prevailing by the most slender of margins in a dramatic decider in Ardee.

Four points down the home straight saw the Knockbridge side get over the line, having trailed with 10 minutes left by 1-11 to 1-9 when Hunterstown’s Sarah Lynch capitalised on a defensive mix up to give her side the lead.

However, the Brides stepped up when counted, with the introduction of subs Grainne Mackin and Ellie McCourt crucial to the Brides revival, which saw the excellent Emma McArdle raise three white flags along with a score from Sarah Fagan, giving them a 1-13 to 1-11 lead.

St Brides will also be indebted to goalkeeper Una Pearson, who pulled off numerous saves over the hour, because Hunterstown created several presentable goal chances. 

Try as they might, and they did, Hunterstown pushed for a late goal, and in fairness to Brides’ defender Caoimhe Hoey who took one for the team, the possibility of a goal was thwarted. 

Despite Mischa Rooney converting her 10th score of the game, she was heartbreakingly for Hunterstown unable to stop her side losing a second Intermediate final in a row, having lost out to the O’Raghallaighs/St Oliver Plunketts amalgamation last year. 

It was Hunterstown thanks mainly to the shooting of Mischa Rooney from dead balls, who had the upper hand in the first half, leading by 0-8 to 0-4, with six of their eight scores emanating from Rooney frees.

Anytime the Brides supplied their top scorer Emma McArdle with possession, they looked a threat, with early scores from McArdle and Kodie McEneaney giving Frank Noonan’s side an early lead.

Ava McNally who saw plenty of possession in midfield alongside the hardworking Abbie Sheridan, set up Theresa Russell for a rare Hunterstown score, before another Rooney free left it at 0-3 each after 10 minutes.

The sides were deadlocked again at 0-4 each after the first quarter when Emma McArdle and Mischa Rooney (f) traded points.

This opening quarter saw both sides miss goal chances, with the lively Emma McArdle hitting the crossbar, while Orlaith Carolan was denied by St Brides’ Una Pearson, in a move which started by a neat turnover from Ava McNally.

The Brides were guilty of coughing up possession at this point, with their aimless kicking both coming out of defence and into their inside line causing them to lose the ball 17 times in the first half. 

Hunterstown took advantage of this to take a 0-7 to 0-3 lead with 4 minutes remaining until half time, thanks to Rooney (3f), and a fine score from Sarah Lynch having been set up by Rooney.

The lead could have been even greater for Ivor Martin’s side, with Mischa Rooney smashing the crossbar in a move through the hands involving Abbie & Gemma Sheridan, the latter also dragging wide from close range.

The Brides were under the cosh at this stage, but a much needed point from Sarah Fagan did keep them in contention, with Mischa Rooney continuing to keep Hunterstown ahead by four at the break.

Second Half: 

The second half saw the Brides start proceedings like a house on fire.  

In a quick move almost straight from the throw up, which started with Caoimhe Hoey, saw Clara Martin and Bronagh McArdle combine to set up Kodie McEneaney to fire to the back of the net to set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Before you knew it, the Knockbridge side were ahead, thanks to two gorgeous strikes from Bronagh McArdle who played a key role in the second half, coming deeper to receive possession and link the play for her side, finishing with 15 possessions over the hour. 

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A Mischa Rooney free did level things up at 1-6 to 0-9, 7 minutes into the second half. 

Former county panellist Ruth Hanna showed excellent determination and class to fire over on the angle to put the Brides back ahead, before points from Sarah Fagan and Kodie McEneaney gave the Brides a two point lead at the end of the third quarter, with Mischa Rooney continuing to keep Hunterstown alive.

Rooney again narrowed the gap to a single point with a free, moments after Una Pearson denied Sarah Lynch, with referee Bryan Smith calling the play back, having allowed a Hunterstown advantage.

However, Sarah Lynch soon swept the ball passed Pearson following a Brides defensive mix up to regain the lead for her side at 1-11 to 1-9 in a topsy turvy final.

The last 10 minutes saw the Brides show tremendous character, to eek out those scores down the home straight, thanks to the excellent Emme McArdle and Sarah Fagan, who were back up by a supporting cast of Rachel Rice, Olive McKenna, Ruth Hanna and Caoimhe Hoey, , as they soon led by 1-13 to 1-11 in stoppage time.

Subs Grainne Mackin and Ellie McCourt also made noteworthy contributions, helping the Brides to win 8 out of 14 on Hunterstown’s kickout in that second period, as the Brides pressed up. 

Having been kept out by Pearson moments before, Mischa Rooney elected to kick her free over the bar to leave just a point between the sides, her 10th white flag overall. 

However, the Brides held on, to secure an immediate return to Louth Ladies’ top table in a dramatic final, and a superb advertisement for the game. 

St Brides: Una Pearson; Hannah McCourt, Caoimhe Hoey, Debbie Callan; Niamh Bailey, Orla McGeeney, Rebecca Hillard; Olive McKenna, Rachel Rice; Ellen Rutledge, Kodie McEneaney 1-2, Ruth Hanna 0-1; Bronagh McArdle 0-2, Sarah Fagan 0-3, Emma McArdle 0-5 (2f).
Subs: Grainne Mackin for McKenna (50), Ellie McCourt for Hannah McCourt (54).

Hunterstown Rovers: Claire Byrne; Mia McCartney, Paulina Kelly, Kerris McCabe; Caoimhe Carolan, Ruth Gillespie, Jennifer Trainer; Abbie Sheridan, Ava McNally; Clara Martin, Mischa Rooney 0-10 (10f), Theresa Russell 0-1; Orlaith Carolan, Sarah Lynch 1-1, Gemma Sheridan.
Subs: Aine Fannin for Russell (HT), Ava Brennan for Orlaith Carolan (42 mins), Nicole Fitzgerald for McCabe (44 mins), Niamh Rogers for Caoimhe Carolan (50 mins).

Referee: Declan Dunne (John Mitchells).