Three Kildare goals sink Louth hopes of Leinster glory

Leinster LGFA Intermediate Football Semi-Final

Louth 0-10 Kildare 3-15

The Louth Ladies were given a harsh lesson at the Kildare Centre of Excellence, as they were easily cast aside by an in-form home team with clear ambitions of landing the provincial title.

Despite a strong start, The Wee County’s chances were dented by a 13-minute purple patch from Kildare midway through the first half. They went from one in front to seven behind and sadly Louth rarely looked likely of threatening a comeback.

Narrowing it to a five point gap was as close as they came, but two goals from Neasa Dooley and Ciara Price increased the home side’s lead and allowed them to coast to victory. Louth never gave up and showed great battling qualities after every setback. But ultimately the gap was just too big.

It was a very open start to proceedings, the action coming thick and fast in a contest that was end-to-end for much of the first half.

The home team built up an early two-point cushion via efforts from Lara Gilbert and Lara Curran. But Louth responded with efforts from Lauren Boyle. She was the Wee County’s main target, with her fellow forwards doing all they could to get her as much possession as possible.

It was a flying start from the Cooley Kickhams sharpshooter, who even turned the ball over for her side’s next score. A wonderful team move was started by Boyle and backed up by Niamh Rice and Aoife Russell, they teed up Aine Breen, giving the visitors the lead on seven minutes.

However from here they failed to scores for the next 16 minutes, a period where they were hit for 1-5, as Kildare made every attack count.

It wasn’t as if Kit Henry’s side had no possession. They won all but one of their own kickouts in the first half and were getting the ball into the opposition half. Sadly, they were getting picked off at will by the Girls in White. Whether it was from aggressive tackling or just loose passes.

It meant they needed to soak up a lot of pressure, and on the counter Kildare were a vicious beast. Every one of their six attacks during this purple patch going over the bar.

Three points from the boot of Roisin Byrne put the home side back in front, before further efforts from Neasa Dooley and Byrne again saw them turn a one-point deficit into a four-point lead.

Things went from bad to worse for Louth on 21 minutes when the hosts grabbed the first of their three goals. A loose long ball from Louth saw Kildare attack at pace, as two pinpoint passes from Lara Gilbert and Byrne teed up Lara Curran. From close range she blasted it home.

Two frees via Laura Collins and late point from Boyle (which was an attempt at goal) helped keep Louth in the contest, but in between there was three in a row from Kildare leaving the Wee County trailing by 1-10 to 0-6 at half time.

Buoyed up by what was sure to be a huge team talk, the Girls in Red came out with purpose in the second half. Two early points came via Boyle, as Louth forced Kildare into camping in their own half. They were drawing fouls and putting Kildare under all the pressure.

Sadly, this didn’t last long, as a penalty on 39 minutes put a dent into their comeback hopes. An effort from Ruth Sargeant hit the posts, but she was alert enough to win back possession. As she drove towards goal, the Eadestown clubwoman was brought down by Niamh Rice. Dooley duly buried the penalty home.

While the next score came the way of Louth, Kildare put the game to bed with another goal on 50 minutes. The always influential Byrne picking out the run of substitute Elaine Keogh, whose three pointer left the Lilywhites 12 in front.

Louth began going more direct as they searched for a goal, but Kildare defended gamely and despite some hard work from the likes of Kate Flood, Laura Collins and Rice to work a goal chance, all they could muster from here to the finish was a well taken point from impressive substitute Lucy White.

Kildare continued to pounce on the counter, further efforts from Byrne (2) and Ellen Dowling helping them on their way to a 14-point victory.

With Leinster over, attentions now turn to the All-Ireland Series. Having lost out in the Quarter Finals for the last two years, Louth will be hopeful these tough encounters, in both the league and championship, will have them primed to go further forward this season.  

Louth: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Eimear Murray, Holly Lamb Sally, Eilish Hand; Seoda Matthews Ceire Nolan, Shannen McLaughlin; Aine Breen (0-1), Aoife Halligan; Laura Collins (0-2 frees), Niamh Rice, Abi Keenan (0-1); Aoife Russell, Kate Flood, Lauren Boyle (0-5, 0-2 frees).  Subs: Roisin Maguire for Keenan (48), Mia Duffy for Boyle (48), Lucy White (0-1) for Russell (48), Kate Doheny for Holly Lambe Sally (51), Caoimhe Boyle for Hand (58).

Kildare: Mary Hulgraine; Lauren Burke, Laoise Lenehan, Apife Clifford; Lara Gilbert (0-1), Ruth Sargeant, Sarah Munnelly (0-1); Grace Clifford, Aoife Rattigan; Claire Sullivan, Neasa Dooley (1-1, 1-0 pen), Roisin Byrne (0-9, 0-4 frees); Ellen Dowling (0-1), Trina Duggan, Lara Curran (1-2). Subs: Ciara Price (1-0) for Dooley (39), Mia Doherty for Rattigan (46), Lauren Murtagh for Burke (49), Grainne Kenneally for Curran (56), Amy Larn for Clifford (61).

Referee: Marion Hayden (Carlow)