Confident Louth Ladies defeat Slaneysiders 

Louth Ladies delivered a composed and determined performance to claim a 1-6 to 0-6 victory over Wexford in the Lidl National Football League Division 3 encounter at Páirc Na nGael this afternoon. 

This was a historic occasion for the Ladies marking their first-ever senior game at the Ramparts ground.  

Wexford were top of the table and unbeaten coming into the match, but Louth rose to the challenge with a resolute display that saw them earn back-to-back wins. 

The game started with Wexford seeing plenty of possession, but their early attempts failed to trouble the scoreboard.  

It was Louth's sharpshooter, Kate Flood, who struck first with a well-taken point after two minutes. The visitors responded quickly with Grace Donovan and Aoife Cullen putting them ahead by the third minute. 

The Wee County found themselves on the back foot for much of the first quarter as Wexford looked dominant, but Shannen McLaughlin’s return to the setup this season was marked with an important point on 13 minutes.  

Kate Flood’s accuracy from a free on 20 minutes brought the sides level at 0-3 apiece.  

However, Wexford nudged in front once more through Chloe Fox just before half-time, leaving Louth trailing by a single point at the break, 0-3 to 0-4. 

Louth came out flying in the second half, and within 26 seconds, they had the crucial breakthrough. Laura Collins reacted quickest to a McLaughlin shot that dropped short and palmed it into the net. 

Just two minutes later, Eimear Byrne nailed a fantastic point to extend Louth’s lead to 1-4 to 0-4. With momentum firmly in their favour, Louth pushed on.  

Kate Flood converted another free on 46 minutes to widen the gap, though Wexford responded through an Aoife Cullen free two minutes later. 

The visitors missed chances, with Aoife Cullen shooting wide from a free, while Flood continued to shine at the other end and fired over another nice point in the 58th minute to bring her personal tally to 4-12 for the season. 

Wexford managed a late score through Ciara Branville, but it was too little, too late. Louth saw out the game with composure, securing a well-deserved four-point victory. 

This result is a huge statement from Louth as they showed their ability to grind out victories against tough opposition. The win keeps their promotion hopes alive. 

Subs: Orlaith Byrne on for Chloe Fox (49’); Julia Dempsey on for Katie English (23’). 

Referee: Gavin Finnegan (Down).