Louth Ladies win second Leinster JFC title in a row

Louth withstood a late Carlow fightback to claim their second consecutive TG4 Leinster JFC title in a row with this four point victory in Mullingar’s TEG Cusack Park on Sunday afternoon.

Very much like their clash a few weeks earlier, Louth found themselves in a significant lead early into the second half.

Eight minutes upon the restart, Louth found themselves eleven points ahead of their opponents, thanks to two early goals from sharpshooter Kate Flood, as Louth led by 2-8 to 0-3 at that juncture. 

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But amazingly, Louth were pegged back by a gallant Carlow, who were helped by a goal through towering forward Elaine Ware, which was the catalyst for Carlow, who landed 1-4 without reply in that final 20 minutes.

However, Louth managed to eek out victory, as they managed out the game, with usual suspects Eilis Hand, Eimear Murray, Rachel Beirth Shannen McLaughlin and Aine Breen all producing key interventions at key moments as Louth managed to grind out the result.

Shooting with a wind advantage in that first half, Louth started on the front foot, with Eimear Byrne and Kate Flood landing the opening two scores for them. Flood’s score emanated from a flowing move involving Ceire Nolan, and Shannen McLaughlin.

In that period, Louth did also kick three wides and two short, with Carlow’s Cliodhna Ní Shé opening her side’s account with a free to make it 0-2 to 0-1 after nine minutes.

Louth were getting great joy in the transition early on, with many of their scores coming from turnovers. One such intervention from Rachel Beirth led to Seoda Matthews setting up Kate Flood to fire over the bar with her left foot, before Eimear Byrne landed her second point after player of the match Aoife Russell won a Carlow kickout.

Having watched her brother Ciaran play a key role in the Louth’s men’s side historic Leinster Championship success last week, Eimear Byrne was also key to the Louth ladies in Mullingar, finishing with an impressive 33 possessions over the hour.

Those back to back scores from Flood and Byrne saw Louth lead by 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter.

Following a clever move through the hands, Carlow’s Sinead McCullagh set up the marauding Elaine Ware who fired over the bar when goal was on her mind, for the Barrowsiders’ first score from play.

Louth heeded this warning to grab the last three points without reply to take a five point lead into the break.

Carlow did cause occasional stress in the Louth defence when long balls were kicked into the square. After Louth keeper Rebecca Lambe Fagan punched one such delivery out of her goal mouth, Louth’s Eimear Murray was on hand to bravely block a close range strike from Cliodhna Ní Shé.

At the other end. another turnover led to Eimear Byrne setting up Laura Collins to point from close range, before a patient build up involving Shannen McLaughlin, Ceire Nolan and Aoife Russell, saw Aine Breen put four between the sides after 22 minutes.

Team captain Aine Breen was influential in the next Wee County score, with the St Patricks’ player winning the ball back in defence, starting a move which once again saw Eimear Byrne tee up Kate Flood for another strike from play to leave Louth 0-7 to 0-2 ahead at the break.

Second Half:

After Ceire Nolan fired over the bar straight from the second half throw in, Louth appeared to have all but sealed victory, with two quick fire Flood majors.

Another flowing move through the hands, saw Laura Collins cleverly set up Kate Flood who calmly slotted passed Carlow keeper Nicole Hanley to make it 1-8 to 0-3 in Louth’s favour.

Minutes later, Louth were at it again, when another turnover and a slick move through the hands saw Eimear Byrne set up Kate Flood for goal number two, as she fired to the roof of the net to put eleven between the sides after 38 minutes.

Few could have predicted what was to be in store for the rest of the game, as Louth failed to score after Flood’s major, and Carlow landed 1-4 without reply, getting to grips with the breeze.

Despite the deficit, Carlow closed the gap to eight, after Elaine Ware managed to palm the ball to the net when a Kate Burke shot came back off the post.

The goal was a momentum changer, as Carlow began to get on top, with Edel Hayden, Tara Lyons and Ruth Bermingham seeing more of the ball.

Cliodhna NÍ Shé (2), including a free, Edel Hayden and a wonderful strike from sub Aibha Kiernan, narrowed the gap to four at 2-8 to 1-7 with five minutes remaining, with Louth under the cosh.

However, to their credit, Louth stood up, with key leaders producing key interventions like Eilis Hand, Seoda Matthews, Rachel Beirth, Shannen McLaughlin, and Aine Breen, while Aoife Halligan, Gemma McCrave and Mischa Rooney provided fresh legs, as Louth held onto the ball for the final few minutes, in energy sapping weather conditions.

Kevin Larkin’s side held on for victory, making it back to back TG4 Leinster JFC titles for Louth, having won this competition last year, as the ladies side continue the winning streak for the Wee County in Leinster finals, following the under 20 and men’s senior sides in recent weeks.

Louth: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Eilis Hand, Eimear Murray, Rachel Beirth; Louise Byrne, Shannen McLaughlin, Holly Lambe Sally; Aine Breen (0-1), Aoife Russell; Seoda Matthews, Eimear Byrne (0-2), Lucy White; Laura Collins (0-1), Kate Flood (2-3), Ceire Nolan (0-1).

Subs: Aoife Halligan for White (48), Mischa Rooney for Collins (53), Gemma McCrave for Sally (57).

Carlow: Nicole Hanley; Katie Tunstead, Sinead McCullagh, Aoife Carroll; Tara Lyons, Clodagh Mahon, Ruth Bermingham; Roisin Bailey, Edel Hayden (0-1); Ella Molloy, Aoibhin Webb (0-1), Bronagh Nolan; Cliodhna Ni She (0-3), Elaine Ware (1-1), Kate Burke.

Subs: Aibha Kiernan (0-1), for Webb (39), Beibhin Nolan for Mahon (45), Orla Woods for Bronagh Nolan (48), Megan Townsend for Hayden (57).

Referee: Paul McCaughey (Co Westmeath).