Louth Ladies manager is "Just happy with the performance"

Louth Ladies booked their place in the semi-finals of the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship after a thrilling 2-12 to 0-14 win over Sligo at Páirc na nGael, Ramparts, this afternoon.

Though both sides had already qualified from Group A, this was no dead rubber with both teams playing to win, and the Wee County came out on top thanks to a determined second-half showing and key moments of quality across the field.

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Speaking after the game, Louth manager Kevin Larkin was full of praise for his players, stressing the importance of the performance above all.

He said: “Yeah, our initial reaction is we're just happy with the performance. Like, that's what we talked about all week, was just putting in the performance and the result will look after itself.

“But the work rate, there's big moments where Louth players stood up. Ceire Nolan at the end there, she made two bursts forward, and it's easy to sit back.

“She took the game by the scruff of the neck. Rebecca Lamb-Fagan in goals is just magnificent. Sligo are a very, very, very good team as well and, yeah, we're just really happy to get off the line and on to the semi-final.”

Momentum

Despite already being through to the last four, Larkin insisted that there was no question of taking the foot off the gas.

“Yeah, we spoke about that and what was really important for us is our momentum. Look, irrespective of the result, you want to keep the momentum going.

“Listen, I know people say that, but I haven't even looked at the other results. I don't care who we're playing in the semi-final. You have to beat every team in the competition.

“So, like I said, the most important thing for us was not topping the group or whatever. It was keeping our momentum going, which we have done today.”

Game management

Sligo enjoyed long spells of pressure in the second half, but Louth’s ability to keep the scoreboard ticking made the difference.

“Oh, yeah, and it's funny because that's what we spoke about, like, just keep that scoreboard ticking over.

“If the goal chance is on, obviously, you can take it, but it's important to keep the scoreboard ticking over and we've just done it brilliantly.

“Like I said, the scores at the end, Kate (Flood) taking the three there and some of our defending was just absolutely fantastic. They're brilliant. They really are. They work so hard. They're talking to each other.

“I think our defence has probably been our strongest point all year and it was proved out there today because to keep Sligo scoreless in terms of a goal, to keep a clean sheet, is a great achievement themselves because they're a very good attacking team.”

Goal chances

Louth looked like they could have had more goals, but Sligo’s defenders did well to stop several dangerous attacks.

“I suppose the important thing, we spoke about that at half-time, it's we're creating the chances and that's really important.

“So like that, we were just really happy in terms of the chances that were there and then we spoke at half-time, if it's on, keep that scoreboard ticking, keep it ticking over and that's what we did fantastic.”

Do-or-die

Louth's journey through the group stages hasn’t been plain sailing, but their progress has been clear to see with each game.

“Look, we've been working really hard in training and, trying to see out games and things like that because, like I said, we're at the do-or-die end of the season now.

High-pressure games like that in training, it translates out onto the pitch here, but, every day we arrive to Darver, we're improving and they're just a great team to work with and just loving every second of it.”

Semi-final

With their place in the last four now confirmed, Louth will await details of their semi-final clash in two weeks' time. Whoever they face, they’ll go in with momentum and confidence.