Louth Ladies move top after dominant win

Louth moved into pole position in the Lidl LGFA National Football League Division Three after they produced a ruthless performance against previously unbeaten Antrim at Drogheda on Sunday.

The clash of the Division Three form teams saw Louth, who had three successive victories since their opening day draw with Down in Darver, take on Antrim, who arrived at the Integral GAA Grounds with an unbeaten record after four games.

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Playing with the breeze in the opening half, Kevin Larkin’s side always had a measure of control, dominating both kick-outs and laying the platform for a victory that takes their scoring to an impressive 4:24 in their last two games.

The first half saw the Reds nine points to the good as the half time whistle blew, helped by a dominant opening quarter which saw them race into a 0:7 to 0:1 lead midway through the half, with midfield duo Aoife Halligan and Aine Breen contributing 0:4 of the total, with the Saffron county having to wait until the sixteenth minute for their first score as Maria O’Neill converted a free.

On top in most areas of the pitch, Louth added a further four points to put themselves firmly in control as they led by 0:11 to 0:2 at the break.

Indeed, it could have been better for the home side had Lucy White’s fine effort not been kept out by the woodwork late in the half.

The second half saw Antrim needing a goal to get back into the game, and they created a rare goal chance when Bronagh Devlin found herself in space, and her well-hit shot seemed headed for the corner of the Louth net.

However, Louth keeper Rebecca Lambe-Fagan, showing remarkable agility, got across and diverted the ball away from goal, preventing a certain goal.

Louth replied with further points from Mia Duffy and Zara Sweeney, extending their advantage to 0:14 to 0:5 with ten minutes to play, effectively putting the game beyond the northern county’s reach.

With the points wrapped up, both management teams took the opportunity to give most of their substitutes some valuable playing time, including St. Mochta’s star Grace Hoey, who played 24 hours earlier for her county in the Leinster Championship and got among the scorers in a very satisfying day for Louth. 

Louth had nine different scorers and 12 of their fifteen points came from play in this win, and now require just one point from their remaining two fixtures against Roscommon (A) and a home tie against Laois to secure promotion to Division 2 for the first time in more than 20 years. 

Louth: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan, Seoda Matthews, Eilish Hand, Holly Lambe Sally, Amy Murray, Shannon McLaughlin, Louise Byrne, Aoife Halligan 0:2, Aine Breen 0:2, Lucy White 0:1, Ciera Nolan 0:1, Zara Sweeney 0:1, Eimear Byrne 0:2, Sophie Everitt 0:4, Ciara Woods.

Subs used: Mia Duffy 0:1, Grace Hoey 0:1, Laura Collins, Rachel Beirth, Maggie Holland, Eimear Callaghan, Naoise McConnon,  Emma Thompson.

Antrim: Aine Devlin, Hanna Donaghy, Maeve Blaney, Maeve Mullholland, Laura Agnew, Ciara  Brown, Emma Louise McAreavey, Ana Mullholland, Aine Tubridy, Theresa Mellon, Ciar Maguire, Carla McKenna, Bronagh Devlin 0:1, Maria O’Neill 0:3, Duana Coleman.

Subs used: Aileen McDonnell 0:1

Referee: Declan Carolan (Armagh)