Louth secure promotion to LGFA National Football League Division Two

Louth secured a sixth Lidl LGFA National Football League Division Three victory in seven games with a comfortable six-point win over Roscommon in Hyde Park on Sunday.

This result guarantees Louth promotion to Division Two next season, a remarkable turnaround for the county under Kevin Larkin.

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Larkin’s appointment sixteen months ago marked a turning point for Louth, who had narrowly avoided relegation the previous year.

Since then, the Reds have gone from strength to strength, missing out on promotion by a single point last season and now finding themselves top of the table with one game to spare.

With Roscommon knowing a win would keep their promotion hopes alive, this was never going to be straightforward, but Louth’s superior skill and pace told in the end.

In the first half, the Leinster side created a number of clear-cut chances, but their finishing was wayward on occasions, hitting the woodwork on five separate occasions.

Eimear Byrne was particularly unlucky, seeing a tenth-minute effort crash off the crossbar.

Despite the lack of a goal, Louth led by 0:7 to 0:3 at the break thanks to some impressive work by Lucy White, who caused the Roscommon defence all sorts of problems with her pace and direct running. The Cooley star hit three points in the opening 30 minutes, and her influence was clear to see.

The second half saw Louth take control, with a devastating 1:5 without reply in a ten-minute spell, effectively killing off the game.

Ciara Woods, scorer of five goals in six appearances this season, was on fire, hitting a post and then scoring a crucial goal after an outstanding save, one of many performed by the Roscommon keeper Helena Cummins.

Sophie Everitt, Woods and subs Grace Hoey and Aoife Russell added points while Rosie Lennon hit a late consolation goal for the home side. But it was Louth’s day, and they can look forward to next month’s league final with confidence.

Louth’s final outing in the group stage is a home fixture against Laois next Sunday. The O’Moore County must win and hope that Roscommon beats Clare; any other result will mean relegation for Laois.

Meanwhile, Down meet Antrim with the winners taking the remaining promotion place and setting up a meeting with Louth in the league final on Sunday, April 12th.

Louth: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan, Shoda Matthews, Eilish Hand, Holly Lambe Sally, Amy Murray, Shannon McLaughlin 0:1, Louise Byrne, Aoife Halligan, Aine Breen, Lucy White 0:3, Ciera Nolan 0:1, Zara Sweeney, Eimear Byrne 0:2, Sophie Everitt 0:4, Ciara Woods 1:2

Subs used: Rachel Beirth, Grace Hoey 0:1, Laura Collins, Aoife Russell 0:1, Emma Thompson, Naoise McConnon, Eimear Callaghan