Louth School Girls League | Bellurgan Utd beat Square U14 Shield final

Bellurgan United are the final winners of the 2025 Louth School Girls League season, claiming victory in the rearranged Under-14 Shield final with a 4-2 win over Square United in an enthralling clash at Oriel Park.

Three goals in the opening nine minutes put Bellurgan firmly in control and, despite a stirring fightback from Square, who twice cut the lead to two and peppered the Bellurgan goal in the second half, they could not find a way back into the game.

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Bellurgan started on the front foot, and Niamh McGuinness fired an early effort wide before giving her team the lead on five minutes, pouncing on a high bouncing ball in the box and firing into the corner with the outside of her right foot.

Bellurgan's tails were up, and they doubled the lead on their very next attack, as a diagonal cross from the right found Lily-May Breaden, who calmly slotted home.

Two goals in just over a minute, and Square were rocking, and their plight got worse before 10 minutes were on the clock.

A Bellurgan corner from the right was cleared to Erin O'Doherty, who fired home a shot from fully 30 yards, the ball rifling into the top right corner, leaving Square's keeper Bella Conlon with no chance. It was a goal fit to grace any final.

Molly Gallagher fired wide soon after, but then Square began to work their way back into the game, with Tess Maguire looking dangerous on the left wing.

On more than one occasion, the winger caused problems for the Bellurgan defence, and she fired a shot narrowly wide from distance before pulling a goal back for her team on 17 minutes, cutting inside from the left and firing into the top left corner for another wonder strike.

On 22 minutes, Maguire almost cut the deficit to one, meeting an inviting cross from the right only to stab her effort wide, and moments later, the Square supporters were up cheering a second Maguire goal, but her well-struck shot rippled the roof of the net rather than the back of it.

Square continued to push, but when Maguire's cross from the left found McGuinness instead of a team-mate, the midfielder's long ball over the top found Molly Gallagher, who held off Square captain Lily Curtis to fire home and re-establish the three-goal lead.

Half-time: Bellurgan 4 - 1 Square

Square started the second half on the front foot, and they reduced the deficit to two again within four minutes of the restart as Lexie McKenny pounced on a bouncing ball to fire home.

The Ardee outfit almost reduced the deficit to one just moments later, but Maisie Durnin's shot was well saved by Meadhbh Ni Shuilleabhain after a nice one-two with McKenny.

On 50 minutes, a Maguire pass sent McKenny racing through, and the striker looked certain to score, but Bellurgan captain Lily Mackin got in a crucial block in the nick of time.

Just moments later, Caitlin McKenna played in Durnin, who raced clear of the defence but fired wide.

McKenna and Durnin then combined to send McKenny through, but Ni Shuilleabhain saved bravely at the striker's feet. She was injured in the process and unable to take further part, with Cara O'Connor donning the gloves for the remainder of the game.

Bellurgan nearly put the tie to bed on the hour mark, with Gallagher's low shot saved well by Conlon after a neat McGuinness cross.

Square went straight up the other end, and the dangerous Maguire was sent clear, but stand-in goalkeeper O'Connor came off her line well to save at the winger's feet.

The Square attacks kept coming, and they looked certain to have a goal back moments later, but O'Connor pulled off another great save, before Maguire's superb long-range effort rattled the crossbar with just a few minutes on the clock.

Try as they might, it was the closest the Ardee outfit would come to forcing a nerve-wracking finale, and Bellurgan's early dominance stood to them, as they held firm to secure a thrilling victory, to add to their Cup success and Under-11s, Under-13s and Under-16s in the 2025 season.

Full time: Bellurgan 4 - 2 Square

Player of the Match: Erin O'Doherty (Bellurgan United)