Cooley clinch Louth LGFA Division One league title

Cooley Kickhams won the Louth LGFA Division 1 league on Friday night, with this four point win over the Geraldines in Pairc de Róiste on Friday night.

Despite ultimately deserving their victory, the final was very much in the melting pot with 52 minutes on the clock, with both sides level at 2-5 to 1-8, after Emma Gartlan hauled the Gers level with her third score of the evening.

However, Cooley boasted that extra quality in attack, with talented pair Lauren Boyle and Niamh Rice once again producing the goods for Kickhams, finishing with 1-9 between them.

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A late free from Boyle, plus a late goal from her sister Ciara Boyle sealed a four point win for the 2022 Senior Championship winners.

Niamh Rice’s pace, coupled with the guile of Lauren Boyle at key moments would be sufficient to give most defences a sleepless night, and it was two early scores from Rice including a free, and a neatly taken Lauren Boyle strike which gave Cooley an early 0-3 to no score lead after 7 minutes.

However, the Geraldines whose defence was short key county players Eilish Hand and Holly Lambe Sally, still made sure that Cooley did not have it all their own way, with defenders Beth Hughes, Gemma McCrave and Victoria Fee keen to get in the faces of the dangerous Cooley frontline at every opportunity.

Elsewhere, keeper Grainne Boyle can be satisfied with her kickout stats, as the Gers won 14 out of their 18 restarts over the hour, as well as saving a late Cooley penalty.

These kickouts saw Rebecca Carr and Sandra Neary shine for the Haggardstown side, who remained in contention throughout.

One such kickout which was collected by Carr, who set off on a mazy run before firing the ball passed Cooley keeper Coirin Rice and through the netting for the Gers’ opening major after 8 minutes, drawing the Haggardstown side level. Carr herself, finished with 22 possessions over the hour.

Lauren Boyle (f) did put Cooley back ahead, but Sandra Neary who finished with 28 possessions, fired over a long range point to leave the sides level at 0-4 to 1-1 after the opening quarter.

Despite their dominance, Cooley’s shooting left a lot to be desired at times, hitting eight scores from 17 shots in open play over the hour. They also saw several efforts denied by the woodwork, while Katie McDonald’s goal bound effort was cleared off the line.

This erratic shooting meant that Cooley were only ahead by two points after 25 minutes thanks to the dynamic duo of Niamh Rice and Lauren Boyle.

Just as the rain began to pick up the pace, the Gers refused to let go and drew level, thanks to brace of white flags from Louth county panellist Emma Gartlan, which left nothing to separate the sides at half time at 0-6 to 1-3 in the rain and wet.

Second Half:

A long ball into the square in the wet conditions is about the most dangerous ball to defend, much to the benefit of the Geraldines early in the second half.

Just after the restart, Sandra Neary seized on the loose ball to fire low to the net after a Rebecca Carr free dropped short, putting the Gers in front for the first and only time at 2-3 to 0-6.

But Cooley’s response was instant, as Niamh Rice crashed the ball to the roof of the net to level things up. Lauren Boyle then drove the ball over the bar via the post to put Cooley back ahead at 2-3 to 1-7 after 39 minutes.

Frees from Emma Gartlan and Rebecca Carr had drawn the Gers level, leaving the game firmly in the melting pot in that final 10 minutes.

However, Cooley just had that extra class when it mattered. After Lauren Boyle had put them back ahead, the Gers were chasing the game, affording space for the ball to be kicked over the top of their defence.

Ciara Boyle latched onto one long ball, before firing the ball to the Gers net late on to ensure Cooley would be taking home the Division 1 crown, with this hard fought win over the Geraldines.

Cooley Kickhams: Coirín Rice; Jessica White, Claire Donnelly, Niamh Donnelly; Katie McDonald, Laura Traynor, Sarah Walker; Ellen Callan, Niamh Arnold; Ciara Boyle (1-0), Áine McDonald, Shannon Walker; Lauren Boyle (0-5) (2f), Eibhlín Rice, Niamh Rice (1-4) (1f).

Subs: Ciara Quinn for Callan (48), Emma McCarragher for Traynor (50), Hazel Malone for Niamh Donnelly (55), Clioidhna Hanniffy for Katie McDonald (55), Katie O’Rourke for Ciara Boyle (64).

Geraldines: Grainne Boyle; Kerrie Byrne, Megan Scully, Beth Hughes; Anya Rogers, Gemma McCrave, Victoria Fee; Fionnaula Caffrey, Rebecca Carr (1-1) (1f); Emma Gartlan (0-3) (2f), Aislinn Connor, Ava Sheridan; Clodagh Corcoran, Sandra Neary (1-1), Rachel Cunniffe.

Subs: Sarah Cuthbert for Sheridan (41), Ailish Fee for Rogers (55).

Referee: Declan Moan.