Louth Ladies secure All-Ireland IFC status for 2027
Louth 2-15 Wicklow 0-6
The Louth Ladies assured their place in the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship for next season with this facile victory over Wicklow in the Relegation Championship Semi Final in Donaghamore Ashbourne on Sunday afternoon last.
This victory rounded off what was a wonderful day for Louth sport in general, with the men’s team’s victory over Monaghan in Croke Park seeing them through to a first All-Ireland semi-final since 1957, which was met with a huge cheer from the Wee County contingent in Ashbourne.
The difference in quality between a side who achieved promotion out of Division 3 and one who finished third from bottom in Division 4 was there for all to see as the Louth LGFA led from start to finish, taking a 0-10 to 0-2 advantage into half time, making the most of a first-half wind advantage.
The one blot on the copybook from a Louth perspective was the fact they only managed 2-8 from 25 shots in open play over the hour.
However, sharpshooter, Laura Lynch was an exception to this rule, kicking 0-9 from 13 shots over the hour, to add to the list of impressive displays from the forward this season.
Kevin Larkin’s charges led by 0-3 to no score after 15 minutes, thanks to Eimear Byrne and a sweetly struck two pointer from Aoife Russell.
But that same period also saw them amass 4 wides, and come close to scoring two goals, as their movement of the ball through the hands was too much for Wicklow.
A fine move involving Aine Breen and Ceire Nolan, saw Eimear Byrne crash a shot off the Wicklow crossbar, while another move saw the St Mochtas player thwarted at close range by Wicklow keeper Bea Clancy.
Wicklow went close to a goal themselves when Niamh Caffrey smashed the crossbar after gaining a yard on her marker. But they opened their account thanks to a point from play by captain Lucy Dunne into a tricky breeze.
But Louth were very much in charge, dominating on both their own and Wicklow’s kickout, with team captain Aine Breen and Louise Byrne finishing with 24 possessions each, while Shannen McLaughlin was once again a key influence for Louth, with 30 possessions over the hour, while St Fechins’ Ceire Nolan was once again involved in most of Louth’s positive attacking play.
Laura Lynch calmly slotted over the bar for Louth’s fourth score, as the team in red began to move through the gears.
Playing with that first half breeze saw Louth get some joy off long kickouts. One such long kickout from Rebecca Lambe Fagan, found Eimear Byrne on the attack.
Byrne combined with Shannen McLaughlin for the latter to set up her Clan na Gael colleague, Ciara Woods to kick over the bar from close range leaving them 0-5 to 0-1 ahead heading into the 20th minute.
It was fair to say that he next 10 minutes belonged to Laura Lynch from a Louth scoring perspective. Five points on the bounce from Lynch gave Reds a nine point lead approaching half time, including efforts with both feet.
Lynch first converted back-to-back frees following fouls on Eimear Byrne and Ceire Nolan respectively.
This was followed by a Lynch strike from play after neat passing by Aine Breen and Eimear Byrne, before the Newtown Blues star kicked over her fifth point with her left foot after a strong Louth press high up the pitch saw Aine Breen regain possession on a Wicklow kickout, in a move involving Ciara Woods, and Aoife Russell.
Another Lynch free left Louth 0-10 to 0-1 ahead, before Wicklow ended their 15 minute wait for a score through a delightful effort from Laura Butler in a move involving Ella Parke and Lucy Dunne.
The Garden County nearly cut that deficit further, but Rebecca Lambe Fagan stood firm to keep out a close range strike from the hard running Michelle Reneghan.
Second Half:
Laura Lynch (f) traded scores with Wicklow’s Sarah Evans from play to retain Louth’s eight point lead, six minutes after the restart.
But even at this stage, the writing was very much on the wall with Louth firmly in the driving seat, as Laura Lynch (f) and Lucy White from play left them ten clear by the end of the third quarter.
Yasmin Bishop and Laura Lynch traded frees, before Louth stretched that lead to thirteen points, when a looping effort by Aoife Russell managed to find its way into the net for their opening major eight minutes from time, leaving them 1-14 to 0-4 ahead.
Late on, Louth subs Eimear Callaghan and Sophie Everitt made impacts off the bench, with Callaghan adding her name to the scoreboard with a finely clipped effort from the right wing at close range.
Wicklow did grab a two pointer when Elizabeth Bourke’s shot bounced over the bar, while Louth’s Rebecca Lambe Fagan did produce a fine stop to keep out clean strike from the hardworking Lucy Dunne.
Louth went on put more gloss on the scoreline when Sophie Everitt fired low to the bottom corner for their second goal after being teed up by Ceire Nolan, as Louth ran out comfortable winners in Ashbourne, assuring their place in the All Ireland Intermediate Championship for 2027, to go with their Division 3 league success earlier this season.
Louth: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Rachel Beirth, Holly Lambe Sally, Seoda Matthews; Emma Thompson, Shannen McLaughlin, Louise Byrne; Aine Breen, Aoife Halligan; Lucy White (0-1), Ceire Nolan, Aoife Russell (1-2) (1 tp); Laura Lynch (0-9) (6f), Eimear Byrne (0-1), Ciara Woods (0-1).
Subs: Sophie Everitt (1-0) for Halligan (41), Zara Sweeney for Woods (51), Eimear Callaghan (0-1) for White (54), Meabh Hickey for Thompson (57), Maggie Holland for Russell (58).
Wicklow: Bea Clancy; Megan Healy, Orla O’Keeffe, Emma Doyle; Sarah O’Toole, Sarah Evans (0-1), Neasa McGillycuddy; Michelle Reneghan, Elizabeth Bourke (0-2) (1 tp); Ella Parke, Lucy Dunne (0-1), Rosa Donohoe; Yasmin Bishop (0-1), Niamh Caffrey, Laura Butler (0-1).
Subs: Charlotte Doyle for Butler (37), Holly Sheehy for Bishop (40), Amy Lalor for O’Toole (44), Millie Phelan for McGillycuddy (51), Erin Doyle for Donohoe (60).
Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Co Kildare).