Louth ladies set for All-Ireland JFC final

Louth ladies secured their place in the TG4 All-Ireland Championship junior final after a hard-fought victory against Carlow at Parnell Park, Dublin, on Sunday afternoon.

The Wee County produced an impressive late rally in the final fifteen minutes, showcasing their determination and talent to clinch their spot in Croke Park.

The Reds will face Fermanagh in a highly anticipated rematch of the 2019 All-Ireland JFC final, which adds an extra layer of excitement to the upcoming contest. Paul Hanlon's side got off to a brilliant start, being the first to strike with a well-taken point by their captain, Áine Breen.

However, Carlow quickly responded with a trio of points from Megan Townsend, Rachel Sawyer, and Cliodhna Ní Shé, demonstrating their competitive spirit and making it clear that they were not going to be easy opponents.

Despite Carlow's early lead, Louth remained resilient and managed to get back into the game with five minutes remaining in the first half. This was thanks to a superb goal from Kate Flood, who timed her run to perfection to latch onto a well-placed pass.

Flood kept her composure and shot low past Carlow goalkeeper Nicole Hanley, reigniting Louth's hopes. Nevertheless, by halftime, the Reds found themselves trailing, with the score standing at 0-6 to 1-2 in favor of Carlow.

The second half saw Louth displaying remarkable resolve. Niamh Rice's magnificent point off the outside of her right boot brought the Wee County back on level terms, a pivotal moment that shifted the momentum of the game.

The decisive moment arrived when centre-half-back Breen finished off a fine move to score Louth’s second goal of the match with just five minutes remaining, a goal that ultimately proved crucial.

Energized by their second goal, Louth continued to push forward with determination. Although Carlow managed to score a late point courtesy of Ní Shé, it was not enough to overcome the spirited Louth side.

Contributions from Aoife Russell, along with the ever-reliable Rice and Flood, ensured the victory for the Wee County. This triumph secures their place in their seventh final, set to be held on Sunday, 4th August.

Post-match, Louth’s Niamh Rice's reflections underscored the team's journey and the challenges they overcame. Her comments highlighted the strategic fouling by Carlow, which disrupted Louth's flow but ultimately could not prevent their victory.

The mention of previous encounters with Leitrim and Wexford added context to Louth's ambitions and their sense of belonging at the top level. Rice's acknowledgment of the experienced players' contributions emphasized the collective effort that propelled Louth to the final.

She said: “It took me a while to get into it, but it was great to get a few points on the board. I think the experience heads got us over the line in the end. Áine Breen with the goal and Kate (Flood) with the points it was a real team performance.

“I knew we had the ability to keep the lead, but I also knew that they had the attacking power to slip a goal in there no bother to them. Once we got three or four ahead, we pushed on and the goal really got us over the line.

“We are a team that goes better when we are moving the ball fast. I think Carlow stopped us in our tracks a lot even fouling outfield stopping to let themselves get back which is a smart move to be fair to them. They really targeted our strengths, but we got there in the end.

“A lot of us were standing here before the game watching Leitrim and Wexford and we are disappointed that we are not at that level. We drew with Wexford this year and we beat Leitrim last year so it is definitely where we should be.

“As Aine (Breen) said to us before the game, if we can't win this game then we don't deserve to be there, so we are hoping to go all the way.”

Louth: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan; Anna Whyte, Eimear Murray, Éilís Hand; Louise Byrne, Aine Breen (c) (1-1), Céire Nolan; Aoife Halligan, Eimear Byrne; Mischa Rooney, Aoife Russell (0-2), Seoda Matthews; Niamh Rice (0-5), Kate Flood (1-3, 3f), Claire McDonald.

Subs: Lucy White for Matthews (37’), Holly Lambe-Sally for McDonald (40’), Caitlin O’Reilly for Whyte (42’), Rachel O’Connor-Leonard for Rooney (56’), Caoimhe Boyle for Murray (58’).

Carlow: Nicole Hanley; Aoife Carroll, Anne Roche, Sinéad McCullagh; Ruth Bermingham, Síofra O’Neill, Niamh Forde; Edel Hayden, Róisín Bailey; Megan Townsend (0-1), Rachel Sawyer, Sara Doyle; Ella Molloy, Tara Lyons, Clíodhna Ní Shé (0-7, 7f).

Subs: Sinéad McCullagh for Lyons (37’), Niamh Murphy for Townsend (51’), Elaine Ware for Hayden (53’), Maeve O’Neill for Mullins (57’).

Referee: Ciara Gilroy (Down).