Laois 4-8 Louth 1-7
It was not to be for the Louth minor ladies, as Laois got their revenge for two weeks ago as they sealed this victory to win the Leinster Minor B Championship in Abbotstown, Dublin. Louth to their credit, can still look back on a hugely positive season and this margin of defeat was not a true reflection on the match as a whole as Louth missed a few presentable goal chances which would have made the deficit a lot closer at the finish.
But take nothing away from Laois as they got out of the blocks and Aisling Fitzpatrick crashed the ball to the back of the net with their first attack, giving them the perfect start.
Louth settled down and converted frees from Sarah Gilmore and team captain Mia Duffy, either side of a well taken Seona Halligan score from play levelled things up after 7 minutes at 1-0 to 0-3.
However, after the water break, some excellent free taking from Kelly O’Neill in particular helped Laois to outscore Louth by 0-5 to 0-1 to take a four-point lead into half time at 1-5 to 0-4.
Second Half:
A penalty from O’Neill after the restart extended Laois’ lead further. This goal was crucial as Aisling Fitzpatrick was sin binned in this period, meaning that they played with 14 players for the first 10 minutes of the second half.
Louth battled back, and having missed a few goal chances, finally raised a green flag when Abi Keenan collected a long ball from Roisin Maguire to drive low to the net to give the Wee County hope. Leaving it at 2-7 to 1-7 heading into the second half water break. Abi Keenan was also unfortunate to see another effort crash off the crossbar minutes before her goal.
However, late goals from Emily Corbet and Ciara Crowley sealed victory for Laois in the final quarter on a 4-8 to 1-7 score line.
SCORERS
Laois: Kelly O’Neill 1-4 (1-0 penalty, 0-3fs), Aisling Fitzpatrick 1-1, Emily Corbet 1-0, Ciara Crowley 1-0, Orla Hennessy 0-2 (0-1f), Grainne Lalor 0-1
Louth: Abi Keenan 1-2, Roisin McGuire, Rachel Leonard, Mia Duffy (f), Sarah Gilmore (f), Seona Halligan 0-1 each
LAOIS: Aoibhe Brennan (Timahoe); Heather Bennett (Timahoe), Sarah Tuohy (Timahoe), Meabh Gallagher (St Brigid’s); Fiona Fennessy (St Brigid’s), Georgina Donovan (Graiguecullen), Ellen Donohue (Ballyroan); Anna Lalor (The Heath), Eleanor Healy (Park/Ratheniska); Kelly O’Neill (Graiguecullen), Aisling Fitzpatrick (The Heath), Emily Corbet (Clonaslee/St Manman’s); Grainne Lalor (Sarsfields), Orla Hennessy (Timahoe), Ciara Crowley (St Paul’s).
Sub: Niamh Conroy (St Paul’s) for G Lalor (60m), Laura Dempsey (Timahoe) for Gallagher (62m)
LOUTH: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Amy Farrell, Caoimhe Boyle, Caitlin O’Reilly; Ella McEntaggert, Louise Johnson, Emily Johnson; Clara Nic Criosta, Mia Duffy; Abi Keenan, Seona Halligan, Katie Murphy; Sarah Gilmore, Roisin Maguire, Rachel Leonard.
Subs: Kelly Carolan for E Johnson (34m), Maebh Fee for Gilmore (42m), Aine Carolan for Murphy (51m), Evelyn Donnelly for Maguire (58m)
Referee: Gearoid McGrath (Wexford)
Report from Dalton McNamee | Photos by Warren Matthews
