Longford 2-18, Louth 2-05.
Match Report – 1st round of Leinster Minor Championship: Louth v Longford
On Sunday the 27th of March, the Louth Minor girls began their Leinster B championship campaign away to Longford, in Pearse Park.
While a perfect afternoon for football, with a 2pm throw-in, Longford started stronger, scoring 3 early pts followed by a fortune goal. Louth employed a sweeper Áine Carolan, to stem the flow and aid the hard-working Katie Doheny, Hazel Malone and Laura Cosgrove.
A very athletic Longford midfield pairing tried hard to penetrate Louth’s halfback line of Laoise McElroy, Tara Kelly and Ava Mc Nally who all worked tirelessly to curb the flow along with the super-fit Lucy Smith playing a deeper role. Two top saves from Niamh McGeogh (the team Captain) followed, the second setting up a flowing move involving both Katelyn Murphy and Katie Murphy which led to Louth’s first score, on 18 minutes, with a free well taken by Abi Keenan.
Louth’s very skilful attack of Lily Fagan, Ciara Lennon, Aisling Maguire and Abi Keenan linked up well for another Abi Keenan score just before half time!! Halftime score was Longford 2-09 Louth 0-02.
The second half began with the introduction of Amy Everitt and Méabh Fee, both immediately involved in setting up a fiercely taken goal by Abi Keenan. Aisling Maguire tapped another score over however, Longford kept their nose in front with some well taken points.
Shortly after, from a precise Niamh McGeogh kick-out, Louth gained possession inside the Longford 45 – the ball found its way via Katelyn Murphy to Aisling Maguire who rattled the Longford net.
Lainey McCormack, Anya Rogers and Lauren Briscoe all played their part in an encouraging second-half display, Lauren with the sweetest point of the game, which proved to be Louth’s last score. A gallant second-half wasn’t enough on the day unfortunately and final score rested at Longford 2-18, Louth 2-05.
Louth Team:
Niamh McGeough (Captain)
Katie Doheny
Tara Kelly
Laura Cosgrove
Laoise McElroy
Hazel Malone
Ava McNally
Kateglyn Murphy
Katie Murphy
Aisling Maguire (1-01)
Áine Carolan
Lucy Smith
Ciara Lennon (0-01)
Abi Keenan (1-02)
Lily Fagan
Shauna Ward Rice
Lauren Briscoe (0-01)
Órlaith Carolan
Sadhbh Clinton
Amy Everitt
Méabh Fee
Shauna Lynch
Marianna Macari Kierans
Lainey McCormack
Katie O’Rourke
Anya Rodgers
Faye Tinsley
Grace Woods
Kate Hanlon
Hannah Leech
