Ardee News & Sport – Louth Hold Off Carlow Surge to Secure Leinster Final Spot
Louth booked their place in the Leinster LGFA Junior Football Championship Final with a nerve-wracking 5-8 to 2-15 win over Carlow at the Integral Gaelic Grounds in Drogheda, but the manner of their second-half display will leave plenty for management to ponder.
Having stormed to a commanding 13-point lead just five minutes after the restart, Kevin Larkin’s side appeared to be cruising. A blistering offensive burst that included a Mischa Rooney hat-trick — from just four shots — left Louth in control at 5-6 to 0-8.
But complacency crept in, and a determined Carlow almost pulled off a stunning comeback, outscoring Louth 2-7 to 0-2 in the final 25 minutes. Substitute Aibha Kiernan and Kate Burke sparked the revival with goals, while Cliodhna Ní Shé’s sharp free-taking kept Carlow within touching distance.
It took two crucial late points from Kate Flood, including one deep into the fifth minute of stoppage time, to settle Louth nerves and secure the narrow two-point victory.
“We need our town back,” Flood might not have said it, but her late composure spoke volumes as she delivered her sixth point under immense pressure.
Lightning Start from Louth
Louth exploded out of the blocks, registering three goals inside the opening eight minutes. Ceire Nolan and Kate Flood combined to set up Rooney for her opener, and the Hunterstown Rovers sharpshooter didn’t wait long for her second, pouncing on a defensive error.
Captain Áine Breen added a third shortly after, capping off a sweeping move that started from a Louth kickout, as the home side took a 3-3 to 0-5 lead at the first quarter mark. Shannen McLaughlin and Flood dictated tempo, while Katie Halligan made a critical save to deny Ella Molloy at the other end.
Before half-time, McLaughlin added a fourth Louth goal after Ciara Woods was denied. At the interval, Louth looked uncatchable, ahead 4-5 to 0-7.
Carlow’s Comeback Falls Just Short
Louth’s fifth goal — Rooney’s third — came on 35 minutes and should have sealed the tie. But Carlow, aided by the breeze, took control. Roisin Bailey and Tara Lyons turned the screw at midfield, helping Carlow win 10 of 18 contested kickouts in the second half.
Kiernan’s goal and points from Ní Shé and Burke sliced into the deficit, before Burke raised a second green flag for the visitors in the 54th minute, cutting the margin to just two.
As panic began to spread among the home support, Louth’s lead shrank to one when Ní Shé converted her sixth point. But Flood, with nerves of steel, popped up with the match-winning score during eight minutes of added time.
Key late defensive plays from McLaughlin, Nolan, and Breen helped stem the tide, allowing Louth to escape with a win that was far from routine.
Louth’s Focus Turns to Final
Despite the scare, Louth now advance to their second consecutive Leinster Junior final, but they’ll know a similar second-half drop-off could prove costly against stronger opposition.
Scorers – Louth:
Mischa Rooney 3-1, Kate Flood 0-6 (3f), Shannen McLaughlin 1-0, Áine Breen 1-0, Lucy White 0-1
Carlow:
Cliodhna Ní Shé 0-6 (5f), Kate Burke 1-1, Aibha Kiernan 1-1, Ella Molloy 0-2, Tara Lyons 0-1, Bronagh Nolan 0-1, Elaine Ware 0-1, Edel Hayden 0-1, Megan Townshend 0-1
Referee: Henri Clifford (Meath)
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