Louth Ladies Triumph Over Limerick in TG4 Junior All-Ireland Championship
Louth ladies took a significant step toward securing a semi-final spot in the TG4 Junior All-Ireland Championship with a commanding victory over Limerick in Stabannon on Sunday afternoon.
Louth 0-14 Limerick 0-8
Louth’s ladies’ team took a significant step toward securing a semi-final spot in the TG4 Junior All-Ireland Championship with a commanding victory over Limerick in Stabannon on Sunday afternoon. After previously defeating Kilkenny, Paul Hanlon’s side faced a challenging test against last year’s finalists, Limerick, who had narrowly lost to Down in the previous decider.
On the day, Louth’s attack proved more potent, with Kate Flood and Niamh Rice contributing 0-9 of the team’s points. Aoife Halligan also had an impressive performance, especially in the first half, scoring three points. In contrast, Limerick relied heavily on Deborah Murphy, who struggled to find support, resulting in Limerick converting only 8 out of 21 attempts at goal.
Louth’s defense, led by captain Áine Breen, was instrumental in their success. Breen’s exceptional tackling and interceptions disrupted Limerick’s play, and her 22 possessions and eight turnovers were pivotal. Additionally, Louth’s dominance in their own kickouts, winning 10 out of 11, laid the foundation for many of their attacks.
The match began cautiously with both teams playing defensively. Louth edged the opening quarter 0-3 to 0-2. A fine move saw Eimear Byrne and Seoda Matthews set up Aoife Halligan for a score, giving Louth a slight lead. Despite Limerick’s efforts, Louth’s defense held strong, and the home side capitalized on their opportunities to lead 0-7 to 0-4 at halftime.
The second half saw both teams trading early points, but the game turned scrappy with several players receiving yellow cards. Louth, however, managed to maintain their lead, outscoring Limerick 0-4 to 0-1 between the 45th and 58th minute, ensuring their victory. Niamh Rice sealed the win with a late score, putting Louth in control of Group B and boosting their chances of returning to the Intermediate ranks.
Louth Team:
Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Caitlin O’Reilly, Emma Murray, Eilis Hand; Holly Lambe Sally, Louise Byrne, Ceire Nolan (0-1); Aoife Halligan (0-3), Áine Breen; Mia Duffy (0-1), Eimear Byrne, Seoda Matthews; Niamh Rice (0-4), Kate Flood (0-5) (3f), Aoife Russell.
Limerick Team:
Sophie Hennessy; Joanne McGuire, Yvonne Lee, Roisin Browne; Grace Lee, Leah Coughlan, Grace Mullane; Rosin Ambrose (0-2), Meadhbh MacNamara (0-1); Cathy Mee, Deborah Murphy (0-5) (4f), Karen O’Leary; Ellie Woulfe, Katie Heelan, Caoimhe McGrath.
