Wee girls all geared up for All-Ireland mission

LOUTH Under 16s are in the final week of their preparations for their upcoming All Ireland B Championship semi final.

These young ladies have every reason to be proud of their achievements to date as they represent Louth at the highest level of competition in a number of years but that pride comes second to a fiery ambition and enthusiasm to compete for their county and challenge for honours at as high a level as possible.

In 2014, they fought to top Leinster Division Two and defeat Division One teams to win the Leinster C Championship and with it earn the right to represent Leinster in the All Ireland C Championship and to compete against Limerick in the final. They fought hard in the game, leading for most of the match until injuries to some of their key players took its toll and Limerick came from behind to earn the title of All Ireland champions.

Now in 2016, these girls are at it again but at a higher level. Due to their Leinster success in 2014, Louth were rated in Division One at under 16 this year and after a baptism of fire against Meath, they endured a tough season in the League. This was however a character building season for them and they proved their mettle in the knockout stages of the Leinster B Championship, a grade higher than 2014, when they defeated Wicklow, Longford and Westmeath to claim the Leinster B Championship last week.

Now these ladies, managed and mentored by Chris Doyle, John Carr, Michelle Lowth and Trish Duffy since 2012, are once again representing Leinster and are looking forward to their upcoming semi-final clash with Tyrone next Wednesday.

The game is being played on July 13th in the neutral venue of Iniskeen in Co. Monaghan, with a 7.00pm throw in, which is not the furthest distance from Co. Louth and the players, management and Ladies Co. Board would hope, and indeed ask, that their efforts will be rewarded with a large vocal support from the various clubs within the county.

There are almost two thousand registered members of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association in Louth which shows a strong interest in the game and all associated with the squad hope that a large cohort of that membership can find the time and enthusiasm to support them on the night in what is hopefully a curtain raiser to their appearance in another All Ireland final.

The fact that the squad represents fifteen clubs within the county shows the extent of ability throughout the county and provides even more reason for clubs generally to show their support.