Classy Wexford too hot for Louth

WEXFORD LOUTH 4-19 0-7

LOUTH suffered a heavy defeat to an experienced Wexford side in the Leinster Intermediate Championship on Sunday.

With so many young newcomers, the Reds showed their immaturity on the day and allowed Wexford to take control early in the game and run out easy winners in the end.

Louth launched the first attack of the game but failed to convert the opportunity and paid a heavy price in the second minute when Catriona Murray bore down on the Louth goal and gave goalkeeper Una Pearson.

This was quickly followed by a point from Ellen O’Brien and Murray then converted a twenty-metre free as Louth chased the game and were unfortunate themselves to see full forward Paula Murray’s effort rebound off the bar.

Wexford showed no sympathy as they added four more points from Murray (2) and Fiona Rochford (2) before Louth registered their first score when Murray converted a thirteen-metre free.

Murray then doubled her tally for Louth after playing a fine one two with Aoife Russell.

Undeterred by this Wexford’s Murray restored their scoring mode with a point and Rochford followed quickly on twenty minutes with their second goal with Fiona Bennett adding her first point of the match.

At this stage the Louth management decided to change things around replacing Catherine McGlew and Emma McArdle with Aoife Gregory and Shayleen McDonagh and three minutes later were forced into a third change as Ciara Nolan was withdrawn injured to be replaced by Emily Norton.

As half time approached Catriona Murray added Wexford’s third goal with Louth’s Kate Flood replying with a point after good work from Norton. Clara Donnelly finished the scoring in injury time to leave Wexford leading 3-9 to 0-3 at the break.

Louth came out firing in the second half with midfielder Rebecca Carr winning the ball from the throw in and advancing up field. Her attempted shot was blocked and her attempts to tackle the clearing defender were adjudged a high tackle earning her ten minutes in the sin bin.

Wexford advanced and added a point from Murray and a second goal for Rochford within two minutes.

Louth’s woes were compounded when Aoife Gregory joined Carr on the sideline following an innocuous challenge on half way and Wexford added four quick points from Murray (2), Rochford and Bennett against the Red’s reduced numbers.

Louth continued to compete and were rewarded with a point from Susan Byrne after good work by Kate Flood and Paula Murray and a point for Rebecca Carr, supplied by Byrne.

Rebecca Howell was forced to retire with an ankle injury and was replaced by a strapped-up Ciara Nolan.

Wexford were in no mood to relax and replied with points from Murray (2) and Clara Donnelly. As play drew to a close Louth added two final points from Aoife Gregory and Susan Byrne only for Wexford to record the last two scores through Rochford.

The defeat could well bring an end Louth’s brief stay in the Intermediate Championship as The LGFA introcuce relegation to the championship series for the first time.

In recent years, with upward promotion without relegation, the senior and intermediate championships have become top heavy and now efforts are in place to redress the numbers in the three levels of the Championship through a series of multiple relegations.

The senior championship will be restored to twelve counties in one season but it may take two or three years to reduce the numbers to twelve in the intermediate grade.

Louth, unfortunately in a rebuilding situation, may fall foul of the proposed multiple relegation from the Intermediate Championhip in 2016 and return to the Junior Championship series.