Erne end Louth’s 100 per cent start
Fermanagh 3-10 Louth 2-5
AFTER impressive wins over Kilkenny and Carlow Louth’s 10 per cent Lidal National League start came to an end at a bitterly cold Derrygonnelly on Sunday last.
After Paula Murray hit an early wide in the game’s opening attack, it was the home side who grabbed the initiative as Eimear Smyth pointed and Nuala McManus found the net to give the Erne county a 1-1 to 0-0 lead after five minutes. Murray and Russell both shot wides before Kate Flood kicked the first Louth score as she did well to win possession, beat a defender and fire over in the ninth minute.
Lauren Boyle and Eimear Smyth then swapped points before Louth hopes received a major blow when referee Keith Boogle pointed to the spot having spotted a foul by one of the visitor’s defenders.
Joanne Doonan’s well hit effort was parried by keeper Una Pearson but it was the Kinawley player who reacted quickest to hammer the loose ball into the roof of the net.
Louth recovered well with a point of their own from Flood, to leave it 2-2 to 0-4 on twenty minutes. The next couple of minutes saw the home side rather fortunate to keep their lead intact as Lauren Boyle and Kate Flood both had efforts kept out by the woodwork, Boyle’s effort falling kindly to Kate Flood who palmed it towards an open goal, only for Fermanagh netminder Donna Owens to get back on her feet and push the ball to safety, one of many fine saves the kinawley player made.
An Eimear Smyth point on the stroke of half time gave the Ulster side a 2-3 to 0-4 lead at the interval.
As in the opening half it was the Northern side who started the better and tacked on three points courtesy of Smyth, Doonan and Bogue increasing their lead to 8 points
Just as the game appeared to be slipping beyond the wee county they were given a boost as a Paula Murray shot found its way to corner of the net.
Danielle Maguire then restored Fermanagh’s six point advantage with a fine score as she ventured forward from her center back position.
Louth showing admirable fighting qualities were rewarded when teenage sensation Lauren Boyle won possession some fifty metres from goal, went on a scintillating run which took her past a number of players and slotted a wonderful shot to the back of the net, reducing the deficit to three points.
They failed to kick on despite dominating possession and wasted a number of opportunities and were to rue those misses when Joanne Doonan’s brilliant pass put Smyth in the clear to score their third goal to effectively put the contest to bed as Fermanagh led by 3-7 to 2-4 in the forty sixth minute. Paula Murray added a Louth point before Lauren Boyle had her point blank shot kept out by the outstanding Donna Owens. The last seven minutes belonged to the homesters as they added further points from Smyth (2) and Roisin Reilly to run out 8 point winners
While disappointed with the result Louth manager Micael McKeown was pleased with the application shown by his team.
‘We showed exceptional courage and commitment today. We lost key players at important moments and we were faced with strong opponents.
‘We have eight players making their competitive debuts in this league, we scored two goals and created another three goal chances, while we missed six or seven frees from scoreable positions so while I’m disappointed we lost this game. But I couldn’t be happier with the efforts of each member of the panel,’ added the Channonrock man LOUTH: Una Pearson, Eilish Hand, Michelle McArdle, Shannen McLoughlin, Ceire Nolan, Deirbhile Osborne, Broonagh McGrane, Sinead Woods, Emma Singleton, Paula Murray 1-1, Aoife Russell. Susan Byrne, Lauren Boyle 1-2, Kate Flood 0-2, Eimear Murray. Subs used: Rachel Kane, Shauna Markey, Grainne Murray, Leanne Sharkey, Niamh Quigley
FERMANAGH: Donna Owens, Aisling Maguire, Courtney Murphy, Naomi McManus, Danielle McManus, Danielle Maguire 0-1, Cliodhna McElroy, Shauna Hamilton, Aine McGovern, Sarah Britton, Joanne Doonan 1-2, Blaithin Bogue 0-1, Eimear Smyth, 1-5, Roisin Reilly 0-1, Nuala McManus 1-0.