Twelve All-Ireland winners available
IT feels like a lifetime since Louth started their Lidl NFL campaign in Antrim, but nine months later so much has changed as Louth travel to Clones for a meeting with Longford in Group 2 of the All-Ireland Intermediate Championship this coming weekend.
Louth were flying in Division 4 with four wins from four outings prior to the Covid-enforced shutdown of the League and they will want to make sure they maintain their form against a youthful Longford team who suffered a heavy defeat to Westmeath at the weekend.
Louth have a couple of injury concerns for Sunday, but will be able to call on last year’s captain Kate Flood who missed the NFL campaign, having spent the winter with Freemantle in Australia.
Manager Wayne Freeman will have 12 of last year’s All-Ireland final starting team available, with Susan Byrne, Ceire Nolan (injury) and Deirbhille Osborne (Australia) missing. The Monasterevin man has called up a number of last year’s All-Ireland-winning Under-16 panel, among others.
Louth had a chance to study both Westmeath and Longford when they met in Mullahoron last Saturday. Having lost that match Longford will know nothing less than a win over Louth is needed to keep their slim championship hopes alive.
Enda Sheridan’s side, which contained 10 minors, conceded nine goals and will look to tighten up in defence. Their backline will again be tested as despite being without the inspirational Flood in the League, the dynamic Cooley Kickhams duo of Lauren Boyle (4-26) and Niamh Rice (3-22) hit a combined total of 7-48 between them in their four games.
This will be the fourth Championship meeting between the counties, the first being the 1996 Leinster Junior Final, with the sides meeting again in both the 1999 and 2000 Senior Championship.
The last, and most recent tie, the 2017 Intermediate clash in Kenagh in a mid-week fixture, saw Longford emerge winners on a 3-9 to 1-7 scoreline.
With no spectators permitted the game will be streamed live on Facebook, with a 1pm starting time.