Strong finish keeps Louth in Division 3
LOUTH finished strongly to pick up their second National League win of the campaign and book their place in next season’s Division 3 in Cloonacool on Sunday afternoon.
The Wee county needed a victory to guarantee survival and though Sligo, knowing a first triumph of the term coupled with Roscommon defeating Antrim would see them jump out of the demotion places, were hugely competitive, Paul Hanlon’s charges delivered with star forward Kate Flood’s late goal capping a committed display.
Mia Duffy’s major and a pair of Flood points gave the visitors the best possible start but the hosts gradually worked their way into proceedings in difficult conditions. Rianne Smith converted a free before Leah Duffy found the net after 10 minutes to cut the deficit to the minimum.
The teams were level midway through the second quarter – 1-3 apiece – before Louth hit a productive spell. Niamh Rice broke up a Sligo attack and soloed her way through a host of tacklers prior to slotting over the bar and when Flood and Éimear Byrne raised white flags to complete sweeping moves, the Reds were three in front.
They were hit by a sucker-punch goal on 26 minutes, though, when Nicola Brennan found a way past Rebecca Lambe-Fagan to draw the Connacht county level and while the winners moved a point ahead by the interval, 1-7 to 2-3, Byrne was unfortunate to see her powerful shot turned away by Sligo goalkeeper Ellen McGuire.
Rice and Flood pointed after Duffy had opened the second half scoring and two remained the difference nearing the end of the third quarter when a pair of Smith frees tied matters again.
Louth, with Flood and Ciara Woods on target, pressed clear once more but the home team were dogged and cut the gap through Lauren Normanly. However, substitute Rachel Leonard was instrumental in the move of the match that yielded the key score. The Glen Emmets clubwoman fielded possession at midfield, advanced strongly and laid off for Flood to finish past McGuire.
SLIGO: Rianne Smith 0-4 (3f), Leah Duffy 1-2, Nicola Brennan 1-0, Lauren Normanly 0-1.
LOUTH: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan; Anna Whyte, Caoimhe Boyle, Éimear Murray; Holly Lambe-Sally, Áine Breen, Céire Nolan; Aoife Halligan, Éimear Byrne 0-1; Carrie Keenan, Mia Duffy 1-1, Aoife Russell 0-1; Kate Flood 1-6 (0-3f), Niamh Rice 0-2, Ciara Woods 0-1. Subs: Lucy White for Keenan, Caitlin O’Reilly for Nolan, Katie Murphy for Russell, Rachel Leonard for Rice.
REFEREE: Kevin Corcoran (Kildare).
BOB Doheny has been selected on the GAA’s referees’ development committee by new President Jarlath Burns.
The St Kevin’s clubman, who is in his fifth and final year as secretary of Louth GAA, previously served on the national CCC for two seasons and will remain in a Croke Park post now as part of the eight-person delegation that will be chaired by Jack Devaney of Down.
Cooley-native Lyn Savage, the LGFA’s national development manager, has been appointed to the games development committee where she will work alongside 11 others. Savage, of course, is a former All-Ireland winner with Louth and has worked for the LGFA over several years.
Dr Ronan Kearney, the Wee county’s long-serving senior team doctor, was named on the Association’s 14-person medical, scientific and welfare committee. Another figure in Ger Brennan’s management, his right-hand man, Niall Moyna, appears on the amateur status review committee.
Louth GAA’s assistant secretary Dermot Clarke is one of four who will make-up the child safeguarding appeals’ panel. The Sean McDermott’s member was previously the county’s children’s officer, a role which he held for many years.
Naomh Moninne’s Paul Cumiskey and Fra Kieran, Louth’s Central Council representative, will be a part of Coiste Póc Fada, a nineman group that is to be headed by Dublin’s Tom Ryan.
Colm Nally, the former Louth goalkeeper and Newtown Blues clubman who is currently coaching Kildare’s senior footballers, is joined by 10 others on the football review committee that has six-time All-Ireland SFC winning manager Jim Gavin as its chairman.