Murphy return a major boost for Louth
FOLLOWING defeats in their opening fixtures against Carlow and Longford, Louth will be aiming to get their first League win of 2017 win when they host Antrim on Sunday.
Antrim lost in their first outing to Longford but were impressive winners 5-13 to 2-6 against Derry two weeks ago with Niamh Enright taking the scoring honours with three goals.
When the side’s met 12 months ago it was the Saffron’s who came out on top as they did in the 2012 All-Ireand Junior Final in Croke Park.
On that occassion it was the twin lethal threat of Kirsty McGuinness and Claire Timoney who did most damage as they ran the Louth backline ragged.
Neither will be available to Antrim manager Seamus McKenna this season as McGuinness is now a leading player with Linfield W.F.C. and Timoney has emigrated to Canada.
None of the players who lined out in that final five years ago are expected to be included in the northern side’s panel on Sunday, while Susan Byrne is the only survivor from the side managed by John Hanratty to have featured in Louth’s opening two fixtures
The wee-county who have ex-Dublin star John O’Leary and St. Fechin’s clubman Fergal McNally in charge have been forced to field a very inexperienced team due to a raft of retirements and injuries to key players such as Una Pearson, Kate Flood, Michelle McMahon, Evelyn Rice, Rebecca Carr and Ciara O’Connor (exams).
They did however recieve a major boost over the weekend with the news that Foxrock/Cabinteely star Ann-Marie Murphy is returning to the panel after a five year absence.
Murphy played a leading role in her side winning the Dublin and Leinster Championship’s and also helped them reach the All-Ireland club final where they lost out to Donamoyne
Ann-Marie first joined the Louth panel as a 14 year old back in 1999 winning an All-Ireland Intermediate Championship medal in that year on a Louth team captained by her sister Nuala. She was a regular on the team for the next six years before transferring to Dublin in 2006. She is also the holder of seven Senior Championship medals won with her native Cooley Kickhams.
The Louth sideline team which also includes another Cooley native Roisin Hanlon in its ranks will be hoping that Murphy’s vast experience and winning mentality will be the catalyst to help this young talented group to fulfil their potential.
No venue has been announced at the time of going to press, but the game throw in at 2pm.