Comfortable Derry win gets Louth back on track
Louth Derry
LOUTH made it three wins from four outings as they comfortably saw off Derry at a bitterly cold Ballymaguigan on Sunday last.
Miceal McKeown’s charges were keen to get back to winning ways having lost to Fermanagh last time out.
The Wee County wasted no time in establishing their supremacy as they quickly burst out of the blocks an built up an early lead which Derry never looked like reeling in.
Louth’s intent to push forward against the breeze paid early dividends as they raced into a 2-4 to 0-1 lead after just twelve minutes.
Kate Flood got the visitors first score after four minutes with a well taken point after good work by Susan Byrne and Paula Murray. From the resultant kick out Lauren Boyle won possession and her fine pass found Flood who smashed home from some fourteen metres.
The visitors courtesy of Flood and Emma McArdle added points before Derry opened their account on nine minutes when Amy McGukin pointed after a poor clearance by a Louth defender
Louth responded instanly with a similar score from Aoife Russell and it got even better for the visitors when Cooley star Lauren Boyle beat a couple of defenders and placed a fine low shot past Cheree Mackey in the home side’s net.
Both sides then missed chances before the Oak leaf county were thrown a lifeline when an Aimmee McGuckin shot nestled in the Louth net which was quickly followed by a well taken point from the same player leaving the scoreboard reading 2-4 to 1-2 after 18 minutes. Boyle soon restored Louth’s six point advantage but it was the home side under the management of Paul Crozier whose brother Paddy had a spell as Louth Gaa assistant manager recently who finished the half on top and added points from Ciara Moore (2) Megan Devine and Sinead Comer with Kate Flood and Boyle replying for the Reds. Louth were well placed at the break as they led by 2-07 to 1-06
Louth upped the ante after the break with an Emma McArdle point within 30 seconds, and then put the contest beyond doubt as the returning Rebecca Carr gained possession and fired into the Derry net from around 20 metres. The Geraldines star made an impressive
Results 3-13 1-9
Div 2: Louth 0-12 Roscommon 1-21
Allianz Hurling League
Div 3A: Longford 5-7 Louth 4-18
Kevin Mullen Shield
Group A: Dundalk Young Irelands 3-10 John Mitchels 3-4
Group B: St Nicholas GFC 0-8 Cuchulainn Gaels 0-9 Group D: Na Piarsaigh 1-13 Dowdallshill 0-7 Paddy Sheelan Cup
Group B: Cooley Kickhams 1-15 O`Raghallaighs 1-6; return in her first appearance for her county since picking up a serious leg injury during a Leinster Championship game against Longford last May.
Further points from Sinead Woods, Boyle and Flood extended their lead to 3-11 to 1-6 by the fourth quarter .
There followed a raft of substitutions as both managers give a run out to some of their fringe players with the intensity levels understandably dropping. Despite this Louth remained in control to run out emphatic winners.
Louth manager Miceal McKeown expressed satisfaction with his side’s display. ‘We learned a lot from the loss to Fermanagh last time, we defended better, made less mistakes and were more clinical with our finishing. I was very happy with how we performed against the strong breeze in the first half and the introduction of Rebecca Carr gave us another dimension, we started both halves very well and that gave us a strong platform. We have Limerick at home on Sunday where victory will see us into the semi-finals.
LOUTH: Una Pearson, Ellis Hand, Eimear Murray, Michelle McArdle, Ceira Nolan, Deirbhile Osbourne, Bronagh McGrane, Sinead Woods, 0-1, Emma Singleton, Paula Murray 0-2, Aoife Russell 0-2, Susan Byrne, Lauren Boyle 1-2, Kate Flood 1-4, Emma McArdle 0-2. Subs: Rebecca Carr 1-0, Orla McGeeney, Kellie Hughes, Leanne Sharkey, Roisin Osborne
REFEREE: Siobhain Coyle (Donegal).
GAA SCOREBOARD
Saturday 24th February
Leinster U13 Football League
Div. 3 Gr. 2: Simonstown 1-12 St Fechins GAA 1-5 Leinster U15 Football League
Div. 4 Gr. 2: Gaeil Colmcille 1-7 Wolfe Tones Football 6-10
Friday 23rd February Paddy Sheelan Cup
Fixtures
Tuesday 27th February
Paddy Sheelan Cup
Group A: Mattock Rangers v Roche Emmets GFC, Stephen Johnson, 8.00
Group F: St Patrick’s GFC v Glyde Rangers, Peter Hoey, Darver 7.30
Allianz Hurling League
Div 3A: Monaghan v Louth (Castleblayney 1.00) Special Hurling League
Mattock Rangers v St Fechins GAA, Paul Drumm; Naomh Moninne v Knockbridge, Johnathon Reid