Longford lose to Louth in missing out on a Leinster final spot on scores difference

Louth . . . 2-13    Longford . . . 1-8

Longford ladies lost to Louth in Round 3 of the Leinster Junior Football Championship in Darver on Friday night last and thus miss out on a place in the Tier 3 provincial title decider. 

With Carlow scoring their expected easy win (4-17 to 0-2) over the weak Kilkenny outfit in the remaining group fixture, a three-way deadlock situation materialised but unfortunately for Longford it is Carlow and Louth who advance to contest the Leinster Junior final on the scores difference regulation.

After also failing to reach the National League Division 4 semi-finals, Longford will be hoping for better luck in the forthcoming All-Ireland Junior Championship in the group stage against Louth, Limerick and Kilkenny with the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.    

Louth started well in the Leinster Championship clash with two early points in the third minute from Eimear Byrne and again in the fifth minute from Aoife Russell. 

Longford’s first score didn’t come until the eleventh minute from a free converted by Niamh Brady. Minutes after Longford’s first score Brady had a one on one with Louth keeper Rebecca Lambe Fagan who produced a fine save to prevent a goal. 

Louth continued to push on with two more points from Niamh Rice and Aoife Russell. Longford kept themselves in the game with frees from Grace Shannon and Niamh Brady to register two more points.

 In the nineteenth minute, the excellent Louth full-forward Kate Flood registered her first point but Longford finished the first half the stronger team after Louth defender Ceire Nolan was yellow carded in the 25th minute.

 Points from Grace Shannon and Sian Gallagher were followed by a  great goal opportunity when Joanne Whyte was denied by the Louth keeper who produced another point-blank save. 

Clodagh Lohan finished off the first half scoring with a fine point in stoppage time to leave Longford leading by 0-7 to 0-5 at the break.

The first score in the second half was a well struck goal from Aoife Russell and revitalised Louth added another 1-5 to their tally to put the issue beyond all doubt.

The lethal Kate Flood scored the killer second goal and there was no way back for Longford despite a glimmer of hope when Niamh Brady finished the ball to the Louth net. 

Whatever chance Pat Tiernan's side had of staging a dramatic comeback were dashed when defender Grace Kenny received a yellow card and Louth made the most of their numerical advantage to register another three points through Flood (two frees) and Niamh Rice. 

Niamh Brady scored a late consolation point for Longford who will now switch their focus to the competition that really matters, the All-Ireland Junior Championship.  

LOUTH: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan; Caitlin O’Reilly, Eimear Murray, Ceire Nolan; Louise Byrne, Aine Breen, Holly Lambe-Sally; Aoife Halligan, Eimear Byrne 0-1; Mia Duffy, Rachel O’Connor-Leonard, Niamh Rice 0-3; Aoife Russell 1-2, Kate Flood 1-7, Ciara Woods. 

Subs (second half):- Anna Whyte for C O’Reilly; Claire McDonald for R O’Connor-Leonard; Carrie Keenan for M Duffy; Eilis Hand for C Woods; Roisín Maguire for A Russell.

LONGFORD: Riane McGrath; Leah Shannon, Eimear O’Brien, Grace Kenny; Ciara Mulligan, Orla Nevin, Caoimhe McCormack; Sian Gallagher 0-1, Shauna Hagan; Joanne Whyte, Grace Shannon 0-3, Katelyn McKeon; Clodagh Lohan 0-1, Niamh Brady 1-3, Kamille Burke.

Subs (second half):- Fumni Talabi for C Mulligan; Elle Lynn for K McKeon; Edel Sheehy for K  Burke; Caoimhe Lohan for J Whyte;  Anna Hayden for S Hagan. 

Referee: Kevin O’Donnell (Dublin).