Longford ladies must win against Louth in tough task

The odds are stacked against the Longford ladies in their quest to qualify for the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Football Championship semi-finals.

The pressure is mounting as Pat Tiernan’s side face a must win match against the title favourites Louth in the remaining group stage fixture at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park on Sunday, throw-in 2pm. 

And even if a home win happens to materialise it will then go down to scores difference to determine who makes it through to the last four, going on the expectation that Limerick will cruise to a comprehensive win over pointless Kilkenny at the Rathkeale GAA grounds which will start at the same time on Sunday. 

Therefore, it looks as though Longford will have to beat Louth by a wide margin (possibly by at least 11 points) to keep their championship hopes alive and that is going to prove a very tough task.  

Louth, who were relegated along with Longford from the Intermediate grade last year, recorded a comfortable 2-13 to 1-8 win when the counties clashed in the 2024 Leinster Junior Championship.  

Their stand out player is lethal full-forward Kate Flood, who clocked up the impressive total of 1-7 in the previous meeting at Darver back in early May, and the excellent attacker will take some stopping on Sunday. 

Louth have the edge in experience over a youthful Longford team who are going through a transition period but who knows what might develop in the battle to join Fermanagh and Carlow in the All-Ireland semi-finals!