Longford ladies floored by Louth in opening round of Lidl Ladies Football National League

Longford began life under new manager Alan Mullen with a disappointing defeat away to Louth in the opening round of the Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 3 at Darver. A goal in each half from sharpshooter Laura Collins set the Wee County up for their eight points victory, 2-13 to 1-8.

Lidl Ladies Football National League Division 3: Louth 2-13 Longford 1-8

Longford are also away to Kildare in round two next Sunday and that will be another difficult assignment particularly since Kildare were 3-13 to 0-6 winners over Down in their opening game of the campaign. 

Longford face Offaly in round three on February 5 and their remaining fixtures are away to Down (Feb 19), home to Sligo (Feb 26), away to Wexford Mar 19) and home to Clare (Mar 26).

With five players making their debut, along with the return of captain Aine Breen for her first full season since returning home from abroad, it was all smiles from a Louth perspective.. 

Despite starting on the front foot, Kit Henry’s Louth charges struggled to make any significant inroads early on, shooting into a wind at the club house end of Darver, and trying to break down Longford, who were happy to have players behind the ball early on and play on the counter-attack.  

Thanks to early frees from lively inside forwards Lauren McGuire and Ciara Healy, Longford led by 0-2 to 0-1 after 11 minutes. Both scores came either side of a stylish effort from Louth’s Aine Breen.

Louth  enjoyed some good fortune in the 14th minute when a Laura Collins close range free managed to slip through Longford hands on the goal line and into the net. This put Louth ahead at 1-1 to 0-2.

Another Collins free increased that lead for the Wee County, however the home side were dealt a blow when wing forward Mia Duffy was sent to the sin bin for a clip of the heels.

Playing with a numerical advantage, Longford made it count, when Clodagh Lohan fed Lauren McGuire who swept the ball past Louth keeper Rebecca Lamb Fagan to put Alan Mullen’s side ahead after 22 minutes.

That goal seemed to spark Louth back into life however, as back to back points from Kate Flood regained the lead for her side. Following an industrious run from debutant Lucy White, Louth were awarded another free, which Collins duly converted to give them a 1-5 to 1-3 lead at the break. 

The second half saw Louth go through the gears as they kicked 1-8 to Longford’s 0-5.

A wonderful turnover in the Louth defence from Ceire Nolan, eventually saw Shannen McLaughlin pick out Laura Collins with an accurate foot pass, and Collins waltzed her way through the Longford defence to give keeper Rianne McGrath no chance, putting Louth 2-6 to 1-3 ahead after 39 minutes, with Grace Treanor finding the range from play beforehand.

Another Grace, Grace Shannon who played an integral role in Longford Slashers’ Intermediate All Ireland Club success before Christmas, continued to carry the fight to Louth, and the midfielder kicked the first of her three second half points, trading scores with Laura Collins, who was on fire.

Despite another magnificent point from play by Longford’s Clodagh Lohan, Louth continued to have the upper hand and drive home their advantage. Another excellent Shaneen McLaughlin turnover, saw Aoife Halligan set up Kate Flood to wind one up with that lethal right foot for her third score of the afternoon, with Louth leading by 2-8 to 1-5 by the end of the third quarter.

McLaughlin again set up Collins who arrived on the loop to score from play, while Grace Treanor benefitted from some incisive interplay between Halligan, Breen and sub Niamh Rice to stretch that lead to eight points.

Grace Shannon continued to win kickouts and kick scores, while Ciara Healy converted another free as Longford refused to throw in the towel in that final 10 minutes.

However, Louth put further seal on their victory, as either side of another Collins free, subs Niamh Rice and Lauren Boyle (free) got their names on an ever-expanding scoresheet. 

LOUTH: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Eimear Murray, Caoimhe Boyle, Rachel Berth; Aoife Russell, Shaneen McLaughlin. Caitlin O’Reilly; Aoife Halligan, Aine Breen (0-1); Mia Duffy, Grace Treanor (0-2), Lucy White; Ceire Nolan, Kate Flood (0-3), Laura Collins (2-5, 0-2 frees).
Subs: Eilis Hand for Boyle (41 mins), Niamh Rice (0-1) for White (42 mins), Lauren Boyle (0-1, free) for Duffy (52 mins). 

LONGFORD: Rianne McGrath; Rachel O’Farrell, Leanne Keegan, Emily O’Reilly; Hannah Glennon, Emer O’Brien, Caoimhe McCormack; Grace Shannon (0-3), Caoimhe Lohan; Kathlyn McKeon, Clodagh Lohan (0-1), Shauna Hagan; Lauren McGuire (1-1), Camille Burke, Ciara Healy (0-3) (3f). 

Subs: Marie Kelleher for L Keegan (41 mins), Grace Kenny for Caoimhe Lohan (45 mins), Ellie Lynn for McKeon (53 mins). 

REFEREE: Brendan Rice.