Louth 4-12
Scotland 0-2
MARTIN CONNOLLY’S LOUTH cruised to a 22-point victory over Scotland in this afternoon’s TG4 All-Ireland ladies junior football championship final.
Beaten finalists in 2010 and 2012, Louth finally managed to seal the deal in the junior grade as they captured their first All-Ireland crown since the 1999 intermediate success.
Scotland, appearing in their first final, were outclassed from start to finish as Louth scored 2-6 in each half.
31 points separated the sides earlier in the season and while Scotland did manage to narrow the gap, they failed to score from play at GAA HQ.
Caoilfhionn Deeney, a 2011 junior medallist with Wicklow, scored Scotland’s only point in the first half from a free before captain Rosanna Heeney, a former Louth player, added a second half score.
Louth were forced to line out without captain Michelle McMahon because of a finger injury but she came on with three minutes left and lifted the West County Hotel Cup.
Aimee McNally scored Louth’s first goal in the 18th minute, netting from close range after Kate Flood’s free caused havoc in the Scotland goalmouth.
Three minutes later, Flood was involved again, feeding Ciara O’Connor for a killer second goal.
Laura Collins scored Louth’s third goal in the second half, capitalising after player of the match Paula Murray was denied a point by the upright.
And the icing on the cake arrived just minutes from time when Flood’s industry was rewarded with a fourth goal for the Wee County, who will play intermediate championship football next year.
All six of Louth’s starting forwards were on target as the winners registered each and every one of their scores from play during the course of a clinical display.
Scorers for Louth: K Flood (0-1f) & L Collins 1-2 each, C O’Connor 1-1, A McNally 1-0, P Murray 0-4, S Byrne 0-2, R Carr 0-1.
Scorers for Scotland: R Heeney & C Deeney 0-1f each.
Louth
U Pearson
J Kelly
E Singleton
O Brennan
M Sullivan
E Murray
B McGrane
R Carr
G Lynch
P Murray
S Byrne
A McNally
C O’Connor
K Flood
L Collins.
Subs:
A Halligan for Sullivan (19)
A Conlon for McNally (40)
C Nugent for O’Connor (52)
L Grills for Brennan (53)
M McMahon for Collins (57).
Scotland
S Loftus
J O’Loughlin
B Hegerty
S Reynolds
S McWilliams
O McCafferty
K Mohan
R Heeney
C Newton
A.M. Lenihan
H Keenan
S O’Connell
K Feeney
C Deeney
S O’Sullivan.
Subs:
M O’Carroll for McWilliams (21)
A Callaghan for Lenihan (48)
A Kavanagh for O’Sullivan (52)
L Sherry for Keenan (52)
A Lloyd for Mohan (53).
Referee: S Mulvihill (Kerry).
Would be great for the league of Ireland if they progresed
FH looked an average loi team who got a goal against the run of play last week. We were the better team but they might have been keeping it tight.. but if they play like they did last wed and we play like we can then we will advance.. i firmly believe we will score tonight. Garts is a massive loss in the centre of defence but barrett is a good replacement… we are playing FH for €1.2m and a guaranteed 4 more games minimum in Europe.
Who’s we ?!
“We”… Are Ireland’s number one. The Black & White army.
Not doubting you. They really are Ireland’s number 1. Just asked for the craic because my uncle always mocks me when I use ‘we’ when talking about cork city lol
Massive game for Fundalk given the money at stake , great for the town and club . Really well run club these days with a super manager leading the team. Cmon da town !!
Get the name right pal. They’re fun to watch but I wouldn’t go that far
Says the plastic Irish supporter. Take down that Irish cover photo please if your not willing to support your own Irish league.
I’m supporting them no doubt.
Disappointed there isn’t a LIVE ticker thread for this game. It’s only the champions of Ireland playing in the world’s most lucrative competition. RTE not broadcasting it is a disgrace. And they claim to be supporters of domestic football. (Yes I know it’s on Eir Sport).
Dundalk playing some nice football here, they’ve been the better team so far, unlucky to be behind. Horgan & McMillan are doing very well. They’re just lacking a bit of composure in the final third.
Still nothing up about the match tonight disgraceful from the 42
And still nothing. Surely a live ticker wasn’t beyond them. They are the champions of Ireland and our only representatives in champions league. Fair dues to Eir for covering it, super game and even better performance from Dundalk.