Louth get their Leinster LGFA JFC campaign back on track with big win over Kilkenny

Kate Flood, Mia Duffy and Ciara Woods bagged the goals as the Wee county got back to winning ways and set-up a showdown with Longford in the final group match at home on Friday night.

The expected victory was never in doubt, but Louth had the added target of surpassing the winning margin posted by Longford against Kilkenny the previous weekend. The fact that they managed to achieve that goal means that their destiny is now very much in their own hands this weekend.

A victory should see Paul Hanlon’s side advance to the provincial decider against either Carlow or Longford. Anything less, and Louth’s interest in the competition will be over.

Following their disappointing display in defeat against Carlow the previous week, this was the perfect opportunity for the visitors to restore their confidence and, overall, they will be happy with the display and the winning margin.

Aside from a lively spell in the opening 10 minutes, Kilkenny – who are working hard to raise the profile of football in the county – were no match for a Louth side who dominated throughout.

Although the quality of opposition was a factor, the Wee county girls were more cohesive in attack and their ability to move the ball at pace had them on the front foot throughout.

In front of a defence that was solid when called into action, Áine Breen dominated around the middle, allowing Aoife Halligan and Éimear Byrne, in particular, to drive forward and open up space in attacking areas.

That space was exploited by scorers-in-chief, Flood and Niamh Rice, while Duffy and Woods also got in on the act to claim vital scores as the visitors chalked up a 22-point win.

Despite Louth having the wind in their backs in the first half, it was Kilkenny who started best and had a chance to open the scoring but the effort drifted wide.

Although Flood (2) and Duffy had their side off the mark, the Reds only really settled at the end of the first quarter and the points began to flow more regularly. Having come close to finding the net on a number of occasions, Louth finally raised the green flag when, in what was a feature of the game, they won an opposition kickout and Byrne and Duffy combined to set-up Flood who fisted to the net on 27 minutes.

That goal brought the Pat’s player’s tally to 1-5 for the half as her side went in with a lead of 1-8 to no-score.

With the victory all but assured, manager Hanlon set his sights on improving the score difference as he sacrificed defender Anna Whyte in favour of another attacker in Woods to put further pressure on a tiring Kilkenny.

Although Kilkenny did manage to get off the mark on 45 minutes from a Rebecca Roche free, it was a rare foray forward as the second half was mostly one-way traffic as Louth dominated around the middle and continued to work hard against a home side that regularly pulled all their players back inside the 45.

Louth’s efforts were rewarded with further points by Rice, Rachel O’Connor-Leonard, Breen and Flood, while they showed their cutting edge when Byrne and Woods set-up Duffy for a second goal on 46 minutes.

Woods displayed her poacher’s instinct in the closing stages when she nipped in ahead of the ’keeper to fist home to add the icing on the cake. Although Kilkenny gained some consolation with a breakaway goal on 60 minutes, it was mission accomplished for Louth who head into the clash with Longford on Friday with confidence.

KILKENNY: Katie Fitzpatrick; Riona Crowley, Sarah Smith, Leah Brett; Jennifer O’Keeffe 1-0, Ailbhe Galwey, Amy Ring; Kelley Comerford, Ruby Roche; Ellen Lawlor, Sarah Corcoran 0-1, Hollie Brennan; Aoibhe Ryan, Ailish O’Neill, Rebecca Roche 0-1. Subs: Laura Phelan for Ryan, (41), Sofia Kerr 0-1 for Brett (41), Katie Brennan for Crowley (41), Hannah Talbot for O’Neill (46).

LOUTH: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan; Caitlin O’Reilly, Anna Whyte, Éimear Murray; Holly Lambe-Sally, Áine Breen 0-2, Céire Nolan; Aoife Halligan, Éimear Byrne 0-1; Mia Duffy 1-1, Rachel O’Connor-Leonard 0-2, Aoife Russell; Niamh Rice 0-5, Kate Flood 1-6, Louise Byrne. Subs: Ciara Woods 1-2 for Whyte (HT), Róisín Maguire for Russell (40), Claire McDonald for Lambe-Sally (48), Ellen Barry for Leonard-O’Connor (57).

REFEREE: Brian Foley (Wicklow).