Louth Clinch Junior Title with Resilient Performance Against Antrim
Table of Contents
Louth has secured the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship title, overcoming a spirited Antrim side in a hard-fought final. The Wee County demonstrated remarkable resilience and key contributions from players like Kate Flood and Shannen McLaughlin were instrumental in their victory.
Flood and McLaughlin Shine as Louth Builds Advantage
Louth managed to keep their deficit to a minimum throughout the early stages of the match, with Flood and McLaughlin delivering crucial scores. Despite Antrim’s sharpshooter O’Neill finding the target shortly after Devlin’s return to the field, Louth maintained their composure. Captain Aine Breen and the ever-reliable Flood, who added two points, ensured Louth held a narrow 0-8 to 1-4 led at the interval.
Antrim Fights Back, Louth Responds
Antrim remained very much in contention, and the team, jointly managed by Chris Scullion and Michael Devlin, drew level three minutes into the second half with a second point from O’Neill. This score saw O’Neill edge ahead of Dublin’s Hannah Tyrrell in the race for the ZuCar Golden Boot, a notable achievement ahead of Tyrrell’s appearance in the TG4 All-Ireland senior Football Championship final later that day. though, Louth’s center-forward Eimear Byrne was swift to restore Louth’s slender lead in the 38th minute.
Flood’s Brilliance Extends Louth’s Lead
An outstanding score from the increasingly influential Kate Flood extended louth’s advantage to two points heading into the final quarter. The Wee County took another step closer to securing another junior crown when Breen and substitute Mia Duffy added points in the 47th and 49th minutes respectively. Lucy white further increased Louth’s cushion.
Late Surge from Antrim not Enough as Louth Prevails
While a late surge from Antrim saw them add three points in quick succession through Ana Mulholland, T. Mellon, and O’neill (whose goal-bound effort was deflected over the bar), Louth ultimately held on to claim the championship title.
Match Details:
Antrim: M O’Neill 0-3 (1f), B Devlin 1-0 (pen), T Mellon, O Dahunsi 0-2 each, A Mulholland 0-1.
Louth: R Fagan Lambe; R Beirth, A Hand, A Murray; H Lambe Sally (0-01), L Byrne; A breen (0-02), A Halligan; L White (0-01), E Byrne (0-01), S Matthews; A Russell (0-02), K Flood (0-04), C Russell (0-01).
Subs: M Duffy (0-01) for Matthews (42), L Collins for Russell (56), G McCrave for Lambe Sally, Z Sweeney for White (both 59).
Antrim: A Devlin; N McIntosh, M Blaney, M mulholland; S O’Neill, C Brown, C McKenna; A Mulholland (0-01), A Tubridy; T Mellon (0-02), M O’neill (0-03, 1f), Aoife Kelly; B Devlin (1-00 pen), O Dahunsi (0-02), L Agnew.
Subs: A Turley for Tubridy, A Monaghan for Kelly (both 39), B Nic Cathail for Agnew (47), N Jones for B Devlin, aine Kelly for McKenna (both 56).
Referee: Kevin Corcoran (Mayo).
