Louth 4-7 Longford 4-5

Louth Ladies U14 team saw off the challenge of Longford in the U14 Leinster B Final in Skryne on Saturday last. It was Longford who started off this match looking very strong and the dominated most of the opening ten minutes scoring three points without response from Louth. Positional changes were then made by the Louth selectors and this turned the match around for Louth. It was fifteen minutes into the first half when Louth registered their first point from captain Aoife Byrne. Louth then began to move the ball fast and Clare McCann scored a goal with a supberb shot to the net. Louth keeper Niamh O'Riordan made a brilliant save to keep Longford at bay. Aoife Byrne then scored another point for Louth and then great combination play between Louise McKeever and Clare McCann saw Clare score her second goal of the match. Aoife Byrne, then in true captain style, scored another point just on the half time whistle, leaving Louth six points ahead at half time. Longford started the second half again very strong and with ten minutes into the second half, Louth goalie, Niamh O'Riordan made a brilliant save right on the goal line. However, Longford came right back at Louth and scored their first goal of the game, followed by a second goal, leaving the sides level.

Gerry Callan, Niamh O'Riordan, Orla O'Neill, Lisa McArdle, Joan McCann, Rachel Farrell, Lauren Kieran, Aoife Quigley, Aoife Byrne, Amy Devlin, Michelle McMahon, Lizzie Butterly, Terri Englishby, Lousie McKeevr, Clare McCAnn, Sarah Hamill, Gillian McDonnell, Clare Woods, Ann-Marie Lynch, Sarah Donnelly, Laura O'Neill, Emma Quinn, Sinead Kirk, Shauna Martin, Aine Smith, Ellis Briggs, Amy McGinnity, Jackie Reilly, Peter McArdle

Longford were then awarded a penalty. However Niamh O'Riordan was to deny the Longford side by putting the ball over the cross bar. Longford then scored a point giving them a one point lead and Louth looked tired at this stage. Longford then scored two more goals and with only ten minutes to go it looked like it was all over for Louth. However the Louth girls never gave up and they kept battling away and Clare McCann then found the net for Louth and then straight away Gillian McDonnell hit the back of the net for Louth leaving them trailing by one point. Aoife Byrne then scored a point for Louth leaving the sides level, followed by a score from Gillian McDonnell putting the Louth side ahead for the first time in the second half. Then as injury time approached, Louth were holding on, and then Lizzie Butterly sealed the match for Louth by putting the ball over the bar, giving Louth a two point victory.

Scorers for Louth Clare McCann 3-1 Gillian McDonnell 1-1 Aoife Byrne 0-4 Lizzie Butterly 0-1
Louth mentors Gerry Callan and Peter McArdle