Heartbreak for Louth Ladies as Roscommon defeat sees them relegated to Junior

TG4 Ladies Intermediate Championship Relegation Play Off

Louth 2-8 Roscommon 2-12

There was an extremely sombre feeling amongst those in Red in Kinnegad on Saturday evening as the reality of what just happened to their team began to sink in.

For the past four seasons they have been operating at the Intermediate level of championship football, and in 2021 and 2022 they were amongst the quarter finalists.

But back-to-back losses to Leitrim and Kildare meant they were forced to defend their right to play in the second tier of Ladies Football and, unfortunately, they ended up on the wrong side of this relegation play-off.

It means they will be back playing in the Junior grade in 2024. Given the upward curve this team has experienced since their promotion in 2019, the feelings on the pitch were tough to watch. They know they are good enough to play at this level, and compete too, but right now that means little.

A side ravaged by injuries in 2023 gave their all in this do or die battle with Roscommon. Early goals from Kate Flood and Lucy Whyte gave them the opportunity to push on, but an-form Western attack, led by captain Laura Fleming, saw the Wee County trailing at the break, 2-5 to 2-4.

They fought bravely in the second half and created numerous opportunities, both for goals and points. But sadly, as was the worry going into this contest, Louth just weren’t clinical enough.

They notched seven wides after the restart, while another effort came up short. And while the Rossies were missing their fair share of chances too, they were putting enough over the bar to push clear of Louth and ultimately secure their Intermediate status for another year.

It started so brightly for Kit Henry’s troops. Inside the opening minute they had a goal. Lauren Boyle picking out an unmarked Kate Flood who blasted it home past Helena Cummins.

Sadly, their lead was wiped out just three minutes later. A free from Aisling Hanly ended up hitting the crossbar and it was Roisin Wynne who reacted quickest to win the ball back. She duly teed it up for Laura Fleming who fired home a bullet past Rebecca Lambe Fagan in the Louth net.

The Rossies followed this up with three points in a row via Fleming (2) and Hanly, in what was a six-point swing, helped greatly by their dominance around the middle, as time after time they turned the ball over from Louth kickouts.

They were moving the ball fast, Fleming and Aoife Gavin acting as the main providers via their direct solo runs through the middle and direct passes into the corners, as they cut the Wee County open time and time again.

For about 10 minutes the Girls in Red were camped into their own half, but they did finally penetrate in some style on 13 minutes when bagging their second goal of the contest.

Niamh Rice cut through the heart of Roscommon defence, before turning provider for Lucy Whyte, who was a late addition to starting 15. She rewarded Kit Henry’s faith in her with a well taken goal that left the teams back on level terms.

Rice was Louth’s most valuable weapon in this opening half. She seemed capable of passing through pretty much the entire Roscommon team if given the space to run at them. As was seen in her well taken score on 27 minutes, that saw her glide past three defenders.

The sides traded five points after the Louth goal, Collins, Rice and Boyle getting the Louth scores and Fleming bagging two for her team.  

The only concern at this stage was Louth final ball was not finding their targets as easy as Roscommon, while their first touch wasn’t always up to scratch, meaning Roscommon had had more chances to score.

Bar that difference, there wasn’t much between the two teams. But there were two big setbacks for the Wee County shortly before the break as they conceded a goal and also lost a player to a yellow card.

31 minutes into this play-off, Roisin Wynne managed to wriggle her way into the square. She duly handpassed the ball over the head of three defenders, before Fleming fisted home to put her side back in front.

Just before half time the influential Kate Flood was sent to the sin bin, having collided with Aoife Gavin on the sideline as she tried to get her kick pass away. Suddenly they were starting the second half a point behind and a player down too.

To their credit, the former Aussie Rules star’s presence was not missed as her teammates upped their work rate following the restart, going at Roscommon right from the whistle.

They didn’t let the Rossies take advantage as efforts from Boyle and Collins cancelled out points from Fleming and Hanly, who was also denied a goal chance by Fagan. This was the second time in the match the St Patrick’s shot-stopper had denied this in-form attacker.  

However just before Flood’s return to the field Fleming bagged two points within seconds of each other to open up a three-point lead.

While Louth now had much more possession then in the first half and had the advantage of a strong breeze, they were struggling to hit the target. They didn’t register a single wide in the first half, but finished this half with seven to their name, plus another effort that was short of the target.

Rice’s influence was negated to some extent in the second half, leaving Henry’s troops needing to work much harder for scoring opportunities. But with the Girls from the West tipping over points to maintain and increase their lead, Louth badly needed a goal.

The best chance fell to Collins on 41 minutes, but from close range the usually lethal corner forward missed the target, while both Abbi Keenan and Mia Duffy also had chances to raise a green flag and turn the game back in their favour.

Two more frees from Collins and Boyle kept Louth somewhat in touch, but ultimately after managing to increase their lead to four, Roscommon rarely looked in danger of letting that gap slip as they held on and retained their status.

There will be plenty of soul searching throughout the Summer and Winter months over what went wrong in 2023, but with some talented youth coming through the ranks and most of the current panel having loads left in the tank, an immediate return to this grade is a very achievable goal.

Reeling in the Years Sport: Can you see yourself in Arthur's Sporting Archives?

Both Louth Athletics teams qualify for National Intercounty League Finals

Louth: Rebecca Lambe Fagan; Eimear Murray, Eilis Hand, Rachel Beirth; Seoda Mathews, Caoimhe Boyle, Lucy Whyte (1-0); Aine Breen, Aoife Halligan; Mia Duffy, Niamh Rice (0-1), Aoife Russell; Lauren Boyle (0-4, 0-3 frees), Kate Flood (1-0), Laura Collins (0-3, 0-2 frees). Subs: Abbi Keenan for Matthews (45) Holly Lambe Sally for Duffy (50), Katie Doheny for Beirth (50).  

Roscommon: Helena Cummins; Erin Hogan, Ellen Irwan, Saoirse Wynne; Judy McDermott, Ella Thompson, Nimah Feeney; Caoimhe Cregg, Ruth Cox; Aisling Shanagher, Laura Fleming (2-9, 0-5 frees), Rosin Wynne; Aisling Hanly (0-3), Aoife Gavin, Aisling Feeley.  Subs: Lauren Shanagher for Hagan (52).

Referee: Kevin Phelan (Laois).