Alanna Conlon and Jenny McGuinness played a starring role as Louth Ladies booked their place in the All Ireland Ladies Junior Championship semi-final with a game to spare following a landslide win over Kilkenny in Stabannon on Saturday afternoon.
This result, along with London’s victory over Antrim 24 hours later, mean that the Wee County and the Exiles advance from Group One and take their place in the semi-final.
The two sides will meet in Ruislip on Sunday week with the winner of the match due to meet the runner-up in Group Two in the last four while the loser will meet whatever county tops Group One.
This was the third meeting of Louth and Kilkenny this year and after two comfortable wins in their previous two meetings, Louth were confident of making it three on the spin.
Played in heavy rain and a fierce wind, it took the hosts just 15 seconds to open the scoring when Lauren Boyle fired over and when the clock hit the seven-minute mark, Louth had eased into a 1–6 to zero lead.
The young Cooley star added a further 1–1 to her opening score while her club colleague, Niamh Rice, added two points with Conlon and Stabannon’s McGuinness also finding their way onto the scoresheet.
From there to the break, a dominant Louth scored at will with Aoife Russell and Conlon finding the back of the net to build a 3–17 to 0–0 lead before the visitors got their only score of the half right before the short whistle.
After hitting nine first half wides, on top of their resounding total, the hosts immediately got back about their business after the restart as Glyde Rangers star Conlon added 1–2 to her total before another run of Louth points followed Kilkenny’s second minor.
Conlon completed her hat-trick midway through the half with Boyle and Sinead Woods also on target, before McGuinness confidently dispatched her side’s sixth goal from the penalty spot.
“It’s a good result,” said Louth manager Darren Bishop. “The girls played very well and the intensity was very hard for Kilkenny to match “The weather conditions didn’t help as we haven’t played in this type of weather for the past six weeks so it took a little time to adjust.
“What I must say is the determination and sacrifice that this KIlkenny team show is very impressive. It’s not easy to travel to games this year and concede big scores but they fight to the bitter end. They have some very good footballers that any county would be delighted to have in their set up.”
Bishop also lavished praise on Conlon and McGuinness who contributed with 4–12 of Louth’s tally on the day.
“Alanna and Jenny really impressed up front today,” he said. “These girls were given a chance to showcase what they are capable of and they certainly did that.
“We now move on to our next match against London and that won’t be an easy task considering how well they did last year. They seem like a team that’s keen on getting to an All-Ireland semi-final like ourselves. They notched up a big in their win over Kilkenny and will be very difficult opponents.”
LOUTH LADIES: Una Pearson; Claire Donnelly, Michelle McMahon, Shannen McLoughlin; Michelle McArdle, Ceire Nolan, Bronagh McGrane; Sinead Woods (0–2), Eimear Byrne; Jennifer McGuinness (1–5), Aoife Russell (1–2), Niamh Rice (0–3); Lauren Boyle (1–5), Aine Breen, Alanna Conlon (3–7). Subs used: Coirin Rice, Shauna Markey, Leanne Sharkey, Grainne Murray, Róisín Osborne.
Best Betting Sites in Ireland
Best Betting Apps in Ireland