Louth get off to a winning start beating Sligo

Louth Ladies open League Campaign with
a Win
Louth 4-9 Sligo 3-4

Louth ladies, captained by Orlaith Kirk got off to a great
start in the opening round of their 2003/2004 league campaign
by beating Sligo 8 points in Shelagh on Sunday last. This
was a great win for the girls and for their Manager David
Fedigan and Trainer Ciaran Conlon.

Sharon Drumgoole was first to pop the ball over the bar
and give Louth the lead in the first few minutes of the
game. Sligo responded quickly by moving the ball up the
field but to no avail as the ball went wide. However it
was not long until Louth responded when a great block by
Grace Lynch saw her pass the ball to Captain Orlaith who
then passed to Sandra Lynch who made no mistake in placing
the ball in the back of the Sligo net.

Louth were settling into the game. A point from Sligo saw
them get onto the score board. Louth were unlucky on numerous
occasions as several balls dropped short and into the hands
of the Sligo gaolie. Some great saves were made by the Sligo
goalie who prevented the wee county from going too far ahead
in the first half. A pass by Orlaith Kirk to Ann Marie Murphy
saw the Cooley girl get her name on the scoring board and
this was soon followed by another point from Sharon Drumgoole
to put Louth five points ahead. However this lead was soon
to be reduced as the Sligo forwards eventually got beyond
Louth goalie Johann Fedigan to reduce their deficit to two
points. Ann Marie Murphy responded with two points to give
Louth a four point lead at half time.

At the start of the second half Sligo were looking to be
the stronger team and scored a point in the opening few
minutes. Louths Bronagh Leonard soon responded to this when
a free taken by Sharon Drumgoole from the twenty one yard
line was sent hammering to the back of the net as it dropped
by Bronagh. In the second half both teams were evenly matched
in relation to scores as Sligo responded with a goal and
a point. A goal followed for Louth followed by points from
AnnMarie Murphy and Bronagh Leonard. Edel McKeown was replaced
by Blanaid Callan and Jennifer Mulligan replaced Roisin
Hanlon. AnnMarie Murphy then was unlucky not to have converted
a free from the fourteen yard line. However the Cooley girl
soon put this right as she caught the kick out, passed it
to Jennifer Mulligan who made no mistake in hitting the
back of the Sligo net. Louth were edging forward, but Sligo
were responding with two points.

Louth then made replacements with Tara Lynch and Ann Marie
Lynch been replaced by Roisin Fearon and Lisa Maguire. Louth
had just made the replacements when Sligo headed up the
pitch and placed the ball once again in the back of the
Louth net. Despite this the game was drawing to a close
and Louth secured their win with a further two points from
AnnMarie Murphy. This was a good display by the Wee County
girls with AnnMarie Murphy on top form and great displays
from Sharon Drumgoole, Orlaith Kirk, Grace Lynch, Tara Lynch
and Lorraine Muckian. Great displays by players such as
AnnMarie Lynch and Sandra Lynch who have only entered the
panel this year are encouraging for manager David Fedigan.
We wish them luck in the new year with all future games.

Scorers: Sharon Drumgoole 0-3 Ann Marie Murphy 1-5
Jennifer Mulligan 1-0 Bronagh Leonard 1-1 Sandra Lynch 1-0
Team: 1. Johann Fedigan, 2. Karen Raftery 3. Lorraine
Muckian, 4. Ann Marie Lynch, 5. Grace Lynch, 6. Edel McKeown,
7. Jenny Agnew, 8. Orlaith Kirk, 9. Elaine Rogan, 10. Sharon
Drumgoole, 11. Ann Marie Murphy, 12. Tara Lynch, 13. Sandra
Lynch, 14. Roisin Hanlon, 15. Bronagh Leonard
Substitutes: 16. Jennifer Mulligan, 17. Kim Lynch.
18. Roisin Fearon. 19. Lisa Maguire 20 Blanaid Callan