REPORT: Boyle sparkles as Louth see off Carlow to retain TG4 Leinster Junior title

TG4 Leinster Junior Final

Louth 2-13
Carlow 0-11

By Aisling Clery in Netwatch Cullen Park

1-07 from Player of the Match Lauren Boyle secured back to back titles for Darren Bishop’s troops in the TG4 Leinster Junior Final on Sunday afternoon. Goals either side of the half time whistle helped to pave the Wee County’s way to victory. Louth were impressive from the throw in, racing into a lead they maintained and extended throughout the contest. To their credit, Carlow were unrelenting and continued pressing the eventual champions all the way.

The game exploded into action with Lauren Boyle hitting two points in the first sixty seconds. Boyle added a third point a minute later before Louth Captain Kate Flood added a fourth point from a free. It looked like it was going to be all one way traffic but Rachel Sawyer stepped up and got Carlow’s opening score of the contest. The teams traded scores with Cliodhna Ní Shé pointing the first of a seven point haul before Lauren Boyle pointed once more to extend Louth’s lead to three.

Stout defending from Louth closed the door to Carlow attacks but Roisín Byrne brought the gap back before Michelle McMahon and Boyle put Louth ahead by four. Boyle and Flood pushed Louth into a six point lead before Ní Shé and Louth Minor Captain Niamh Rice swapping scores. Louth finished the half strongly – early missed goal chances were put to rights as Lauren Boyle finished to the net. Rebecca Carr added a point and while both teams will have been annoyed at the chances they left behind, it was the reigning champions that were happier at the break as they took a ten point lead to the dressing rooms.

While it was Cliodhna Ní Shé who got the first score of the second half, Louth were awarded a penalty which was duly put away by Kate Flood. A brace of Cliodhna Ní Shé frees kept Carlow in contention and their patient build up to scores was making inroads to the deficit. However, points from Boyle and Flood ensured Louth kept control of the contest. Carlow finished strongly, a brace from Ní Shé and a point from distance from Amy Dooley unfortunately just wasn’t enough as Louth went on to claim back to back Leinster Junior titles, winning on a 2-13 to 0-11 scoreline.

Congratulations to Lauren Boyle who was announced as Player of the Match and Leinster LGFA wish both Carlow and Louth the very best of luck in the TG4 All Ireland Junior Championship.

Scorers: Louth: Lauren Boyle (1-07), Kate Flood (1-03, 1 pen, 2f), Michelle McMahon, Rebecca Carr, Niamh Rice (0-01 each).

Carlow: Clíodhna Ní Shé (0-07, 7f), Róisín Byrne (0-02), Rachel Sawyer, Amy Dooley (0-01 each)

Louth: U Pearson; E Hand, S Quinn, S McLoughlin; C Nolan, M McMahon, D Osborne; E Byrne, A Byrne; R Carr, S Byrne, A Russell; L Boyle, K Flood (capt.), N Rice.

Subs: S Woods for Rice, C Nolan for McMahon, G Murray for Osborne, J McGuinness for S Byrne, E Norton for Russell.

Carlow: N Hanley; N Mohan (capt.), B Nolan, A Roche; M Kinsella, O Fitzpatrick, C Mullins; E Hayden, K Clarke; E Atkinson, R Byrne, N Forde; R Sawyer, C Ní Shé, S Doyle.

Subs: L Mullins for Kinsella, A Dooley for Mohan, A Downey for Fitzpatrick, N Kelly for Doyle, A Hayden for Clarke.

Referee: Finbarr Shanahan (Dublin)