Two Championship Deciders in Louth

Sunday is the biggest day in the Ladies Football Club calender in Louth with two major Championship finals down for decision.

 

Dowdallshill and St.Kevin’s clash in the Intermediate championship final whilst Stabannon Parnell’s and Roche Emmett’s meet in the Senior Championship final for the second year in a row with both finals taking place in Haggardstown. Stabannon, who are going for 4 in a row of county titles, can expect a very strong challenge from an emerging Roche side. The Faughart side showed how good they can be in this season’s league final when they were considered unlucky by many not  to beat the Champions in a terrific encounter in Dowdallshill. On that occassion Stabannon came from six points down at the interval to force a draw 1-07 each. They also met in last years decider where Parnells were comfortable winners by 0-11 to 0-03.

 

Both sides were solid if relativley unspectacular in their semi-finals outings, where the mid-Louth side were up against a spirited Newtown Blues and Roche were were made work very hard to see off a strong Mochtas challenge. The 2011 All-Ireland finalists are a side packed with experience with as many as five of the current county team expected to line out on Sunday. Manager, Ciaran Marks, will be hoping that key defender Andrea Carney who missed Louth’s win over Offaly last weekend will be able to take her place in the defence. They have a strong all round team and have dangerous attackers in Tara Lynch and county star Jenny McGuinness.

 

While county star Rosanna Heaney is perhaps their best known player, Roche have in their ranks some of the countys best young talent in the likes of Megan Fitzpatrick, Niamh Callan, Tracy Rogers, Jenny McCourt and Shauna Finn. The excellent work done in recent times by the North Louth club at under age  level  is begining to pay off as Roche contest another final at adult level. Despite being unbeaten this year, Stabannon have yet to show the form that brought them so close to All-Ireland glory last year and against a Roche team who will take a lot of confidence from their fine display in the League decider, this is a contest that could go right down to the wire.

 

In the Intermediate final we have the first ever meeting of St.Kevins and  Dowdallshill in a Championship decider. The Dundalk side were very impressive in beating a fancied Nh.Fionbarra in the semi-final and will be hopeful of adding the Intermediate title to the Junior success of 2009 and the Div 2 League title they won last year. They have a nice mixture of youth and experience with Ciara O’Connor, Janine Kelly, Sonia Hoey and Emma Singleton all having inter-county  experience. This grade was introduced in 2000 and saw Nh.Martin beat St.Pats to win it for the first time with St.Kevins winning it a year later.

 

The Philipstown side have a number of survivors from that success, AnnMaree King,  Eleanor Smith,  Geraldine and Susan Conlon, Nicola Wogan and Susan Byrne  are all expected to line out on Sunday. They are managed by Paddy Gregory and recorded big wins on the way to the final over Nh.Martin and St.Patricks. A close contest is expected between these evenly matched sides.
The Senior Final has a 4pm start while the Intermediate game gets underway @ 2pm. Also on Sunday the delayed Junior 1 semi-final between St.Brides and St.Fechins takes place @ 11-30 at a Venue T.B.C.
Report by
Dermot Woods