Mourne Ladies overcome Louth on St Patrick’s Day

20 March 2024

DOWN Ladies knew they had to beat Louth on Sunday and hope that Antrim would do them a favour by taking points from joint leaders Clare to have any chance of keeping their promotion dream alive this season.

Meanwhile, Louth were still looking over their shoulders and needed a win to secure their Division 3 status.

A last minute change of venue saw in-form Down, who had won their last three games, entertain Louth in Ardglas.

Ardglass GAC did a fantastic job to host this game with little notice, as it was a bumper crowd that made the journey on St Patrick’s Day for this highly anticipated fixture.

Those in attendance were thoroughly entertained, in this high scoring, fast paced encounter with some breath taking football in spells.

Down had the better of the opening with Annaclone’s Niamh McClory scoring a point.

That was soon followed with a goal of true quality. Captain Meghan Doherty spilt open the Louth defence with a majestic pass that found Niamh King in acres of space, King then stroked the ball around the Louth ‘keeper with the inside of her foot into the bottom corner of the net.

A converted free by Natasha Ferris was followed with another goal chance for Niamh King. This time a series of quick hand passes opened the Louth rear line and King was through on goal. However, the Castlewellan forward opted for the easy score and put the ball over.

Louth got into the game with a great score from distance by Kate Flood. The powerful St Partrick’s forward was a constant threat in the game and in this form, is undoubtedly one of the best forwards in the country.

Vivienne McCormack was the next Down forward to capitalise on a defence splitting pass. Clara Mulvenna setting up the chance by using her soccer skills, playing the ball from the ground to cut open the Louth defence again picking out McCormack, who put over.

Two more King scores extended Down’s lead. The second of these was set up by an amazing bit of skill when Natasha Ferris bicycle kicked the ball over her shoulder and cleared the Louth defence finding King in space, who again slotted over.

Louth responded when Kate Flood got her and Louth’s second from a free.

Down were playing some great football in this spell. One of the season’s stand-out performers set up the next goal for the Mourne ladies. Laoise Duffy has been in exceptional form this year, and one of her trade mark runs saw her outpace the Louth corner back, a well timed fist pass over the ‘keeper left Natasha Ferris with a simple palm finish into the empty net.

Niamh King added to her total with a great point from a tight angle.

For the first 20 minutes of the game it was almost all one way traffic but then Louth started to find their rhythm. After another Flood free, the Wee County got their first goal. Coming on as sub, Holly Lamb Sally scored with her first touch of the game. Finishing well, from a good move down the right wing.

Bryanfords forward Ferris, hit back with a point for Down after Ciara Byrne found her in space.

Another dangerous Louth forward, Niamh Rice got a score but that was cancelled out when Aimee Greene finished off a lovely Down move.

A great cross field ball by Rostrevor’s Niamh Scullion connected with Megan Doherty, her equally sublime pass found Greene joining the attack from the full back line and she converted in style, finishing the scoring in a half that Down had dominated for long spells.

Half-time: Down 2-9 Louth 1-4.

Louth came out in the second half firing, but for three great saves by the outstanding Amy McGivern Louth would have been right back in this game.

The Teconnaught ‘keeper has been a rock in nets for Down this season and is a big part of the upturn in fortune for the team.

Despite Louth pushing hard it was Down who got the first score of the second half, when Laoise Duffy scored following another strong run.

Niamh King got another goal in the next attack. A Clara Mulvenna pass picked out Natasha Ferris who released King with a bit of magic, with an over the shoulder box kick.

A head injury to Mulvenna who had to go off seemed to disrupt the balance of the Down team and Louth started to really impose their will on the game.

Although the Down back line had done an amazing job shacking Louth’s Niamh Rice, it’s impossible to keep a quality player like this out of the game.

The Louth number 11 picked up the ball on the 20 meter line, turned her marker and was through on goal. However, her goal bound powerful shot was turned onto the bar with another amazing stop from McGivern. But Ciara Woods did what all good forwards do and followed the ball in, side-footing the rebound into the net for a Louth goal.

But any chance of a late Louth come back was quashed with yet another Down goal. This goal started with an excellent intercepted pass by Megan Doherty, she found Niamh King wide on the left near the half way line. A great run by King was rewarded when Vivienne McCormack collected King’s pass and bundled the ball pass the Louth ‘keeper and into the net.

Danger woman Katie Flood scored again for Louth after Niamh Rice won a free.

Aine Smyth done well after coming on as a sub for Down, getting two well taken scores to seal the win and an impressive team performance.

Down had done their part beating an extremely dangerous Louth side. However, results elsewhere went against them.

With Clare’s victory over Antrim, it means that even if Caoibhe Sloan’s and Peter Lynch’s Down team beat Clare next Sunday, it will still leave them one point behind the joint leaders.

Down: A McGivern; A Greene (0-1), O Boyle, C Byrne; N McKibbin, M Doherty (capt), O Duffy; C Mulvenna, A Laverty; N Scullion, N King (2-4), L Duffy (0-1); N McClorey (0-1), N Ferris (1-2), V McCormack (1-1).

Subs: M Deery, E Fitzpatrick, E Sands, K Howlett, N Loudon, A Cull, A Smyth (0-2), P Smyth, A O’Higgins, E Sloan, N McGrath, N Rice, S Dougherty, S O’Neill, A.McAlea.

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