Louth remain unbeaten as defence closes out Clare’s ambitions
An opening round draw against Down gives Louth three points from a possible four as the home side, following a double score defeat in round one against Antrim, are now firmly rooted at the foot of the Division 3 table.A small attendance in Clarecastle greeted both sides onto the playing arena for what emerged as a low scoring tie played on astro turf that saw dominant showings from both sides throughout the game but was defined by the only goal of the game scored by Laura Collins early in the second half.Indeed, Louth started the game in a positive mood at the Clare venue and full-forward Laura Collins had the opening score from a free with just two minutes played. Amy Murray added a second Louth score from play as Larkin’s side started the game in a controlling manner.Clare, eventually managed to get on the scoreboard and the sides were level courtesy of two successful efforts from full-forward Chloe Moloney all by the eighth minute, including one well taken score from play.Louth centre-forward Céire Nolan restored her side’s lead after 21 minutes. Rebecca Sexton, in the Clare goal was their saviour with two point-blank saves in the first-half including one effort from Nolan.Only one further score emanated in the opening half as once again Collins was on hand in the 29th minute to allow Louth to hold a 0-4 to 0-2 interval lead.Clare needed to make some form on an impact on the game especially against an exceptionally well drilled Louth defence who allowed no real scoring chances for Clare in the first half and not really much more until late in the game.Caoimhe Harvey gave some hope to Clare followers with the first score after the restart before Louth’s Collins won a penalty that was expertly saved by Sexton in the Clare goal.The goal that defined the game’s result came about when a high ball into the Clare square was tipped to the net by Collins as Louth increased their lead to four points, 1-4 to 0-3.Even at this juncture in such a low scoring tie, this goal appeared to create a sizable gulf between the sides. Louth added a point soon after, somewhat against the run of play, as Clare had begun to rally markedly around their own half-back and midfield sectors.The five point lead was short lived as Roisin Considine and Joanna Doohan, both coming up from the Clare defence, narrowed their side’s deficit to just three point.Clare were now chasing a goal to tie up the game but once again Louth’s disciplined defending kept the Banner side at bay.Eventually, they broke free and Nolan restored the four-point lead with a well-taken score. Each side managed one further score in the final 10 minutes with Leah Kelly and Collins exchanging scores as Louth celebrated an important win on the road as they now face Fermanagh this weekend while Clare entertain Down in round three.Best for the winners included Eilis Hand, Shannen McLoughlin, Laura Collins, Amy Murray, Céire Nolan, Áine Breen and Lucy White. Clare struggled to turn chances into scores especially in the first-half and the last quarter when they needed scores to stay in contact – but they never materialised.Louth: R Lambe Fagan; S Matthews, Eilis Hand, H Lambe Sally; A Murray 0-1, S McLoughlin, L Byrne; A Halligan, A Breen; L White, C Nolan 0-2, Z Sweeney; E Byrne, L Collins 1-4, C Woods. Subs: Sophie for Woods, Emma Thompson for Sweeney.Clare: R Sexton; H Doyle, R Doohan, S Melican; R Considine 0-1, J Doohan, E Burke; S Considine, A Slattery; L Conway, C Harvey 0-1, A Sexton; E O’ Driscoll, C Moloney 0-2, E Hanrahan. Subs: Abi Kelly for O’ Driscoll, Leah Kelly 0-1 for Sexton, Marie Fitzgerald for R Considine, Sophie Culleton for Moloney, Orlaith Considine for Kelly.Referee: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare)
