Louth defeated Leitrim to claim the Lidl national football league division four title at St Tiernach’s Park in Clones.
Wayne Freeman’s side laid the foundation in the opening half leading 4-3 to 0-8 at half-time and while Leitrim improved in the second half, Louth held on for a 4-19 to 1-14 triumph.
The Wee County made the dream start when they hit 2-2 without reply inside six minutes. Flood intercepted a Michelle Monaghan kickout and found Lauren Boyle who blasted to the Leitrim net in the opening minute.
Áine Breen added a point before Niamh Rice broke forward to finish low under Monaghan for a second Louth goal and she added a free giving them an eight point lead.
Michelle Guckian handed Leitrim their first score in the eight minute and Laura O’Dowd scored another point. But a brilliant Pearson kickout found its way to Breen who drove at the heart of the Leitrim defence, she off-loaded to Rice who blasted high and into the goal.
Guckian and Leah Fox scored the last two points before the water-break but Leitrim still trailed 3-2 to 0-4 at that stage.
Bronagh O’Rourke and O’Dowd scored on the resumption to make it four points in a row for Leitrim.
Monaghan’s kickout was subsequently turned over again and Kate Flood profited to the finish into the empty net in the 22nd minute. Ailish Cornyan scored a huge point to round off the half but Louth were seven points clear.
Muireann Devaney and Rice traded scores after the break, but every time Leitrim looked to build momentum they were dragged back by Louth.
Crucially, Devaney missed a goal chance in the 39th minute as the pressure mounted and Louth were 4-5 to 0-11 ahead with a quarter of the game remaining.
Denise McKenna and Eimear Byrne scored in quick succession after the last water-break, but when Ailbhe Clancy scored a penalty goal in the 52nd minute Leitrim still had a chance. Fittingly, Rice killed off the game.
Scorers – Louth: N Rice 2-3 (1f), L Boyle 1-1, K Flood 1-0, D McKenna 0-2 (1f), Á Breen 0-1, R Carr 0-1, E Byrne 0-1. Leitrim: M Guckian 0-6 (5f), A Clancy 1-0, L O’Dowd 0-2, M Devaney 0-2, L Fox 0-1, B O’Rourke 0-1, A Cornyan 0-1, V Egan 0-1.
LOUTH: U Pearson; E Hand, S Quinn, E Murray; M McMahon, S McLaughlin, C Nolan; Á Breen, N Rice; A Russell, K Flood, R Carr; L Collins, L Boyle, D McKenna. Subs: E Byrne for Collins (40), S Matthews for Murray (44).
LEITRIM: M Monaghan; M A Maguire, S Tighe, S McCartan; C Tyrrell, C Owens, C La Guen; Á Heslin, A Cornyan; L O’Dowd, M Guckian, E Brun; L Fox, B O’Rourke, R McHugh. Subs: A Clancy for McHugh (21), M Devaney for O’Rourke (25), V Egan for Fox (35), S Ward for Brun (50), S Quinn for Heslin (59).
Referee: Lorraine O’Sullivan (Donegal).
