Win over leaders Louth not enough for Laois to avoid relegation

Laois 0-9 

Louth 0-8 

LAOIS produced a gutsy and determined performance to secure a one-point victory over league leaders Louth in Drogheda on Sunday, but despite the win, their Division 3 status slipped agonisingly from their grasp.

Knowing only a win would keep their survival hopes alive, Stephen Duff’s side rose to the challenge against an already promoted Louth team. However, Laois also needed results elsewhere to go their way, and the news of Roscommon’s 2-9 to 2-9 draw with Clare ultimately proved devastating. With both Laois and Clare finishing level on seven points, it was the head-to-head record that cruelly sent Laois down.

In difficult, blustery conditions, Laois faced an early test as Louth came out firing. The hosts took control of the opening stages, building a 0-4 to 0-1 lead after twenty minutes. Laois had to dig deep as Louth’s attacking threat asked serious questions of their defence.

But this Laois team showed resilience. Gradually finding their rhythm, they clawed their way back into the contest, inspired by the outstanding Emily Lacey. She struck three superb points in quick succession to bring Laois level at 0-4 apiece by half-time, swinging momentum back in their favour.

The second half was a tense, end-to-end battle, with both sides trading scores. Laois goalkeeper Eimear Barry produced a crucial save at a key moment, underlining the team’s determination to fight until the very end.

Louth edged ahead once more, but Laois refused to buckle. Aoibhe Byron stepped up with a superb long-range point to level matters again, keeping Laois firmly in the fight. A huge let off followed when Louth’s Eimear Byrne slipped at a vital moment when through on goal, an opportunity that could have changed everything.

Sensing their chance, Laois pushed forward in the dying moments. Deep into injury time, they were awarded a free, and Byron held her nerve to split the posts and secure a dramatic and deserved one-point victory. There were scenes of relief and pride at the final whistle, but they were quickly overshadowed by the reality of results elsewhere. Despite their heroics, Laois’ fate had already been sealed.

It is a bitter pill to swallow for the 2022 All-Ireland Intermediate champions, who showed immense character and quality on the day. While the result didn’t go their way in the end, the performance reflected a team that never gave up, right to the final kick.

Scorers:

Louth: Eimear Byrne 0-2, Laura Lynch, Amy Murray, Aine Breen, Shannen McLaughlin, Aoife Russell and Aoife Halligan 0-1 each Laois: Emily Lacey 0-7, Fiona Dooley 0-1, Aoibhe Byron 0-1.

Louth: Rebecca Lambe-Fagan; Moya Corrigan, Eilish Hand, Rachel Beirth; Amy Murray, Shannon McLaughlin, Naoise McConnon; Emma Thompson, Aine Breen; Lucy White, Ciera Nolan, Eimear Callaghan; Eimear Byrne, Laura Collins, Aoife Russell.

Subs: Aoife Halligan, Maebh Hickey, Sophie Stitt, Maggie Holland Laois: Eimear Barry (Ballinakill); Sinead Farrelly (St Joseph’s), Faye McEvoy (Ballyroan), Mary Cotter (St Conleth’s); Aoife Gorman (Timahoe), Aisling Saunders (Portlaoise), Andrea Moran (Ballyroan); Fiona Dooley (Portlaoise), Anna Healy (Park/Ratheniska); Shifra Havill (St Conleth’s), Lauren Kearney (Sarsfields), Sarah Larkin (Timahoe); Ellen O’Byrne (Park/Ratheniska), Katie Donoghue (Timahoe), Kelly O’Neill (Graiguecullen).

Referee: Ian Culbert (Wicklow)