REWIND: 2012 All-Ireland Junior Final
29th July 2025
Antrim 3-09 Louth 0-07
TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Junior Football Championship Final
Croke Park
Antrim were crowned TG4 All-Ireland junior champions for the second time in four seasons with a composed and clinical performance at Croke Park.
A dominant first half laid the groundwork for an 11-point victory that sees the Saffrons return to the intermediate ranks. They led by 2-03 to 0-02 at the break and never looked in danger thereafter, as Louth failed to replicate the form that had seen them inflict a nine-point defeat on Antrim earlier in the campaign.
This result turned the tables emphatically and secured a second West County Hotel Cup for Antrim, who last won the title in 2009.
Louth came into the game having racked up 15-79 across their four previous championship outings, but their attack faltered on the big stage and they fell to a second final defeat in three seasons. They were also beaten in the 2010 decider by Limerick.
Kirsty McGuinness stepped up as the match-winner, scoring a goal in each half. Her first came from the penalty spot after Anna Finnegan was fouled by Louth goalkeeper Una Pearson midway through the first half. Referee Seamus Regan showed Pearson a yellow card, and McGuinness calmly converted past substitute keeper Kelly Cunningham.
Three minutes later, Finnegan added a second goal, finishing low from close range after good work by Mairead Cooper, who had netted twice in the 2009 final.
Cooper got the scoreboard moving in the tenth minute with the game’s opening point, and though chances came for more goals before half-time – with Cooper going close and Finnegan striking the crossbar – the two-goal lead proved a solid cushion against the breeze.
Louth registered their first point in the 22nd minute but failed to build momentum. Their best first-half opportunity fell to Lisa Kelly, but Antrim goalkeeper Ciara McCoy produced a fine stop.
McCoy would go on to be named player of the match, and her second-half saves from Rosanna Heeney – twice – kept Louth at bay as they chased an unlikely comeback. Even when the gap was narrowed to seven points, McCoy stood firm, denying a third Louth goal chance when Ann-Marie Murphy pulled a shot wide.
Antrim lost Cooper to the sin bin late on, but it mattered little. In the final minute, McGuinness added her second and Antrim’s third goal, beating Pearson at her near post to seal a deserved win.
Antrim's return to the intermediate championship comes off the back of a composed, well-structured display built on defensive discipline, accurate finishing, and big-game composure.
Scorers for Antrim: K McGuinness 2-00, A Finnegan 1-01, C Timoney 0-04f, M McCurdy 0-02, C Mullan & M Cooper 0-01 each.
Scorers for Louth: M O’Connell, G Lynch, S Lynch, A.M. Murphy (f), K Flood, J McGuinness & S Byrne 0-01 each.
ANTRIM: C McCoy; B Scullion (N Cooper 50), E Kelly, S Haughey; C McHugh (D McAteer 56) , N Kelly, A Tubridy; C Mullan, G McGinley; C Carey, K McGuinness, C Timoney; A McAtamney (M McCurdy h.t.), A Finnegan (R Fulton 57), M Cooper.
LOUTH: U Pearson; A.M. Lynch, A Carney, A McGee; M McMahon, M O’Connell, P Marmion (V McGinn h.t.); G Lynch, S Lynch; L Kelly, A.M. Murphy, C O’Connor, C O’Connor; R Heeney, K Flood (S Byrne 40), J McGuinness (K Cunningham 15, J McGuinness 23, E Conlon 54).
Referee: S Regan (Roscommon).
