FERMANAGH boss CJ McGourty hailed “world class” Eimear Smyth after they captured the All-Ireland junior football title for a third time in eight years.
Following Smyth’s 1-9 in Croker, McGourty said: “When she’s knocking on your door every day looking to get better, that’s a sign of a world-class player.
“Every night she’s coming training, she’s looking at a different wee move to learn, or trying to improve her game.”
Fermanagh led by 1-5 to 0-5 at the break after Smyth found the net after ten minutes.
While Kate Flood ended the action with 0-8 to her name, Louth fell short in their quest to claim a record-breaking fourth final victory at this grade. The Wee County managed to get within one point after Ciara Clarke’s second-half sin-binning.
And while Flood continued her second-period flurry, Smyth kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Ernesiders until Gerard Canny blew the final whistle.
FERMANAGH: M Maguire; C Clarke, M McGloin, E Keenan; S McQuade, C Murphy, C Bogue; B Bannon, L Maguire; D Maguire, J Doonan, A McCabe; B Bogue 0-2, E Smyth 1-9, 6f, N McManus. Subs: B Smyth for McManus 49 mins, S Britton for D Maguire 57.
LOUTH: R Lambe Fagan; L Byrne, E Murray, E Hand; H Lambe Sally, A Breen, C Nolan; A Halligan, E Byrne; L White, A Russell 0-1, C McDonald; N Rice 0-2, K Flood 0-8, 7f, S Matthews. Subs: M Rooney 0-1 for Lambe Sally h-t, C O’Reilly for McDonald 49 mins, R O’Connor Leonard for Russell 52, C Boyle for Matthews 60, K Doheny for White 60.
REFEREE: Gerard Canny (Mayo).