When it comes to reaching the final stages of the TG4 All-Ireland junior football championship, Louth’s Kate Flood knows more than most what is required.
Having been part of the sides that lost third-tier showpieces at Croke Park to Limerick and Antrim in 2010 and 2012 respectively, Flood chipped in with a 1-2 haul as Louth finally got their hands on the West County Hotel Cup in 2015 — courtesy of an emphatic victory against Scotland.
Another All-Ireland junior final appearance followed in 2018 and while Limerick once again had the measure of their Leinster counterparts, the St Patrick’s club star recorded an impressive tally of 1-8 to help Louth claim another national title — this time at the expense of Fermanagh — in September 2019.
Following their relegation from the All-Ireland intermediate championship at the end of 2023, Flood has her sights on reaching a sixth junior showpiece later on this summer.
Yet as Louth begin their All-Ireland JFC campaign with a Group B encounter against Kilkenny at John Locke Park on Saturday afternoon (throw-in 2pm), she recognises that lots of counties will come into the competition with similar aspirations.
“That would be the end goal. Obviously, there’s a lot of hard work in front of you. You take it game-by-game and obviously week in, week out. You never know, players might pick up injuries or anything like that. Obviously, our end goal is to get to another All-Ireland final and get back up into intermediate championship,” Flood said.
“Hopefully we get there, but we’ve work to do before we think that far. It’s not going to be an easy road to the All-Ireland final. We know the teams, they are going to be tough.
“Everyone has an end goal of wanting to get to an All-Ireland final and
Gaa
Louth