Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1391459
INTERVIEW the spread of Covid but I don't think there is much of a difference in playing music on a speaker and on a guitar in a pub. "It is something that me and Eibhlin miss a lot actually." But Rice has plenty to keep her mind occupied; whether it's the recent League success, the forthcoming TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Intermediate Championship, or her day-to-day work. The 20-year-old studies agriculture in DkIT but doesn't see herself working on a farm in the future, once she finishes up in Dundalk. "There are an awful lot of opportunities for someone in my position," said Rice. "I wouldn't really be looking to do anything "WE WOULD SING IN THE LOCAL PUB, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY BE OUR MAIN SPOT. THEY GAVE US A CHANCE TO START OFF." just seemed to work really well. The early balls in, especially the goals that we got, me, Lauren Boyle and Kate Flood. The goals we got were important for us by the second half. "Leitrim were coming at us very strong and it was nip and tuck for a while but our early scoring really stood to us." And Louth will be looking to make a fast start to the Championship when they clash with Down on 18 July. Offaly are the other opponents in Group D and Rice is certain that Louth have a target on their backs now after picking up some silverware in June. "I am optimistic and I am hopeful but I know it is going to be a challenge especially since we have beaten Offaly before and if it is anything like coming out against Leitrim, they will be red hot on their feet," said Rice. "They are going to want to beat us. I think they will definitely be a very tough challenge. Hopefully if everything goes right like it did in the League final, we will come out the better end of it. We just have to take everything as it comes. "I don't think we ever played Down, well I haven't competitively anyway but we have done a lot of challenges with them. "I don't really know what to expect but I know they are a good team. They won Ulster. "We will just go out on the day, play our own game and hope for the best." Below Right: Niamh Rice of Louth celebrates scoring her side's second goal during the TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Junior Championship Final match between Fermanagh and Louth at Croke Park in Dublin. farming based. I am just doing it for the job right now. I would be looking to go to teaching or education or something like that, to be honest." And even though her future is bright, on all fronts, it will surely be difficult to top 27 June 2021. It was a day when everything went right, two goals came in quick succession during a devastating first half. With No 9 on her back, Rice actually started at corner-forward and went on the rampage when she got the right deliveries. "I got lucky like, the ball came and I just saw space open up. I don't know when the last time I scored like that was," said Rice. "I am more focused on the overall score and if we are winning than if I score myself. It was brilliant in the Final and I was overwhelmed with getting Player of the Match because I didn't expect it at all. Everyone on the team played so well. "I think it's the first time we have ever won any of the league finals. I haven't been involved in any myself. We got knocked out in the semi-finals a few years ago and I wasn't on the team the last time we got to the Finals. "But it was still definitely a relief because we have been trying so hard for a few years. Last year when it was all called off and we were doing so well, we were all disappointed. But it was great to win. "We really showed our athleticism against Leitrim. Everything just seemed to click and we