Limerick Juniors get off to winning start

Post date: Jul 2, 2014 4:34:12 PM

Limerick 2-8 Offaly 1-4

Liberty Insurance All-Ireland Junior A Championship Round 1

Ballybrown  - Sun 22nd June 2.30pm

Limerick's Junior team brought the form that won them the Division Four League into the championship with an impressive 2-8 to 1-4 opening day win over Offaly in Ballybrown on Sunday.

Limerick got off to the better start with Donna Mulcahy and Caitrín De Bhál pointing from play inside 5 minutes. Offaly replied with a Michelle Davis pointed free but the for the remainder of the half Limerick dominated. Caitrín De Bhál converted a free and Bríd Hannon pointed from play before Sarah Collins hit the back of the net for her 10th goal of the season. Bríd Hannon added a second goal 5 minutes later and Limerick were firmly in charge. Rosemarie Rea and Sarah Collins added points as the game headed to half time. Grainne Egan converted a free for Offaly and Alison Dooley pointed from play just before the break to leave the score at the break Limerick 2-7 Offaly 0-3.

The second half was a lower scoring affair with only an Alison Dooley point scored in the first 25 minutes. However when she added a goal with  3 minutes to go there was a a flurry of excitement as Offaly sought the goals needed and only some great goalkeeping from Laura O'Neill denied repeated Offaly attacks. However it was Limerick who got the final score of the game when substitute Marie Danagher pointed to leave the score at the final whistle Limerick 2-8 Offaly 1-4.

A great start to the campaign however management will be concerned that Limerick were held to a single point in the second half. Next week Limerick travel to play Meath in round 2.

Junior Team: 1 Laura O’Neill (Na Piarsaigh), 2 Leanne Browne  (Newcastle West), 3 Noreen Barry (Killeedy) Capt, 4 Catriona Neville (Croagh Kilfinny), 5 Marguerita McCarthy (Ahane), 17 Neamh Curtin (Ballybrown), 7 Tara Fitzgibbon (Ballyagran), 8 Sinead McNamara (Na Piarsaigh), 9 Donna Mulcahy (Killeedy), 10 Kristy Carroll (Galbally), 11 Rosemarie Rea (Ballyagran), 12 Caitrín De Bhál (Feenagh Kilmeedy), 13 Rebecca Noonan (Granagh Ballingarry), 14 Sarah Collins (Ballyagran), 15 Bríd Hannon (Croagh Kilfinny)

Subs used: Mairéad Clancy (Ballybrown) for Kristy Carroll, Marie Danagher (Ballyagran) for Rebecca Noonan, Sarah Shanahan (Killeedy) for Caitrín De Bhál, Sarah Crotty (Ahane) for Neamh Curtin, Emer Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry) for Tara Fitzgibbon.

Subs: 16 Catherine Fitzgerald (Adare), 18 Emer Hickey (Granagh Ballingarry), 19 Sarah Crotty (Ahane), 20 Margaret Lynch (Granagh Ballingarry), 21 Mairéad Clancy (Ballybrown), 22 Marie Danagher (Ballyagran), 23 Sarah Shanahan (Killeedy)