LIMERICK Under 14 Ladies Football team hope to go one step further in their defence of their All Ireland U14 crown when they play the Leinster champions, Offaly this Saturday, 13 June at 2 pm in Nenagh. Although the two sides didn’t meet each other in the recent All Ireland blitz, a tight match can be anticipated. Offaly will be battle hardened after winning division 3 of the All Ireland Blitz and having beaten a fancied Westmeath side, with a last minute goal, in the Leinster final last Saturday. It will take a strong sixty minute performance from the Limerick girls to overcome this Offaly team. Limerick have slight injury worries in Laura Nash and Rachel O’Dell. Limerick will be looking to Aoife Hickey, Laura Nash, Chloe Cleary, Kerrie Guinea, Robyn Leahy, Emer O Keeffe and Ella Whelan to show the way. Another close encounter is expected as a large and vocal Limerick support travel to Nenagh to cheer on the Limerick girls.
Manager Barry O’Halloran said that “ Our girls have improved with each game but we will need to repeat the performance of the second half of the Munster final, to win this crucial semi-final. It is vital that we get off to a good start. It would be great for Limerick Ladies underage football to reach two consecutive All Ireland Finals – we are leaving no stone unturned in our efforts to do so. With representation from 17 clubs in the county, and the venue, unlike last year, being so close to Limerick, we are hoping that there will be strong and vocal support for the girls as they attempt to reach another All Ireland Final”.
The team will be chosen from: Aoife Hickey (Adare), Sive O’Halloran (Adare), Clare Carmody (Athea), Michelle Curtin (Athea), Noelle Curtin (Athea), Ava Mullane (Drom/Broadford), Chloe Cleary (Galtee Gaels), Eileen Scanlan (Gerald Griffins), Maura Shine (Gerald Griffins), Anna Shine (Gerald Griffins), Blaithin Leahy (Knockainey), Ciara Hyes (Knockainey), Aoife Corbert (Monagea), Ella Whelan (Monagea), Rachel O’Dell (Monaleen), Kerrie Guinea (Mungret/St Paul’s), Kerrie Guinea (Mungret/St Paul’s), Emer O’Keeffe (Mungret/St Pauls), Ailbhe Larkin (Mungret/St Paul’s), Lauren Beirne (Murroe Boher), Sophie Hennessy (Old Mill), Iris Kennelly (Old Mill), Kathleen Bradshaw (Oola), Caroline Brennan (Shamrock Gaels), Lucy Costello (Shamrock Gaels), Sinead McElligott (St Ailbes), Robyn Leahy (St Ailbes), Laura Nash Captain (St Ailbes), Aoife Rowsome (St Ailbes), Shannon McCarthy (St Brigids) and Jemma Duhig (St Patrick’s).
