LIMERICK run up against Down in a novel TG4 All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Final at Croke Park on Sunday (August 13).
It is the first of three deciders at headquarters on the day, with the Intermediate (Clare/Kildare) and historic 50th senior (Kerry/Dublin) to follow. With such a hectic fixture schedule, Limerick’s outing has an exceptionally early throw-in time of 11.30am.
All finals will be broadcast live on television with coverage from the sponsor.
Graham Shine managed Limerick will be aiming to win the championship for a third occasion, to add to the victories of 2010 and 2018.
Over the previous four seasons, the Shannonsiders came up just short at the semi-final stage but this time around stunned Fermanagh in the last four at Pearse Park in Longford.
It was an outing in which impact substitute par excellence Caoimhe McGrath of Fr Casey’s (Abbeyfeale) landed a match-winning six points.
Captained by Róisín Ambrose of Old Mill (who will likely partner Karen O’Leary of Monagea around the middle of the pitch), the Limerick side also includes 2018 winning skipper Cathy Mee (Ballylanders), goalkeeper Carol Bateman (Mungret St Paul’s), Adare’s Lauren Ryan, Monagea trio Yvonne Lee, Laura Walshe, and Deborah Murphy, and Amy Ryan of Oola.
Iris Kennelly (Old Mill) suffered an injury set-back in the semi, but in a team boost passed a fitness test at the outset of the week.
Limerick and Down met in the group stages of the championship, with the northerners coming through (1-13 to 1-8) but at that stage both counties were already assured of their knock-out berths. From that outing, Limerick will remember Natasha Ferris who scored an incredible 1-8.
Ferris, who has scored an astonishing 7-26 in Championship 2023, along with Ciara Byrne, Meghan Doherty, Aoife Laverty, Orla Swail, and Vivienne McCormack will spearhead the challenge of the Ulster representatives.
Dublin’s Angela Gallagher – a Sligo native – will referee.
Verdict: Limerick are given a tentative nod to collect precious silverware.
