LIMERICK’S bid for a rapid-fire return to an All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football Final came up just short against Fermanagh at Pearse Park, Longford.
It finished 2-12 to 2-10 in favour of the Ulster outfit, with a goal in the closing quarter hugely important to the outcome.
Limerick were 1-6 to 1-4 behind at half-time.
A peach of a goal from Deborah Murphy nudged the Shanonsiders ahead at the three-quarter mark, only for Fermanagh to come back with a three-pointer of their own soon after, which decided a hugely entertaining contest.
Limerick lost last year’s Final narrowly to Down at Croke Park.
Earlier in the weekend, Limerick fell to Antrim in the All-Ireland Under-16 Final in Kinnegad, county Westmeath.
Limerick: Sophie Hennessy (Old Mill); Joanne McGuire (St Ailbes), Yvonne Lee (Monagea), RóisínBrowne (Monagea); Grace Lee (Monagea), Cathy Mee, 0-1, (Ballylanders), Meadhbh MacNamara (St Ailbe’s); Róisín Ambrose, 1-2, (Old Mill), Leah Coughlan (Oola); Karen O’Leary, 0-1, (Monagea), Deborah Murphy, 1-5, (Monagea), Caoimhe McGrath (Fr Casey’s); Ellie Woulfe (Monagea), Kate Kennedy, 0-1, (St Ailbe’s), Fiona Bradshaw (Oola).
Substitutes used: Grace Mullane (Monagea), Caoimhe McNamara, 0-1, (Knockainey), Sarah Dillon (Pallasgreen), Katie Heelan (St. Ailbe’s).
