Limerick Ladies footballers record ten point win over Antrim

Limerick  2-12 Antrim 0-8.

West Limerick’s Athea GAA grounds played host to Limerick’s home tie in the Lidl NFL Division 4 Round 2 game. A minute’s silence for Athea’s Sean Batt Fitzgerald was observed at the start of the game.

The 2018 Treaty Ladies have only been working together with their new management since January 4th, but the level of commitment is increasing every week, due to the professionalism within the camp.

With only 9 sessions done, including an aqua aerobics workout with Alan Ward in UL, and following a superb comeback against Carlow last weekend, the girl’s mindset was far more focused heading into this important game. Antrim, having beaten last year’s All Ireland Junior Champions last weekend, were going to be a huge challenge.

The opening score came from a Limerick free 2 minutes into the game by Catríona Davis. Antrim replied between the uprights within a minute, but Limerick’s Mairead Kavanagh struck the back of the net and followed that with a well taken point to give Limerick back the lead.

The Saffron’s replied with 4 consecutive points and this game looked like it was going to be an even match. The saying “what you do in training you do in a match” suddenly became very apparent for Limerick as they bombarded 6 points with no Antrim reply for the next 20 minutes.

Megan O Shea came on for Jenny O’Malley 10 minutes before the half time whistle and the Green and White Ladies, emphatically, put John Ryan’s game plan into play and rallied forward to put the half time score at 1-8 to 0-6 to Limerick.

Antrim got the ball between the uprights in the opening minute of the second half, but when Limericks Caroline Hickey’s kick hit the net, at the same moment the referee blew the whistle, a penalty was awarded to Limerick instead. Catríona Davis hit the crossbar, but she then went on to do all the scoring in the second half with 4 points and our second goal of the game 22 minutes later.

Limerick brought in Gráinne Regan for Kate Geary, Síofra Keane for ClÍodhna Ní Cheallaigh and Siobhán Moloney for Mairead Kavanagh to help keep Limerick on top. Like the game against Carlow last week, it looked like Limerick were going to hold Antrim to a no scoring 2nd half, but Antrim got 2 more points on the 54th and 56th minutes. Limerick got their last point in the last few seconds of the game and they ran out winners 2-12 to 0-8.

Limerick Scorers: Catríona Davis 1-9, Mairead Kavanagh 1-1, Olivia Giltinane 0-1 and ClÍodhna Ní Cheallaigh 0-1.

Limerick Team: Karen O Dwyer, Kristine Reidy, Clodagh Mc Grath, Olivia Giltenane, Shauna Ryan, Caroline Hickey, Cathy Mee, Loretta Hanley, Niamh Ryan, Mairead Kavanagh, Catríona Davis, Kate Geary, Jenny O Malley, Stephanie Carroll, ClÍodhna NÍ Cheallaigh, Meabh Mc Carthy, Megan O Shea, Gráinne Regan, Clare O’Meara, Siobhán Moloney, Síofra Keane, Janet Garvey, Shelly Walsh, Kate Kennedy, Gráinne Cronin, Mary Hogan, Cloda Kirby, Eimear Ryan and Orlaith O Donoghue. Manager: John Ryan. Coach: Jim Moran. Selectors: Aideen Fitzpatrick & Paul Butler. First Aid: Debbie Carroll.