GAA
Limerick face Antrim in the Very National Camogie League on Saturday February 25 at 1pm in Mick Neville Park.
The Limerick Senior Camogie side will be in home action for the first time this Saturday when they welcome Antrim to Mick Neville Park in the second round of the Very Camogie League.
The teams come into the contest, which throws in at 1pm, with differing form following the first round last weekend. Limerick were pipped by Wexford, coming up short in a 0-13 to 0-10 defeat away to the Leinster outfit. Antrim meanwhile, were clinical in dispatching Down with a 5-14 to 0-14 victory in Portglenone against Down.
Limerick will be hopeful of getting off the mark this Saturday with a trip to Waterford awaiting in the third round. After reaching the All-Ireland semi-final in 2022, the Deise laid down a marker as promotion favorites with a 4-22 to 1-9 win away to Offaly at the weekend.
However, this weekend Limerick will have their hands full against the Saffrons who reached last year’s Division 2 league final, falling to a 3-12 to 0-14 defeat at the hands of Wexford.
Yet, when the teams crossed paths in the championship last summer, it was Limerick who got the upper hand, en route to reaching the knockout stage of the championship for just the second time in two decades.
It was Caoimhe Costello who was the star of the show when the teams met last June, notching 0-6 in the victory that saw her go on to be named the player of the month.
She was a notable absence in round one of the league with her scoring threat missing as Limerick just reached double figures. Yet, with the Adare star unavailable, others stepped up in her place with Aine Reynolds taking over the free taking duties as goalkeeper Claire Keating fired over two long-range placed balls. Caoimhe Lyons, Orlaith Kelleher, who is vice-captain to Marian Quaid, and Cliodhna Ryan also found the target to give Limerick more of an attacking edge.
Still, John Lillis will be keen to have Costelloe back for this weekend’s clash as well as her clubmate Sophie O’Callaghan who also missed out on the opening round defeat. Lillis has already to make do without Rebecca Delee who is recovering from a knee injury.
Interestingly, Limerick are seeking a first win since defeating Clare in Group 1 of Division 1 in 2021. Last year they were beaten by the Banner, Cork and Kilkenny before falling to Offaly in the relegation final. Restructuring paired the finalists together in Division 1B for this year with the Faithful County in Limerick for the final round.
But with just one earning promotion to Division 1A, Limerick will need to get points on the board this weekend, especially with home advantage in Rathkeale.
Limerick face Antrim in the Very National Camogie League on Saturday February 25 at 1pm in Mick Neville Park.