Captain Mee hails her Limerick underdogs after All-Ireland victory

LIMERICK LADIES Football captain Cathy Mee said her side knew they were capable of winning after her side’s 5-6 to 0-8 victory over Louth in Sunday’s Junior All-Ireland Final at Croke Park.

Louth were strong favourites going into the game but Limerick blitzed them with three first half goals. Mairead Kavanagh netted twice and Rebecca Delee also hit the target to help Limerick to a shock 10 point lead at the break.

Limerick continued to up the ante in the second half with Delee and Cliona Ni Cheallaigh hitting further goals after the break to seal victory. A proud Mee spoke of the belief Limerick had despite their underdog status after the 13 point win.

“Nobody gave us a chance going into today which suited us fine. We knew ourselves with the last month or two that things were going really well. Once we actually started believing in ourselves, we knew we were more than capable of winning. I don’t think anybody else did but we did. So I’m glad we actually did it.”

John Ryan took over as Limerick manager at the beginning of the season and Mee admitted that it took the panel of players time to trust the new ideas that the management team put in place. One of those new tactics employed was a more defensive game plan and despite a few teething problems early in the season, it worked to a tee on All-Ireland Final day.

“New management coming in, they gave us a strict game plan and I suppose it took us a while to buy into it. Once we actually did start doing it properly we knew it was working. The main thing we focused on earlier in the year was to stop leaking goals. It showed today that everyone has really bought into it and it’s won it for us really.”

It may not have looked it during the game, but Limerick were extremely nervous before throw in according to their. Every player’s dream is to play in Croke Park but once they stepped foot on the pitch, the nerves settled.

“The nerves were unbelievable beforehand to be honest but once we got out and had a look around and the game started we just forgot about it. There were huge cheers going up for scores from both Louth and Limerick supporters and it was brilliant to hear.”

The Limerick manager John Ryan was full of praise for his team after the sensational performance. Along with his backroom staff, Ryan has led the team to glory at the first time of asking but he gave all the credit to his players after the game.

“They are a special group of players and today was a very special day for them. There was a calmness. Coming up, there was a sing song on the bus and this morning you could hear a pin drop on the bus. They focused the very minute they left the Red Cow and they just worked from there. We knew in the dressing room before they went out that it was going to be Limerick’s day.”