HIGHLIGHTS | Limerick Ladies reach League Final after absorbing contest with Fermanagh

Limerick avenged the defeat in the 2020 All-Ireland semi-final to the same opponents in Kinnegad on Sunday.

Limerick will contest the 2022 Division 4 National Ladies Football League final after they beat Fermanagh 4-10 to 3-9 in Kinnegad on Sunday.

Graham Shine’s side trailed for much of the contest but found goals at the perfect time to set up a final clash with Offaly on April 3 after they beat Leitrim in the other semi-final.

Fermanagh had the perfect start as Blaithin Bogue found the net after three minutes. Things could have been worse for Limerick were it not for a fine Sophie Hennessy save a minute later.

Eimear Smyth extended Fermanagh’s advantage with a well taken score while Iris Kennelly was twarthed at the other end.

Cathy Mee got Limerick off the mark after seven minutes and was followed by Maeve McNamara in the scoring books.

But Smyth hit back with a double to leave it 1-3 to 0-2 in Fermanagh’s favour after a quarter of an hour.

From a long range Limerick free, the ball hit the cross bar as Mairead Kavanagh responded quickest before firing low into the corner after 16 minutes.

Fermanagh’s response was emphatic as Bogue raced through the defence before blasting past Hennessy to restore their four point lead.

Lauren Ryan and Mee helped eat into the lead but Bogue kept Fermanagh at a distance with her first point of the day.

Mee pulled Limerick within one on the stroke of the half hour mark, collecting a pass from Kavanagh before coolly slotting in the corner.

Kennelly then grabbed the equalizer with time in the red.

Yet, there was time for Fermanagh to regain their advanatage, with scores from Aisling O’Brien and Smyth having their side 2-7 to 2-5 ahead at the break.

Mee opened up the second half scoring for Limerick but again Smyth was on hand to reply with a free. The Fermanagh star then made it 3-8 to 2-6 in her sides favour in the 45th minute with a well taken goal.

But again, Kavanagh was on hand from a dropped free, pouncing on a loose ball in the Fermanagh box to bring Limerick within a point with ten to play.

The Ulster side almost immediately replied with their fourth goal but were denied by the crossbar before Smyth fired over.

A double from Catriona Davis had the sides level with one minute of normal time to play.

Limerick eventually took the lead for the first time in the game in the 60th minute as one-two between Karen O’Leary and Rebecca Delee saw the latter finish to the net.

Davis then rounded out the scoring with her fourth of the half as Limerick advance to the League final.