History: Mungret St. Paul’s collect deserved All Ireland Junior title

Mungret St. Paul’s 0-12
Na Dúnaibh 0-4

By Tom Clancy at Parnell Park

Mungret St. Paul’s are All-Ireland champions. That is after a richly deserved eight point victory over Na Dúnaibh, of Donegal, at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon.

A dominant display saw them join Gerald Griffins (2000) and Murroe Boher (2014) as Limerick winners of this All Ireland Junior Ladies Football crown.

It adds to the Intermediate crown secured domestically as well as the Junior title won against Midleton early in November.

The Limerick side started quite strongly and hit the front inside 90 seconds, thanks to a neat finish from Jayne Casey. The same player added a second – this time hand passing over from close range.

The Donegal side were aided by the breeze in the first half and they opened their account via the reliable Lauren McBride, who pointed a free.

Niamh O’Keeffe was part of a busy Mungret forward unit, and she saw an effort from 13 meters saved by keeper Charlie Ní Shibhleáin.

Grainne McKenna was busy in the link up play and she got the opportunity to open her account, on 12 minutes, converting a free.

There was a Caoimhe McLaughlin point for the Ulster champions, but there was then scores from O’Keeffe, Clare O’Meara and McKenna to open up a four point buffer.

However, but for two interventions from Carol Bateman in the Mungret goal, as well as an effort from McBride which went narrowly outside the posts, the Donegal side could have found the net.

Two late McBride frees ensured it was 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval as the momentum swung back  to Barney Curren’s ladies.

To start the second half, Casey repeated the trick add her third. McKenna soon added her first from play to make it 0-8 to 0-4.

They pushed on and kicked the next four to move triple scores ahead. Again, Casey and McKenna were on target while Aoife Morrissey also chipped in. There was dominance about Mungret in midfield, with captain Aine Ryan, the impressive and half-back line really on top.

There was some drama late on, as Shannon Burke was adjudged to have pulled a Donegal jersey, with this seeing a penalty awarded as well as a sin-binning.

However, Denise Doherty sent the effort narrowly wide of the goal, and wide.

That was it in terms of goalmouth action as Mungret managed the came to its conclusion and claimed an historic first ever All Ireland title for the ever growing club. 

Scorers for Mungret St. Paul’s: Jayne Casey 0-4; Grainne McKenna 0-5 (0-3 frees); Niamh O’Keeffe 0-1; Clare O’Meara 0-1; Aoife Morrissey 0-1

Scorers for Na Dúnaibh: Lauren McBride 0-3 (0-3 frees); Caoimhe McLaughlin 0-1

Mungret St Paul’s: Carol Bateman; Caoimhe O Neill, Laura Dunne, Cameryn Moloney; Jillian Buckley, Shannon Burke, Mairead Clancy; Aine Ryan (Captain), Clare O Meara; Emma O Rourke, Gráinne Mc Kenna, Aoife Morrissey; Jayne Casey, Niamh Crowley, Niamh O’Keeffe.

Subs: Yvette Culhane for O’Rourke (37) Fiona Morrissey for Crowley (37); Claire Coughlan for O’Keeffe (46); Jenni O’Malley for Buckley (51); Megan O’Malley for Casey (55)

Na Dúnaibh: Charlie Shevlin; Jessica Roberts, Chloe Hay, Maggie Doherty; Aine O’Connell, Emer Trearty, Michelle Wilkin; Julie Trearty, Caoimhe McLaughlin; Amy McLaughlin, Mary T Boyce, Sinead McBride (C); Denise Doherty, Shannon McGroddy, Lauren McBride.

Subs: Meabh O’Connell forBoyce (19); NadineGallagher for M Doherty (half-time); M Doherty for Wilkin (47); Danni Ní Shibhleáin for A McLaughlin (53)

Referee: Angela Gallagher (Meath)