Fermanagh 2-12
Limerick 2-10
By Deniese O’Flaherty
Photos by Sportsfile
Fermanagh booked their place in the TG4 All-Ireland junior football final with a two point win over Limerick in a cracking contest at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park in Longford. They will face Louth in the final.
There was never much between the sides all throughout the game. The lead changed on a number of occasions but when Limerick needed scores near the end the Fermanagh defence were resolute and stood firm.
Limerick created a goal chance inside the opening minute but Fermanagh keeper Megan Maguire pulled off a great save to deny Fiona Bradshaw.
Three points from the boot of Eimear Smyth (one free) gave Fermanagh an early three point advantage but Limerick were on level terms in the 14th minute. Cathy Mee’s point was followed up by two Deborah Murphy frees. Roisín Ambrose put Limerick ahead in the 15th minute when she palmed the ball to the net.
Fermanagh were back in front on 16 minutes; another Smyth point and an excellent goal from Aoife McCabe. Molly McGloin hit the crossbar with her effort in the 18th minute. Down the other end the woodwork denied Kate Kennedy a goal.
Ambrose cut the gap to one in the 27th minute but one minute later Joanne Doonan was on target to give Fermanagh a 1-6 to 1-4 lead going in at the break.
Twice in the opening minutes of the second half Fermanagh went three ahead but in the 39th minute Karen O’Leary’s neat point cut the deficit to just one. The game swung in Limerick’s favour in the 44th minute when Murphy found the back of the net with a superb strike.
Bláithín Bogue drew the sides level for the second time in the 46th minute. Two minutes later and the lead had changed again. In the 50th minute McCabe was fouled and Smyth put away the penalty. Fermanagh were back in front.
The game was still very much in the balance. Both sides had chances but kicked wides. Bogue and Smyth (free) extended the Erne County’s lead to three in stoppage time. Limerick went in search of a goal but the only score they got was a pointed Murphy free.
Scorers – Fermanagh: E Smyth 1-8 (1-0pen, 0-3f), A McCabe 1-1, B Bogue 0-2, J Doonan 0-1.
Limerick: D Murphy 1-4 (0-3f), R Ambrose 1-2, C Mee, K O’Leary, K Kennedy, C McManus 0-1 each.
FERMANAGH: M Maguire; C Clarke, M McGloin, E Keenan; S McQuade, C Murphy, C Bogue; B Bannon, L Maguire; D Maguire, J Doonan, A McCabe; B Bogue, E Smyth, B Smyth. Subs: N McManus for B Smyth (45), R O’Reilly for Keenan (60).
LIMERICK: S Hennessy; J McGuire, Y Lee, R Browne; G Lee, C Mee, M MacNamara; R Ambrose, L Coughlan; K O’Leary, D Murphy, C McGrath; E Woulfe, K Kennedy, F Bradshaw. Subs: G Mullane for Woulfe (28), C McNamara for McGrath (ht), S Dillon for G Lee (53), K Heelan for Coughlan (58)
Referee: Justin Murphy (Cork).
