Limerick reset for Wexford fixture in Very National Camogie League

LIMERICK senior camogie manager Joe Quaid believes his side needs to reset ahead of their trip to Wexford in Division 1B of the Very National Camogie League on Saturday at 2pm.

“It's the one great thing about league, you get a chance to right the wrongs. That's what we will do, go at it again, we've long trip to Wexford.

“I can't ask any more of them, the commitment they've given to us this year, themselves and their teammates has been second to none,” Joe Quaid said after Limerick's defeat to Antrim in Ballyagran on Saturday.

“We'll get refreshed over the next few days and yes it has to hurt (defeat to Antrim). It will hurt all of us and we'll hit the reset button and come with a renewed energy again.”

Limerick will be aiming to pick up their second win of the league campaign on Saturday in Wexford. The Shannonsiders’ got the better of Down in round one.

Despite last Saturday's nine point loss to Antrim, Quaid doesn't feel the scoreline reflected his team's performance.

“From the start of the year, we said to the girls we've three things we wanted out of them attitude, application and workrate.

“We've fifteen new girls in on the panel and we had a bad day at the office. We learned loads and the girls will learn loads. Some girls there it's only their second time in a Limerick jersey.”

The Saffrons defeated Limerick 2-10 to 0-7 last weekend.

“There was a period there in the second half that we gained momentum and that's what we have to look at. I said to the girls, we will hit the reset button now. The important thing is to look at the good stuff and build on that.”

Developing players is key according to the former Limerick goalkeeper and he feels it is vital to give as many players as possible gametime throughout the league.

“We made three or four changes on Saturday and we'll do the same this week. Every one of them girls on that panel of 30 could go in and do a job. We're in a stage in Limerick camogie at the moment where we are in a development stage.

“You can't develop girls if you have 15 of the same girls playing every day. We have to try and play girls in different positions.”
Quaid had a large proportion of his squad involved in the Higher Education competitions with their colleges in January and February.

“Unfortunately we hadn't that many challenge matches at the start of the season, we had a lot of girls away with the Ashbourne, Purcell and Fr Meagher Cups with the colleges. This was really our second game of real consequence where we can see what's working and what's not working. You can do all that in training but until you come in to the heat of battle, you never know how it's going to work.”

However, even after Limerick's nine point loss to Antrim, the Limerick manager is still very proud of his side's effort in the National League.

“They give us everything and they do to be fair to them and that's all you can ask of them.

“At times when things aren't going right they still keep fighting and that's the true sign of a team that can achieve something,” added Quaid.

Last Saturday, Ciara O'Riordan missed the Round two National League clash against Antrim in Ballyagran with a ‘dead’ leg.