Limerick Ladies minor football boss Macnamara takes positives in loss to Clare

LIMERICK'S minor ladies footballers lost for the second time in the Munster Championship at the weekend on a 2-10 to 1-7 scoreline in their game against Clare.

It was the third game of the campaign for John Macnamara's side, following a defeat to Cork and a draw with Waterford in their opening fixture.

The six point loss to Clare was a disappointment to the manager, especially as they were well in the game until late on when they conceded a second goal.

"We played into a gale force wind in the first half," Macnamara explained. "We were doing fine until we conceded a penalty and that goal helped Clare along.

"We had come back to just three points down in the second half but the second goal stopped the momentum. We spoke to the girls before and after the game and said that we go out and do our best. When we make mistakes, we get it right the next day. It was a day where things just didn't go right for us. 

"We did really well against Waterford. A high scoring game that finished 2-10 to 1-13. We went a bit defensive against Cork and kept them down to as low a score as anyone else has."

Limerick still have fixtures to come against Tipperary and Kerry and Macnamara says that the change in format has been a major help in the development of his panel. Limerick will now play at least five matches after a change of structure for this season.

"I think its brilliant," Macnamara told Leader Sport following the loss to Clare. "Every other year, we have only played Waterford and Clare. If we lost to them in the two games, you would have had to play one of them again." 

Limerick Minor Panel 2023

Ailish Kelly (St Brigid's)

Emma Hickey (Oola)

Rebecca Fitzgibbon (St Senans)

Sinead McGuinness (Pallasgreen)

Meabh Kelly (Old Mill)

Leah Quane (Galtee Gaels)

Maria Cagney (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)

Eadaoin Crowe (Oola)

Emma O'Rourke (Mungret St Paul's)

Aoibhe O'Halloran (Adare)

Aoibheann Flint (Oola)

Leah Geary (Galtee Gaels)

Lily Heelan (St Senans)

Isabelle Swann (St Senans)

Aoibhin Murphy (St Brigid's)

Sophie Hartigan (Ahane)

Paula Ahern (Old Mill)

Caoimhe Macnamara (Knockainey)

Claire Kiely (Monaleen)

Kate Donovan (Monagea)

Laura Boyle (Knockainey)

Ciara Ryan (St Brigid's)

Clodagh Real (St Senans)

Mischa Spillane (Galtee Gaels)

Katie O'Mahony (Mungret St Paul's)

Jenna Carragher (Monaleen)

Lorna Donegan (Knockainey)

Áine Dillon (Pallasgreen)

Aisling Kelly (St Ailbe's)

Molly Creedon (Feohanagh-Castlemahon)

Management - John Macnamara (Manager), Colm Lynch, Pat Galvin, Breda McGuinness, Martina Fitzgibbon, Hillary Cleary, Ronan Fitzgerald.