Captain Roisin Ambrose keen to experience more Croke Park joy

LIMERICK’s Football captain, Roisin Ambrose is no stranger to success in Croke Park on All-Ireland final day but has not lifted the West County Hotel Cup since 2018.

“When I originally joined the panel after my leaving cert I saw success straight away and I thought we would be winning the whole time and then reality hit home right up until this year.”

Since then semi-finals have been Limerick's achilles heel but that has all been turned around in the 2023 season with new players coming into the panel and rejuvenating the squad.

The team have only suffered two losses this season to Antrim in the league and Down in the championship and Roisin puts that down to a more structured approach from the team.

Roisin continued by saying “This year we have had a complete change in our panel and that brought a lot of energy and determination. As a group we have gelled really well together and obviously that has been paying off.”

After booking their place in the All-Ireland semi-final against Fermanagh the team knew that this was the game to right the wrongs of last year.

The Old Mill’s club woman admits that “it was the strangest game ever”, with no score coming from either side till the 26 minute of play.

“At half-time we had a chat together with the girls and we knew we were doing things well if we just got a bit of luck and thankfully we did.”

Super-sub Caoimhe McGrath came on to score five frees for Limerick to give them a one point win to book their place in the first Junior final in five years.

Roisin stated that “I was very emotional after the game, I suppose the last few years haven’t been easy and to win with such a huge crowd from Limerick supporting us it was just even sweeter.”

It has been a busy few weeks for Limerick GAA in general and no one knows that better than Ambrose’s boyfriend, Aaron Gillane, who has been one of the hurling teams main players this season.

Of course being so closely connected to the Limerick hurlers has had an effect on how Roisin is preparing for her own All-Ireland final.

“Even going up to Croke Park to watch the lads final, it really motivates you. It makes you want to win an All-Ireland so it definitely adds an extra pep to your step.”

The ladies team will face Down in the final and after losing to them earlier on in the championship this victory would feel even sweeter.

An All-Ireland final win at junior level would see the Limerick team progress back up into the intermediate scene.

Captain Roisin said “We have such a young panel and this win will boost the direction we want to go in. It would just be a huge thing for Limerick LGFA in general and for younger players coming in playing at intermediate level, it will raise the standard even more.”