Limerick boss Graham Shine fancies Limerick for All-Ireland final return in 2024

LIMERICK'S hopes of gaining further All-Ireland final glory ended in disappointment after the county's ladies football side fell to a two-point loss to Down in their junior decider at Croke Park yesterday afternoon.

The Treaty side made a great start to the game with topscorer Caoimhe McGrath landing three early scores but Down went in at the break one point to the good, 0-5 to 0-4.

Limerick missed two clear goal chances in the opening half and were ultimately let to rue those opportunities as Orla Swail's goal helped Down to a 1-7 to 0-8 victory.

Graham Shine's charges gave everything in the final quarter to get back into the contest, but their efforts ultimately fell short.
Treaty manager Shine said: “The goal completely sucker punched us and, look, whoever was going to score a goal today was ultimately going to be the winners.

“Both defences were well on top of each other so after that goal, we were chasing the game and that clock goes down fast when you are behind.

“We are devastated with the loss, we put in ferocious work but if the girls stick together then I am sure we will be back here again next year.

“The squad is very young apart from a few outliers so we would be hoping they would stay together.”