Limerick Ladies edged out by Down in National Football League opener

LIMERICK'S ladies footballers began their season with a 0-14 to 2-6 loss in their Lidl National Football League Division 3 clash with Down in Mungret St Paul's GAA Grounds on Sunday afternoon.

A strong third quarter from the visitors was crucial in this opening round game as they overturned a three-point half time deficit to lead by five.

Limerick rallied in the final stages with a Roisin Ambrose goal but it was Down that held on for the opening day win.

Mike Quilligan and Sean Kiely gave league debuts to Orla Ryan and Lucy O’Brien and Limerick made a positive start with Iris Kenneally opening the scoring after two minutes.

The impressive Down centre forward Eimear Fitzpatrick’s and her Limerick counterpart Deborah Murphy then traded frees before Vivienne McCormack squared the game up for Down.

Limerick then hit the front through a stunning Rebecca Delee goal in the 13th minute. Delee latched onto Caoimhe Macnamara’s pass down the left wing and turned for goal, slotting the ball under the advancing Catherine Byrne in the Down goal.

The home side could and perhaps should have kicked on from there but too often the final pass when a score was on did not go to hand.

Fitzpatrick’s second of the half brought Down back into the game but Murphy soon cancelled that out to give Limerick a 1-3 to 0-3 half time advantage.

It was a different story in the second half as Down put Limerick under severe pressure in the opening 10 minutes.

Limerick struggled to get outside their own ’45 with Laoise Duffy, Niamh McClory and Fitzpatrick all hitting the target inside 90 seconds after half time.

Niamh King then put Down in front and two further Fitzpatrick strikes, and another from King, saw the Mourne county 0-10 to 1-3 clear after 46 minutes.

Aine Smith, Natasha Ferris and Fitzpatrick continued the scoring spree before Deborah Murphy got Limerick’s first of the half with nine minutes to play.

Ambrose then took advantage of a defensive slip to bag Limerick’s second goal to leave the score at 0-13 to 2-4 in the final stages.

Two Murphy frees then reduced the deficit to one point but Niamh Rice’s injury time score sealed the victory for Down.

SCORERS: Limerick: Deborah Murphy 0-5 (5f), Rebecca Delee and Roisin Ambrose 0-1 each, Iris Kenneally 0-1; Down: Eimear Fitzpatrick 0-7 (5f), Niamh King 0-2, Laoise Duffy, Niamh McClory, Aine Smith, Natasha Ferris and Niamh Rice 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Carol Bateman (Mungret St Pauls); Sarah Dillon (Pallasgreen), Yvonne Lee (Monagea), Roisin Browne (Monagea); Grace Lee (Monagea), Lucy O’Brien (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Ellie Woulfe (Monagea); Karen O’Leary (Monagea), Orla Ryan (St Ailbes); Caoimhe Macnamara (Knockainy), Deborah Murphy (Monagea), Iris Kenneally (Old Mill); Andrea O’Sullivan (Ballylanders), Rebecca Delee (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Roisin Ambrose (Old Mill). Subs: Meadbh McNamara (St Ailbes) for macnamara (42 mins), Kate Kennedy (St Ailbes) for Kenneally (49 mins), Grace Mullane (Monagea) for Woulfe (51 mins), Caoimhe McGrath (Fr Caseys) for Ryan (55 mins).

DOWN: Catherine Ryan; Claire Milburn, Katie Howlett, Eireann Gallen; Meghan Doherty, Clare Mulvenna, Natalie McKibbin; Erin Sands, Niamh McClory; Laoise Duffy, Eimear Fitzpatrick, Meabh Kelly; Niamh King, Vivienne McCormack, Niamh Rice. Subs: Ciara McCreanor for Howlett (20 mins), Aine Smith for Doherty (43 mins) Natasha Ferris for McCormack (45 mins), Niamh McGrath for McKibbin (47 mins), Aisling Cull for Kelly (51 mins).

REFEREE: Eoghan O’Neill (Kildare).