St Ailbe's retain Limerick Ladies senior football title with victory over Monagea

ST AILBE'S are back-to-back Limerick Ladies senior football champions following a 2-5 to 0-5 victory over Monagea in Knocklong this Sunday afternoon.

Goals in either half from Eimear Ryan and Orla Ryan proved decisive for the east Limerick outfit in their victory.

St Ailbe’s put in a controlled first half performance to lead by six points at the break. Monagea did bring the gap back to three points with 10 minutes into gone in the second half but the second goal killed their comeback hopes.

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Niamh Ryan was in fine first half form for the victors and popped over two classy points in the opening stages.

Catriona Davis and a Deborah Murphy free brought Monagea level on 26 minutes either side of a missed penalty by Eimear Ryan. Her shot went wide of the left hand post after Kate Kennedy was fouled.

That miss didn’t deter an Ailbe’s side with scores from Georgia Keane and Meadhbh McNamara brought them control once again.

Then came the opening goal. Keane’s strike from distance dropped short but Eimear Ryan was on hand to fist the ball beyond the reach of the onrushing Aoife Corbett. Niamh Ryan followed up with another point to leave the half time score at 1-5 to 0-2.

Monagea made a brighter start to the second half with three Murphy frees cutting the gap to three points with 20 minutes played.

However, Orla Ryan put pay to any hopes of a comeback with a cool finish that sealed county glory for St Ailbe’s.

SCORERS: St Ailbe’s: Eimear Ryan and Orla Ryan 1-0 each, Niamh Ryan 0-3, Georgia Keane and Meadhbh MacNamara 0-1 each; Monagea: Deborah Murphy 0-4 (4f), Catriona Davis 0-1.

ST AILBE'S: Brid Madigan; Martha Stanley, Ciara Ryan, Shona Hickey; Katie Heelan, Alex Russell, Meadhbh MacNamara; Catriona Hickey, Orla Ryan; Laura Nash, Georgia Keane, Aoife Dalton; Kate Kennedy, Eimear Ryan, Niamh Ryan. Subs: Sinead McNamara for Nash (24 mins), Dearbhla Egan for Kennedy (53 mins), Laura Nash for E Ryan (60 mins), Chloe Enright for Dalton (63 mins).

MONAGEA: Aoife Corbett; Emma Hogan, Kate Geary, Roisin Browne; Grace Mullane, Yvonne Lee, Liz Carmody; Brigid Cahill. Karen O’Leary; Grace Lee, Deborah Murphy, Ellie Woulfe; Ella Whelan, Amy Curtin, Catriona Davis. SUBS: Kate Donovan for G Lee (38 mins), Aisling Enright for Davis (39 mins), Grace Kelly for Hogan (50 mins), Eabha Collins for Whelan (53 mins), Shauna Tobin for Geary (60 mins).

Referee: Mike Flannery (Ahane).