Limerick celebrate Munster LFGA Senior 'B' football Championship final glory

LIMERICK have beaten Cork in the Munster LGFA Senior 'B' Championship final by 1-10 to 0-7 in Mallow GAA Complex this Saturday afternoon. 

A confident first-half performance and a Caoimhe McGrath goal solidified the win for the Limerick team who now switch their thoughts to the  TG4 All-Ireland series, where they find themselves in group B alongside Kilkenny, Louth and Longford.

Cork got off to the mark first in Mallow with two quick scores from Orlaith Roche and Emma Hurley with Limerick struggling to get out of their own half.

Caoimhe McGrath ended the drought for Limerick adding their first score to the board after eight minutes after a fantastic run from Róisin Ambrose. This score was followed immediately with a Deborah Murphy free to level the sides in the opening 10 minutes. 

After a period of immense defence pressure from Limerick the home-side were unable to convert a score as the Treaty women moved into transition attack as Lauren Ryan crept up the wing to score a floating point from play. Yet again Deborah Murphy was on hand to provide another point to put them two ahead. 

A rough tackle on Cathy Mee awarded Limerick another free as Murphy stepped up to take the kick. A dropping ball into Cork's goalie Caoimhe Moore was mishandled ending up with Caoimhe McGrath punching the ball into the back of the net to leave Limerick 1-4 to 0-2 ahead after 20 minutes. 

This goal spurred the Limerick ladies on further with another free from Deborah followed up with a lovely passed of passing ending with mid-fielder Róisin Ambrose adding to the tally. 

Limerick continued their dominance in the first-half as Cork struggled to get the shots on target with four wides and no score since the third minute of the game. Deborah finished off the half with two more frees to leave Limerick 1-8 to 0-2 ahead at the break. 

Cork looked invigorated after the half-time break scoring two vital frees within the opening minutes from Katie Horgan and Noelle O'Mahony. Another free by O'Mahony pushed the deficit back to only six-points with Limerick still 1-8 to 0-5 ahead after 40 minutes. 

Limerick struggled immensely as they continued to kick away the ball to the opposition ending in a point for Katie Horgan from play and a certain goal opportunity from Noelle O'Mahony, saved incredibly by Sophie Hennessy to relieve some pressure on the Limerick defence. 

The Shannonsiders first score of the second-half came from the boot of a Deborah Murphy free. A similar effort by the Monagea forward kept the scoreboard ticking over for Limerick as Cork added a free from Noelle O'Mahony to leave Limerick with the win 1-10 to 0-7.

SCORERS LIMERICK: Deborah Murphy 0-7 (0-6 frees), Caoimhe McGrath 1-1, Lauren Ryan, Róisín Ambrose 0-1 each CORK: Noelle O'Mahony 0-3 (0-3 frees), Katie Horgan 0-2 (0-1 frees), Orlaith Roche, Emma Hurley 0-1 each

LIMERICK: Sophie Hennessy (Old Mill), Joanne McGuire (St Ailbes), Yvonne Lee (C) (Monagea), Roisin Browne (Monagea), Grace Lee (Monagea), Leah Coughlan (Oola), Lauren Ryan (Adare), Róisín Ambrose (Old Mill), Meadhbh MacNamara (St Ailbes), Karen O'Leary (Monagea), Deborah Murphy (Monagea), Cathy Mee (Ballylanders), Ellie Woulfe (Monagea), Iris Kennelly (Old Mill), Caoimhe McGrath (Fr Casey's)

SUBS: Grace Mullane (Monagea) for L Ryan (16 minutes), Mairead Kavanagh (St Ailbes) for C McGrath (51 minutes), Fiona Bradshaw (Oola) for E Woulfe (51 minutes), Katie Heelan (St Ailbes) for I Kennelly (56 minutes), Aine Cleary (Knockainey) for C Mee (60 minutes)

CORK: Caoimhe Moore (C), Siobhan Callanan, Caoimhe Heffernan, Rachel Sheehan, Emma Murphy, Ruth Shanley, Laura Mahoney, Kate Redmond, Abbie O'Sullivan, Grace Murphy, Emma Hurley, Eve Murphy, Noelle O'Mahony, Orlaith Roche, Katie Horgan

SUBS: Danielle Murphy for E Murphy (Half-Time),  Rachel Murphy for E Murphy (51 minutes), Molly Burke for L Mahoney (51 minutes), Caoimhe Russell for K Horgan (57 minutes), Áine Hallahan for R Murphy (58 minutes)

REFEREE: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry)