Limerick Ladies lose out to Fermanagh in National League

LIMERICK'S ladies footballers' hopes of reaching the Lidl LGFA National Football League semi- finals took another blow on Sunday afternoon as they suffered a 0-9 to 0-4 defeat to Fermanagh in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale.

In a repeat of the 2023 TG4 All-Ireland semi-final, the Limerick ladies suffered their second consecutive defeat of their Division 4 league campaign having lost to Leitrim in Ballinamore last weekend.

Limerick opted to play with a strong breeze in the opening half, but struggled to contain the Fermanagh attack in the opening quarter. Despite an early well-saved goal chance from Iris Kennelly for the home side, the Erne county stormed to a five-point lead by the 17th minute, all of which came from the boot of Eimear Smyth.

Fermanagh, time and again, turned over the Limerick attack in their defensive third, with the Ulster side seemingly managing to complete their passes much easier.

However, despite the Fermanagh dominance it was Limerick who ended the half stronger scoring four of the next five points, two coming from Kennelly, with sides going in at the interval 0-4 to 0-6.

Fermanagh almost put the game to bed immediately after the restart when closing to scoring the opening goal.

Meanwhile, Limerick struggled to find their feet with the strong wind.

Blaithin Bogue added two points from play in a very low-scoring half and came close to a goal after a wonderful kick pass bypassed the limerick defence.

Eimear Smyth kicked the final score on the stroke of the full-time whistle to take her tally to six points for the afternoon.

Limerick will now face a straight shoot-out at home to semi-final hopefuls Carlow in their final league game next weekend.

SCORERS: Limerick: Iris Kennelly (0-3, 2f), Deborah Murphy 0-1. Fermanagh: Eimear Smyth 0-6 (6f), Blaithin Bogue (0-2).

LIMERICK: Sophie Hennessy, Meadhbh Macnamara, Joanne McGuire, Fiona Bradshaw, Deborah Murphy, Yvonne Lee, Grace Lee, Roisin Ambrose, Lauren Ryan, Ellie Woulfe, Cathy Mee, Karen O’Leary, Iris Kennelly, Kate Kennedy, Roisin Browne SUBS: Katie Heelan for Lee, Leah Coughlan for Browne, Caoimhe McGrath for O’Leary, Sarah Dillon for McGuire, Grace Mullane for Ryan, Caoimhe Mcnamara for Kennelly, Mairead Kavanagh for O’Sullivan.

FERMANAGH: Roisin Gleeson, Ciara Clarke, Molly McGloin, Eimear Keegan, Shannon McQuade, Joanne Doonan, Sarah McCarville, Courtney Murphy, Brenda Bannon, Eimear Smyth, Niamh McManus, Caoimhe Gallagher, Blaithin Bogue, Cadhla-Cara Bogue, Lisa Maguire.

REFEREE: Conor McCarthy (Cork)