Limerick minor camogie suffer semi-final defeat to Dublin in All Ireland Shield

LIMERICK Minor camogie team fell short to Dublin in the Electric Ireland Minor A Shield semi-final on a scoreline of 3-15 to 2-25 after a late injury goal sent the capital side through to the final. 

On a glorious day in The Ragg, Dublin started the game the quicker and had a far better first half than Limerick. Roisin O’Brien got Limerick’s first score and six minutes later Poppy Giltenane added to it and drew the sides level.

Dublin got their first goal seven minutes in and then added a point so that they pushed the lead out to four points. Eimear O’Donovan who had a serious game for Limerick was the first player to get on a loose ball in around the Dublin goal and she riffled it to the back of the net, meaning the deficit was only one point.

Dublin then went on a scoring spree and scored five points on the bounce before Roisin O’Brien called a halt to the gallop
and scored a lovely point as she flicked the ball over the bar after a lovely pass from Donna Kenny. Bella Collins, Ciara Curtin and Poppy Giltenane all scored points before half time. Half time score Limerick 1-06 Dublin 1-11.

The second half got underway and it was Limerick who hit the ground running. Ellie Madden got a point from play and then Ciara Curtin got on the end of a pin point accurate pass from Ellie Madden, to strike home the sliotar and get Limerick’s
second goal. Eimear O’Donovan got a point before Dublin tacked on two of their own. Dublin then added their second goal and their lead went to five points.

Ciara Curtin who covered every blade of grass and put in an incredible performance, got a point from play which was followed by Órlaith Shanahan getting her name on the score sheet with a point. Ellie Madden closed the gap to two with a free before
Órlaith was fouled insdie the square and Limerick were awarded a penalty. Poppy stepped up to take it but the Dublin keeper made a fantastic save and then went on to save the two rebounding shots to deny Limerick the goal. Donna and Poppy got
more points and Faye Coffey pulled off a wonder save to keep the Limerick dream alive.

28 minutes gone on the clock and Dublin were a point ahead. However two minutes into the four of injury time Dublin struck home for their third goal. The final score of the game was a Poppy Giltenane free finishing the game off  Limerick 2-15 Dublin 3-15.

LIMERICK SCORERS: Poppy Giltenane 0-5 (0-1 free)Ciara Curtin 1-2, Eimear O’Donovan 1-1, Roisin O’Brien 0-2 (0-1 free), Donna Kenny 0-2, Ellie Madden, Órlaith Shanahan, Isabella Collins 0-1 each

LIMERICK MINOR CAMOGIE TEAM: Faye Coffey, Róisín O’Reilly, Sophie O’Keeffe (VC), Isabella Collins, Emma Mullins, Ciara Buckley, Mai McKenna, Kate O’Connor, Eimear O’Donovan, Ciara Curtin, Donna Kenny ©, Caroline Fitzgerald, Ellie Madden, Róisín O’Brien, Poppy Giltenane SUBS: Órlaith Shanahan for C. Fitzgerald (Half-Time time), Eimear Hogan for I. Collins (Second-Half), Aoife Russell for K. O’Connor (Second-Half), Sophie Carey for E. Madden (Second-Half)