Limerick champions closer to LGFA Munster breakthrough
The Munster LGFA intermediate championship that has still never been won by a Limerick team after coming to being over a quarter of a century ago
SO CLOSE for a devastated St Ailbes.
The east Limerick side have been flying the flag for Limerick ladies football, winning the last three years on the trot and continue to threaten to make the breakthrough at provincial level.
The local senior champions go into the Munster Intermediate Championship - a competition that has been dominated in recent years by Cork teams.
With just nine teams in the senior championship in the Rebel County, the side that comes through their second tier competition is always battle-hardened.
Inch Rovers on Sunday made it four-in-a-row for the Leesiders in this competition, following in the footsteps of Glanmire (2023), O’Donovan Rossa (2024) and Naomh Aban (2025).
The O’Donovan Rossa success came at the expense of St Ailbes, the Limerick side losing a second Munster final in three years in Mallow on Sunday.
It is a championship that has still never been won by a Limerick team after coming to being over a quarter of a century ago.
“They put in a fantastic shift,” said a proud manager Brian Egan after the game. “I don't think we were ever in control of that game. They were never ever going to give up.
“What happened in the last few minutes there in normal time really epitomises the spirit of the team.
“It's just a shame we didn't get over the line. We've been here before. It's not a great place to be.”
In one of the most remarkable Munster finals across any code in recent years, the east Limerick side hit the Cork champions for seven goals. Devastatingly, it wasn’t enough as Inch Rovers claimed a 4-17 to 7-7 win in a classic.
“It is something we highlighted during the week that there was a possibility of a few handy goals. We got goals and we needed them alright but unfortunately we just didn't get them at the end.”
Lady luck didn’t shine on the east Limerick side either. Missing one star player and losing another in the first half.
“We lost Niamh Ryan after 20 minutes. She was a big loss. And Meadhbh Mack (McNamara) broke her collar bone in the semi-final.
"They're two massive players, two inter-county players and to be missing those, especially going into extra time, just was a little bit too much,” Egan reflected.
The fact St Ailbes got so close against one of the Cork LGFA powerhouses without key players proves they are a force to be reckoned with at this level.
They will of course have to negotiate a fourth county title in a row in 2027 if they are to get another crack at the Munster title but this showed that Limerick teams can compete.
The breakthrough is getting closer for Limerick teams in this competition.
At junior level, Limerick intermediate champions take part and in the shape of Mungret-St Paul's (2024), Murroe-Boher (2014) and Gerald Griffins (2000) have tasted All-Ireland success.
However, this year at that level, Knockainey were convincingly beaten by 26 points against a Carrigaline side who in turn lost their provincial semi-final.