|
LIMERICK 0-08
LOUTH 0-07
Louth saw their hopes of
promotion dashed by Limerick when they lost out in the Division 4 semi-final by the narrowest of margins in Crettyard.
The game in Laois saw the Wee
County on top for much of the hour, but they failed to take their chances
and will be bitterly disappointed not to have made the final.
Louth
almost forced extra-time when they won a free deep into injury time but
Jenny McGuinness was unlucky to see her pressure kick go the wrong side of
the post.
In a game which was played in wet and windy conditions,
Louth opted to play Sandra Lynch as an extra defender in a bid to help
cut off the supply to the dangerous Dympna O"Brein, but with Limerick
employing similar tactics it meant a tough afternoon was in store for
the respective forward lines
The game saw Louth open the scoring through Rosanne
Heeney on two minutes following a foul on Ciara O Connor and although her side dominated the play, it was
Limerick who scored from their first attack on eight minutes through
Dympna O'Brien.
As Louth missed chances to add to their score,
they found themselves behind before Jenny McGuinness levelled from a
free midway through the half.
Again
the Munster side went ahead when Joannne O Gorman took advantage of a misplaced pass before Kim Lynch finished off some good
work from Patricia Marmion and Grace Lynch to make it 0-3 apiece on 22
minutes.
Further chances went a begging before Grace Rogers
found the target in the dying seconds to send Louth in 0-4 to 0-3 ahead
at the break
The
Wee County were made to pay for those lapses as Limerick raised their
game and inside four minutes of the restart had three points on the
board to lead by 0-6 to 0-4.
Jenny McGuinness twice replied with
fine scores to points from Limerick to keep her side in touch when
trailing by 0-7 to 0-6 on 43 minutes.
The
Munster girls increased the gap to 0-8 to 0-6 before Rosanna Heeney
found space in front of goal from a superb 40 yard pass from Sandra
Lynch with seven minutes remaining but opted to take her point in what
was the only goal chance created by either side.
Louth piled on the pressure in the
closing stages but both Grace Rogers and Jenny
McGuinness had shots blocked by some excellent defensive play by Limerick defenders as they pressed for the equaliser.
In the fourth minute of injury time, Louths sustained efforts seemed about to be rewarded as a
foul on sub Laura O'Neill gave Louth the chance to level but it wasn't to be
their day as Jenny McGuinness saw her shot just fail to find the target,which would have taken the contest into extra time.
LOUTH:
Una Pearson; Anne Marie Lynch, Andrea Carney, Aine McGee; Michelle
McMahon, Grace Lynch 0-1, Patricia Marmion; Grace Rogers, Vikki McGinn;
Rosanna Heeney 0-2 (1f), Ciara O'Connor, Kim Lynch 0-1; Sandra Lynch, Eimear
Brennan, Jenny McGuinness 0-3(1f). Subs: Laura O'Neill for K.Lynch and Lisa Kelly for E.Brennan
Limerick-
Martina Giltenane, Emma McGuire, Alva Neary, Rosie Giltenane, Janet
Garvey, Yvette Moynihan, Carla Sheehy, Niamh Richardson,0-02, Joanne O
Gorman,0-01, Stephaine Carroll, Paula Donnelly 0-01, Caroline Hickey,Mai
Kennelly,Dympna OBrien,0-03(1f) Claire ORiordan 0-01 Louth now turn
their attention to the Leinster Championship where they take on Carlow
on June 24 at a Carlow venue. If succesfull they will meet Wexford a
week later in the provincial semi-final [Report: Dermot Woods]
|
