Limerick hold the edge over Kilkenny ladies footballers

The young Kilkenny ladies team, steadily gaining interest and support, faced a challenging encounter against last year’s All-Ireland Junior finalist Limerick at a rain-soaked Quaid Park.

The game unfolded as a testament to the progress made by the Kilkenny squad under the guidance of their manager, John Murphy.

Reflecting on the team’s journey, Murphy expressed his satisfaction with the growth observed in the first three league games, lauding the character and determination displayed by the players.

He acknowledged the ground yet to be covered but commended the team’s spirit and eagerness to embrace new ideas, stating, "We’ve introduced a lot that has been new to them, and they’ve carried it out to the letter.

In a closely contested first half both defences were resolute, with Kilkenny’s Eadaoin Cody and Sarah Smith shining among a commendable team effort. With the Kilkenny girls struggling to convert opportunities, Limerick capitalised on frees to build a lead.

Kilkenny’s breakthrough came in the 28th minute when the hard-working Amy Ring was fouled, resulting in a free converted by Hollie Brennan.

The second half began with Kilkenny trailing by seven points, and despite conceding a goal early on that they will be disappointed with, the team displayed resilience.

An extended sin bin for second-half substitute Sarah Corcoran posed a challenge for Kilkenny, but the team held firm, limiting Limerick to just one additional point.

The final scoreline of 1:09 to 0:01 may not fully capture Kilkenny’s efforts, as they threatened the Limerick goal on multiple occasions.

Manager Murphy praised the team’s performance, noting their ‘willingness to give 100% to the jersey’ yet emphasised the work ahead to close the gap. He expressed optimism for the future, crediting the strength and conditioning efforts led by Willie Brennan and highlighting the untapped potential within the group.

The team’s ability to limit the 2023 junior finalists to 1-2 from play signifies a substantial step forward.

Looking ahead, the Kilkenny ladies will regroup for their upcoming match against Carlow on February 11, maintaining a positive outlook.

Teams and Scorers

Limerick - Caoimhe McGrath (0-7, 0-6 frees); Karen O’Leary (1-0); Caoimhe McNamara, Laoise Browne (0-1 each).

Kilkenny - Hollie Brennan (0-1, free).

Kilkenny - Katie Fitzpatrick, Eadaoin Coady, Leah Brett, Sarah Smith, Jennifer O’Keeffe, Ailbhe Galwey, Kym Ryan, Kelly Comerford, Ellen Lawlor, Hollie Brennan, Ailish O’Neill, Niamh Ward, Ruby Roche, Sarah Corcoran, Becky Roche.

Subs: Abaigeal Egan for Leah Brett (36 mins), Riona Crowley for Niamh Ward (42 mins), Laura Phelan for Becky Roche (46 mins).

Limerick - Sophie Hennessey, Sarah Dillon, Joanne McGuire, Roisín Browne, Meadhb McNamara, Ellie Woulfe, Grace Lee, Katie Heelan, Fiona Bradshaw, Kate Kennedy, Leah Coughlan, Aoibhinn Murphy , Lauren Ryan, Caoimhe McNamara, Caoimhe McGrath.

Subs: Roisín Ambrose for Sarah Dillon, Yvonne Lee for Ellie Woulfe, Andrea O’Sullivan for Leah Coughlan, Iris Kennelly for Fiona Bradshaw, Deborah Murphy for Meadhb McNamara, Karen O’Leary for Aoibhinn Murphy, Cathy Mee for Kate Kennedy, Aine Cleary for Caoimhe McNamara, ( All HT), Michaela Cumes for Caoimhe McGrath (46 mins), Laoise Browne for Lauren Ryan (48 mins inj).