Limerick were second best in their opening premier junior championship clash on Sunday last with a strong Carlow side coming out on top.
Carlow had chalked up 3 unanswered points before Dearbhla Egan got Limerick on the scoreboard in a low scoring first quarter. In the second quarter Lizzy O’Dwyer and Aoife Coughlan added to Limerick’s tally but with Kate Nolan raising a green flag for Carlow it was they who went in at the break ahead by 1-5 to 0-3.
Having had the advantage of a breeze in the first half Limerick had a task ahead in the second half. The home side with the advantage of a league campaign and a win the previous week behind them were always going to be favourites for the tie.
It was Limerick’s Laura Stack who opened the scoring after the break but Carlow were quick to respond with a brace of goals in the next five minutes to leave Limerick with a mountain to climb.
But credit to Ger Hickey’s side they kept battling and substitutes Sinead Madden and Mairead Clancy steadying the ship. But to break LImerick hearts it was Carlow who again drove home a goal in the 45th minute to leave the scoreboard showing 3-9 to 0-5.
Captain Una O’Connor did close the gap with a goal, followed by another point from Dearbhla Egan but it was not enough as the final score displayed 3-10 to 1-7.
Limerick will learn from this encounter and regroup for another away match next Sunday against Dublin.
Limerick team:
Laura O’Neill, Sarah Finn, Caitríona Neville, Sarah Crotty, Shannyn Sheehan, Lisa Barrett, Aoife Coughlan (0-1), Gráinne Regan, Laura Stack (0-1), Lisa Leonard, Úna O’Connor Capt. (1-0), Róisín O’Mara, Dearbhla Egan (0-4), Sophie O’Callaghan and Lizzy O’Dwyer (0-1).
