Limerick ladies secure hard earned draw with Longford in National League:
By Siadbh Redmond Limerick Leader Sport
LIMERICK LADIES got a hard earned draw against Longford at 2-07 each in their Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 4 fixture on the North Campus pitch in UL on Sunday afternoon.
The Treaty team were three points ahead at the half-time break and looked to be in control of the game before Longford got two consecutive goals four and five minutes into the second-half.
This game brings the Limerick ladies tally to two wins and two draws in the league so far as they face Leitrim away next Sunday, February 18.
Limerick started off strongly thanks to full-forward Andrea O’Sullivan who fisted their first point over the bar before accurately placing herself under a high ball to punch the ball into the back of the net, making it 1-01 to them after five minutes of play.
It took these scores for Longford to kick into action with Kate Shannon slotting a free over the bar for their first score of the game.
These would be the only scores for a period of time before Cathy Mee’s effort after 16 minutes went over the Longford keepers head, getting another goal for Limerick and putting them well ahead.
Longford kept their scoreboard ticking over after the Limerick goal with points from Grace Shannon, Caoimhe Lohan and Kate Shannon.
Points came from Cathy Mee and Roisin Ambrose to finish off the first-half on a scoreline of 2-03 to 0-06 in Limerick’s favour.
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The midlands county struck first after the break with two consecutive goals from Kate Shannon and Niamh Brady to put Longford ahead for the first time in the game.
In a scrappy second-half, Limerick battled back with vital points forming from Deborah Murphy and Cathy Mee. A final point was scored by Longford’s Clodagh Lohan and was matched by Limerick substitute Kate Kennedy to level the game and bring it to a draw at 2-07 a piece.
SCORERS – LIMERICK: Andrea O’Sullivan 1-02, Cathy Mee 1-02, Roisin Ambrose, Deborah Murphy and Kate Kennedy 0-01 each.
SCORERS – LONGFORD: Kate Shannon 1-03, Niamh Brady 1-01, Grace Shannon, Caoimhe Lohan and Clodagh Lohan 0-01 each.
LIMERICK: Carol Bateman(Mungret St Paul’s), Meadbh McNamara (St Ailbe’s), Joanne McGuire (St Ailbe’s), Roisin Browne (Monagea), Deborah Murphy (Monagea), Yvonne Lee (Monagea), Grace Lee (Monagea), Róisín Ambrose (Old Mill), Fiona Bradshaw (Oola), Iris Kenneally (Old Mill), Cathy Mee (Ballylanders), Karen O’Leary (Monagea), Lauren Ryan (Adare), Andrea O’Sullivan (Ballylanders), Ellie Woulfe (Monagea).
SUBS: Katie Heelan (St Ailbes) for Bradshaw (26 minutes), Leah Coughlan (Oola) for O’Leary (Half-Time), Laoise Browne (Ballylanders) for O’Sullivan (45 minutes), Grace Mullane (Monagea) for G Lee (52 minutes), Kate Kennedy (St Ailbes) for Woulfe (55 minutes).
LONGFORD: Riane McGrath, Orla Nevin, Eimear O’Brien, Grace Kenny, Katelyn McKeon, Leah Shannon, Caoimhe McCormack, Slan Gallagher, Shauna Hagan, Clodagh Lohan, Grace Shannon, Caoimhe Lohan, Edel Sheedy, Niamh Brady, Kate Shannon.
SUBS: Funmi Talabi for C Lohan (42 minutes), Lauren McGuire for Sheedy (42 minutes), Kamille Burke for K Shannon (46 minutes), Anna Hayden for Hagan (59 minutes).
REFEREE: Marion Hayden (Carlow)