Stunning comeback sees Limerick ladies draw with Leitrim:

Stunning comeback sees Limerick ladies draw with Leitrim:

By John Keogh Limerick Leader Sport

LIMERICK’S ladies footballers remain unbeaten in the LIDL LGFA League following a 4-9 to 1-18 draw with Leitrim at the Bog Garden in Rathkeale.

Graham Shine’s side were nine points down at the break but a superb second half saw them earn a deserved share of the spoils.

Iris Kenneally, on her 21st birthday, proved to be the hero for Limerick. The Old Mill star came off the bench and scored 2-2 to help Limerick maintain their unbeaten streak.

Leitrim dominated the first half with Michelle Guckian causing all sorts of problems from full-forward but it was Limerick that opened the scoring through Karen O’Leary.

The sides were level again at seven minutes but the home side struggled to get anything going as they played into a gale. Guckian and Leitrim took full advantage with 10 points on the trot to lead 0-11 to 0-2 with 20 minutes played.

A Laoise Browne goal got Limerick back into the game but two further Guckian frees and a lovely effort from play by Leah Fox saw Leitrim nine up at the break.

Guckian and O’Leary traded points early in the second half before Limerick got a second goal thanks to half time substitute Andrea O’Sullivan,

However, Leitrim were soon back in control when Guckian finished off a brilliant team move to see Leitrim 1-15 to 2-4 in front with 47 minutes played.

Then enter Kenneally. She followed two Browne points with 1-1 to bring Limerick to within two points. She then fired another goal and a point to see Limerick two points in front with three minutes remaining.

Leitrim stayed patient and reduced Limerick’s lead to a point and then levelled the game deep into added time through a superb Siomha Quinn point that ensured the game finished level.

Scorers – Limerick: Iris Kenneally 2-2, Laoise Browne 1-2, Andrea O’Sullivan 1-0, Karen O’Leary 0-2, Amy Curtin, Roisin Ambrose and Deborah Murphy (1 free) 0-1 each.

Scorers – Leitrim: Michelle Guckian 1-7 (4 frees), Ailbhe Clancy 0-3 (2 frees), Vivienne Egan, Laura O’Dowd and Leah Fox 0-2 each, Roisin McHugh (1 free) and Siomha Quinn 0-1 each.

LIMERICK: Sophie Hennessy (Old Mill); Fiona Bradshaw (Oola), Yvonne Lee (Monagea), Sarah Dillon (Pallasgreen); Grace Lee (Monagea), Leah Coughlan (Oola), Deborah Murphy (Monagea); Roisin Ambrose (Old Mill), Clare O’Meara (Mungret St Paul’s); Rose Hyland (Ballylanders), Ellie Woulfe (Monagea), Amy Curtin (Monagea); Karen O’Leary (Monagea), Cathy Mee (Ballylanders), Laoise Browne (Ballylanders)

Subs: Lauren Ryan (Adare) for Curtin (18 mins), Katie Heelan (St Ailbe’s) for Hyland (22 mins), Meadbh McNamara (St Ailbe’s) for Dillon (h-t), Andrea O’Sullivan (Ballylanders) for Woulfe (h-t), Iris Kenneally (Old Mill) for O’Meara (50 mins), Kate Kennedy (St Ailbe’s) for Browne (58 mins).

LEITRIM: Michelle Monaghan (St Francis); Jasmine Maye (St Mary’s), Charlene Tyrell (Mohill), Mollie Murphy (Ballinamore Sean Heslins); Sarah Reynolds (St Mary’s), Kasey Bruen (St Mary’s), Carla le Guen (St Brigid’s); Megan McGovern (Ballinamore Sean Heslins), Aisling Quinn (St Brigid’s); Laura O’Dowd (Ballinamore Sean Heslins), Leah Fox (Glencar Manorhamilton), Ailbhe Clancy (Glencar Manorhamilton); Vivienne Egan (Annaduff), Michelle Guckian (Kiltubrid), Elise Bruen (St Mary’s).

Subs: Bronagh O’Rourke (St Joseph’s) for Egan (41 mins), Niamh Tighe (Kiltubrid) for McGovern (44 mins), Siomha Quinn (St Brigid’s) for Clancy (48 mins), Roisin McHugh (Glencar Manorhamilton) for Guckian (51 mins), Rebecca Rooney (Glencar Manorhamiliton) for Murphy (54 mins).

Referee: Ciaran Groome (Offaly)