Fermanagh 4-10 Limerick 4-03

 

Fermanagh will face Wicklow in the All Ireland Junior Championship final on December 5 following a 4-10 to 4-03 victory over Limerick in Kinnegad today.

The winning of the game was a clinical opening quarter from Fermanagh as they hit four goals to put them in firm control before going on to lead 4-05 to 1-02 at the break.

Limerick did rally in the second half, hitting three further goals, and only for some fine saves from Fermanagh goalkeeper Shauna Murphy the margin would have been tighter but in the end seven points separated the sides as the Erne side deservedly booked their spot in the final.

Fermanagh came flying out of the blocks in the contest and with five minutes on the clock they had already hit the back of the net twice.

Eimear Smyth opened the scoring from a free before Roisin O’Reilly bagged the first goal of the contest as she was played in by Sarah McCausland and fired home.

And from the kick out Fermanagh won possession with the ball fed to Smyth who unleashed an unstoppable drive to the top corner of the net.

Fermanagh continued to dictate things as Smyth slotted over a free before Joanne Doonan pointed and by the time Andrea O’Sullivan opened the Limerick account, her shot tipped over by Murphy, there was already eight points between the sides, 2-03 to 0-01.

Indeed, that gap widened as the Erne Ladies swooped for their third goal with Smyth this time turning provider as she put through Doonan who drilled a shot to the corner to make it 3-03 to 0-01.

Limerick did have a goal chance of their own but Katie Heelan hit the crossbar, however, Fermanagh were much more clinical with the opportunities that came their way and Smyth grabbed her second goal with a low finish at the end of the first quarter.

Smyth then rattled over two more points from play as Fermanagh pushed into a 4-05 to 0-01 lead but Limerick did enjoy the better of things over the remainder of the half.

The Munster side netted a goal of their own in the 26th minute as Amy Ryan palmed in, Fermanagh goalkeeper Murphy making a fine save to deny Cathy Mee but Ryan was able to force it home.

Limerick, who tagged on a point from a free, also had a couple of other openings for goal as the half drew to a close but the Fermanagh defence stood firm to leave it 4-05 to 1-02 at half time.

Murphy again called into action the opening moments of the second half to save from Mee but it was Fermanagh who were to further increase their advantage as Smyth converted a free before Doonan landed a fine point from play to make it 4-07 to 1-02.

However, Limerick refused to let the heads drop and Aine Cunningham rifled home a good goal for the Shannonsiders.

Fermanagh responded though with points from McCausland and O’Reilly to remain comfortably ahead.

A third Limerick goal through Andrea O’Sullivan had the gap back to ten points by the water-break while it took another super stop from Murphy to again deny Mee as Limerick looked to trim the deficit even further.

An excellent point from the impressive Smyth thoughnkept the scoreboard ticking over for Fermanagh and although Ryan grabbed a second goal and Cunningham converted a free for Limerick these were just consolation scores as Fermanagh finished up 4-10 to 4-03 victors.