Limerick retain Munster Senior 'B' title in goal fest against Clare
LIMERICK 4-07 CLARE 4-05
Limerick retained their TG4 Munster Senior B Football Championship title after a highly entertaining game against Clare in Mallow.
It was a goal fest throughout, but in the end two late points from Limerick was the difference between the sides, as they ran out just about deserving winners on the day.
There were impressive displays all over the pitch for the winners, with Yvonne Lee, Rebecca Delee and Roisin Ambrose the pick of Limerick.
A bursting run from Delee set up the opening score for Limerick as she took on the Clare defence to find Caoimhe McNamara who blasted to the corner of the net.
With five minutes gone they could have had a second goal, this time Amy Lenihan saved well to deny Roisin Ambrose a green flag.
Delee made another great run and this time she put the ball over the bar herself, to make it 1-01 to no score after six minutes.
Ambrose added another point before Teresa Collins got Clare's first point, with nine minutes played.
They narrowed the deficit to a point after 15 minutes, when Megan Downes pounced on a defensive mistake to score a goal, to make it 1-02 to 1-01.
Clare turned the game on its head after 22 minutes, with two goals in a minute as they were now playing some great football.
The first was scored by Lucy Shanahan, who was quickest to react after her initial shot was saved and she made sure with the follow-up.
From the restart Shanahan regained possession and she played Chloe Moloney in to make it 3-01 to 1-02.
Ambrose pulled a point back for Limerick and with three minutes to half time it was the Banner who were in front by 3-01 to 1-03.
just before half-time Limerick got their second goal, with Delee playing Cathy Mee in, to make it 3-01 to 2-03 and all to play for in the second half.
Two minutes into the second half and the sides were level when Caoimhe McGrath pointed for Limerick. Collins put Clare back in front, but from the restart Limerick got their third goal.
Ambrose picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and drove at the Clare defence. She beat several players before playing Mee in to score, making it 3-04 to 3-02.
They could have had another goal, but this time Lenihan made another great save to deny Orla Ryan.
Meadhbh MacNamara added a point for Limerick to stretch their lead and with 40 minutes gone it was 3-05 to 3-02 in their favour.
But again, Clare responded and after a goalmouth scramble Ellie Hanrahan scored their fourth goal to level it, 4-02 to 3-05.
Points from Shanahan and Moloney put Clare in front, before Limerick got their fourth goal to retake the lead, after 49 minutes.
A long ball in from Ambrose deceived the Clare defence and bounced into the back of the net, to make it 4-05 to 4-04 in her side's favour.
A free from Moloney had Clare back on level terms, before an Ambrose free put Limerick back in front.
Delee added another from play, and with two minutes to go it was 4-07 to 4-05 to Limerick.
They proved to be the final scores as Limerick retained their title after a game worthy of the final.
Limerick: S Hennessy; S Dillon, Y Lee, C Hynes; G Lee, L O'Brien, M MacNamara (0-01); O Ryan, G Mullane; C McGrath (0-01), R Delee (0-02), C McNamara (1-00); C Mee (2-01), T Geoghegan, R Ambrose (1-02, 1f).
Subs: G Keane for T Geoghegan (38'), E Woulfe for G Mullane (44'), A O'Sullivan for C McNamara (50').
Clare: A Lenihan; C Byrne, G Harvey, R Doohan; S Melican, J Doohan, E Burke; T Collins (0-02), R Martin; M Downes (1-00), C Moloney (1-02, 1f), L Conway; E McNamara, E Hanrahan (1-00), L Shanahan (1-01).
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