Ladies Gaelic Football

28 // Ladies Gaelic Football Association TG4 JUNIOR FINAL PEIL Autumn | Issue No 3 | Volume 14 By DECLAN ROONEY HOW WILL LIMERICK FARE AT INTERMEDIATE GRADE? In the build up to the TG4 junior All-Ireland final Limerick manager John Ryan suggested that his side needed some time to grow and develop, but now that they're back up into the second tier of ladies football they'll need to show their best next summer. Intermediate football is packed with classy, seasoned teams like Tipperary, Sligo and a Meath team that fell one step short this time round, and Limerick will soon find out how good their young players are. But with classy forwards like Mairéad Kavanagh and Rebecca Delee there they will be a real threat for anyone. If they can keep it tight at the back like they did in this year's junior final they will enjoy 2019. Ryan will need a big performance in next year's Lidl Division 4 though. He'll look to bring his new faces on a step, but it is important that the club scene is well trawled in the mean time. ONE OF THE GREATS? One of the highlights of the All-Ireland final day was seeing Dymphna O'Brien introduced in the closing stages a few weeks after her return from retirement to inter- county scene. The game was just about wrapped up in a tidy bow by that stage, but her two classy points suggest she still has plenty to offer this Limerick team at the age of 34. Injury trouble meant she was not part of the squad earlier in the year, but it was a smart move by John Ryan to coax her back into the set-up for the business end of the competition. Clearly, with their inexperienced side graduating to the next level for 2019, they'll need her leadership around the squad. Camogie stars Niamh Ryan and Rebecca Delee also played a massive role in their win and perhaps more of their small ball colleagues could be coaxed into dual status too? GOALS WIN GAMES! Never has the old adage been as true as this TG4 All-Ireland junior ladies final. After a very nervy opening quarter the game suddenly exploded into life with three goals in five minutes for Limerick ending any hopes that Louth had. What really stood out was the cool heads shown by the Limerick forwards once the chances came their way. Mairéad Kavanagh's first was deflected, but she had rolled the ball nicely past Una Pearson. Rebecca Delee finished superbly for her first before Kavanagh showed great athleticism to flick her second to the net. While it took Cliona Ní Cheallaigh a couple of tries to find the net the build up play was outstanding, while Delee's second strike was from a tight angle and was pure class. When it most mattered the Limerick forwards stepped up to the mark and the scores demoralised their opponents. DEFEAT WILL BE TOUGH TO TAKE. After such an emotionally draining few months when Louth lost their manager, Michéal McKeown, then won their semi-final over Derry with such a late, late goal, they now have a tough All-Ireland final defeat to cope with. It will be a difficult off-season in Louth as they sift through this loss. While being involved from the early part of the season, new manager Darren Bishop deserves huge credit for the way he took charge after McKeown death, and it is important that the squad stick together if they want to achieve that promotion dream next season. Louth had beaten Limerick twice in this year's Lidl national league, but despite the two hefty losses Limerick recovered their form to take the biggest award. Louth will draw solace from that, and they'll know they have what it takes to make the return to the intermediate level that they crave so much. KAVANAGH'S CLASS! Rebecca Delee was awarded the official TG4 player of the match award, but she was well pushed by the classy St Ailbe's attacker, Mairéad Kavanagh, too. Both players ended the game with two goals to their name, but with three assists in her ledger Kavanagh was a huge threat all day for the Louth defence. Straight after her first goal she leaned back nicely on the Hogan Stand side of the pitch and drilled over a great point – the score of the game without doubt. There was more than a hint of a square ball about her second goal, but the finish was exquisite too. Throughout the game her heads-up play bamboozled the Louth rearguard and she also laid on the final pass for Delee's two goals and the other for Cliona Ní Cheallaigh. What a debut season it was for the 28 year old! TALKING POINTS Rebecca Delee of Limerick in action against Shannen McLoughlin of Louth

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