Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1037216
24 // Ladies Gaelic Football Association MAIRÉAD KAVANAGH (LIMERICK) PEIL Autumn | Issue No 3 | Volume 14 By DARAGH SMALL airéad Kavanagh only made her debut for Limerick this year, but she already has a TG4 All-Ireland Junior title under her belt, after an outstanding campaign. The 28-year-old St Ailbe's clubwomen scored 2-2 and provided plenty of assists for her teammates, as Limerick cruised to a comprehensive 5-6 to 0-8 win over Louth in the final. ahead for us. Really that was a test for us to try and stay off the celebrations and away from the alcohol for those weeks. "All we wanted to do was go out and go crazy and celebrate as a group. But we just kept the heads, knuckled down and drove on. "I'm 28 and I've never won anything major with football. This has been the ultimate goal so I am just really looking forward to getting back into intermediate and making a good stab of it now. "We can celebrate now." Limerick had only ever won one ladies football crown prior to their huge 13-point win over Louth at Croke Park. That junior final success came way back in 2010 and it was Louth who were the opponents on that day also. Louth were six points ahead at half-time but still couldn't secure the West County Hotel Cup, and it finished in a 4-10 to 3-8 win for Limerick on that occasion. It wasn't as close on 16 September when Kavanagh and Rebecca Delee hammered home a couple of goals each for John Ryan's side. "John Ryan and Jim Moran worked really hard with us throughout the year on running off the ball. For us it didn't matter who finished what it was just who got the last touch," said Kavanagh. "We were absolutely confident in the work that we put in coming up to the final. We worked really hard, focused and ignored everything that has gone on over the past year. It was Limerick's first junior title since 2010 and they will be back in the intermediate football ranks next year. And less than a month after the county's hurlers brought the Liam MacCarthy Cup back to Limerick for the first time in 45 years, the ladies footballers ended the year on a high note. "We were all here at Croke Park when Limerick beat Galway that day. It was massive motivation really," said Kavanagh. "We were all looking forward to what was What a Debut SEASON M "I'M 28 AND I'VE NEVER WON ANYTHING MAJOR WITH FOOTBALL. THIS HAS BEEN THE ULTIMATE GOAL SO I AM JUST REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK INTO INTERMEDIATE AND MAKING A GOOD STAB OF IT NOW." Mairéad Kavanagh, left, and Loretta Hanley of Limerick celebrate with the West County Hotel cup