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Previews MATCH Top scorers from the TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship: SCENE SET FOR TG4 ALL-IRELAND JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS C ARLOW, Down, Limerick and Fermanagh will battle it out this weekend for coveted slots in the 2023 TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Final. The scene is set for two cracking semi-finals, with Fermanagh taking on Limerick in Longford at 2pm on Saturday, July 22, before Carlow take on Down at 2pm on Sunday, July 23, at Parnell Park in Dublin. Fermanagh were beaten Junior Finalists last year after a replay against Antrim, and will be hoping to go one step further this time. To get back to another Final, however, they'll have to get past Limerick, who are appearing in a fourth successive Junior semi-final. Limerick will hope they can get one over on Fermanagh at the penultimate stage, as the Erne County won the 2020 and 2022 All-Ireland semi-final meetings between the counties. Fermanagh topped Group B with three wins from three to reach this semi-final, with Limerick qualifying in second place from Group A behind Down. Carlow, meanwhile, have appeared in the 2021 and 2022 Junior semi-finals and will be hoping it's third time lucky as they target a Croke Park berth. Down topped Group A to make it through to the last four, with Carlow joining them after finishing second in Group B. Down were relegated last year but are targeting a swift return to the Intermediate grade. From an overall viewpoint, Fermanagh boast an excellent recent record in the Junior competition. They were winners in 2017 and 2020, and Finalists in 2019 and 2022. Limerick have contested three previous Finals, winning in 2010 and 2018, while they were runners-up in 2009. Down were winners in their only previous Junior Final appearance in 2000, while Carlow are looking to make history by reaching a Junior decider for the very first time. Natasha Ferris GOALS 7 POINTS 23 TOTAL 44 Down Bláithín Bogue 2 17 23 Fermanagh Vivienne McCormack 5 3 18 Down Cathy Mee 4 6 18 Limerick Iris Kennelly 3 9 18 Limerick Beatrice Casey 3 9 18 London Leah Kelly 4 3 15 Sligo Roisin Considine 2 8 14 London Leah Duffy 3 5 14 Sligo Sinéad Hayden 2 8 14 Carlow 18 | SUMMER 2023 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie