TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship semi-final: Antrim 3-18 Carlow 0-13 & Fermanagh 7-9 Limerick 3-12
ULSTER champions Antrim are back in another All-Ireland Junior Championship final after an impressive 14 points victory over Carlow in Sunday’s semi-final in Dunker.
They will play Fermanagh, for the fourth time this year, in the all-Ulster decider on July 31 after the Erne County defeated Limerick 7-9 to 3-12.
After losing last year’s final to Wicklow this was one of manager Emma Kelly’s aims for the season and while she is delighted to be in back-to-back finals she is well aware nothing has been won yet.
“To get back to an All-Ireland final after last year’s poor enough performance was one of our aims for this year. We have reached this goal now but as we said after the final whistle nothing was won. We need to turn up on the day this time,” said Kelly.
Antrim were fast out of the blocks, midfielder Aine Tubridy finding the back of the net in the opening seconds and they had 1-3 on the board before Carlow got off the mark. The Leinster side were always playing catch-up despite the best attempts of Sara Doyle and at half-time they trailed 1-10 to 0-8.
Points from Doyle helped to reduce Antrim’s lead to four points but, 1-11 to 0-10 but when Maria O’Neill found the back of the net in the 41st minute, it was yet another blow for Carlow and at that stage all Antrim had to do was see the game out and the icing on the cake was O’Neill’s second goal three minutes from time.
Kelly’s attentions now turn to Fermanagh and she is expecting a game that will go all the way.
“I’d say it will be a brilliant game of football and you will look at it as to who will win the match-ups.
“The junior final will go to the wire. The cup is coming back to Ulster which is a bonus...”
Meanwhile, Fermanagh boss James Daly was full of praise for his young side after they booked their place in this year’s All-Ireland Junior Championship Final against Antrim at the end of the month, at the expense of Limerick (7-9 to 3-12).
The Erne County had struggled to close out games, having lost to Limerick in the Division Four league semi-final earlier this year despite leading in the final minutes and they same happened when they saw a substantial half-time lead against Antrim in the Ulster final wiped out to lose by one.
However, their game management this time against Limerick in Sunday’s semi-final at Kiltoom was much improved.
Fermanagh did not have the best of starts to the game and found themselves 1-3 to no score down with less than five minutes gone.
However, Fermanagh upped their game they hit 3-2 without reply before half-time to open up a 3-5 to 1-5 lead, Blaithin Bogue, Laura Grew and Smyth raising the green flags. Limerick did get a crucial second goal through Iris Kennelly to leave it 3-6 to 2-6 at half-time.
It was Fermanagh’s turn to struggle for scores in the opening quarter of the second half, despite having the numerical advantage when Limerick’s Leah Coughlan was sin binned. It took them until the 42nd minute to get their first score with just a point between the sides, Fermanagh’s lead cut to the minimum, 3-6 to 2-7.
But it was crucial goal from Cliodhna McElroy and it was followed two minutes later by a second Smyth goal to open up a seven point lead, 5-6 to 2-8. From there, it was about seeing the game out and they added two late goals, Grew with her second and Smyth completing her hat-trick.
“We definitely didn’t have the start we wanted but we didn’t panic and we we very happy with the way we settled down and got a few scores and pushed on," said Daly.
Now they turn their attention to Antrim and how to overthrow the favourites.
“It’s good to see two Ulster teams competing in the final. They will definitely be the favourites, but we will have our own game plan up our sleeves and hopefully we will take care of them on the day.”
