28 September 2009
From the Irish Examiner
TWO goals by wing-forward Mairead Cooper proved decisive as Antrim were crowned TG4 All-Ireland ladies junior football champions at Croke Park yesterday.
The Saffrons drew with Limerick in the group stages but the West County cup will reside in Ulster for the first time since Armagh’s victory in 2005.
Impressive full-forward Claire Timoney was Antrim’s star turn in the first-half, collecting 1-3 as the winners established a 2-6 to 1-4 interval lead.
The was a game littered with goal chances and while Limerick raised the first green flag after ten minutes, Antrim were more clinical in attack.
Limerick’s top scorer Dymphna O’Brien took advantage of a mistake by Antrim goalkeeper Ciara McCoy to tap home but Cooper replied in kind seven minutes later.
Eight minutes before the break, Eimear Kelly placed Timoney for Antrim’s second goal and they went on to lead by five points at the break.
Limerick opened the second-half in blistering fashion and after Yvette Moynihan pointed, Louise Higgins bagged a superb solo goal in the 35th minute to haul the Shannonsiders back into contention.
Antrim, appearing in their very first All-Ireland final, spurned another goal chance in the 43rd minute when sub Aimee McAtamney shot straight at Ella O’Shaughnessy but the Ulster outfit remained comfortable nonetheless.
With six minutes remaining, sub Leanne Higgins brought Limerick to within two points, 2-10 to 2-8, but Cooper raced clear three minutes later to net her second goal and put real daylight between them.
Cooper was denied a hat-trick in the final minute when her rasping drive struck the crossbar and rebounded to safety.
Scorers for Antrim: C Timoney 1-5, (0-2f), M Cooper 2-1, C Kelly & E Gallagher (1f) 0-2 each.
Scorers for Limerick: D O’Brien 1-4 (0-1f), Louise Higgins 1-0, Y Moynihan, T Mulcaire, K Campbell & Leanne Higgins 0-1 each.
ANTRIM: C McCoy; Eimear Kelly (St Ergnats, Moneyglass), B Scullion, G Campbell; N Kelly, C Mullan, D McAteer; G McCann, M McCann; Eimear Kelly (Creggan Kickhams), S Daykin, M Cooper; C Kelly, C Timoney, B McClenaghan.
Subs: E Gallagher for E Kelly (Creggan Kickhams) (ht), C Carey for Daykin (46), A McElroy for Cooper (60).
LIMERICK: E O’Shaughnessy; M O’Brien, S Healy, T Power; E McGuire, H Fogarty, S Larkin; P Donnelly, Y Moynihan, T Mulcaire; K Campbell, Louise Higgins, D O’Brien.
Subs: E Enright for Larkin (20), N Richardson for Moloney (ht), Leanne Higgins for Power (40), M.I. Casey for Garvey (50).
Referee: T Lennon (Dublin).
