Fermanagh 2-12 Limerick 2-10

Relief and elation rang around Glennon Brother’s Pearse Park on Sunday as referee Justin Murphy blew the final whistle to confirm Fermanagh’s spot in this year’s All-Ireland Junior Championship final.

The Erne side led Limerick by two points heading into injury time and held on to that lead despite over eight minutes of additional time in Longford.

They’ll meet Louth in this year’s final at Croke Park in just over two weeks after their win over Fermanagh’s group opponents Carlow at Parnell Park.

On a deceivingly hot day at Pearse Park, it was CJ McGourty’s side who were on top for most of the opening 30 minutes and would have been disappointed to only take a two-point lead in at halftime after a handful of missed goal opportunities.

Derrygonnelly goalkeeper Megan Maguire was called into action in the opening two minutes as she denied Fiona Bradshaw one-on-one.

Fermanagh then stepped into their stride with three unanswered points through three Eimear Smyth points.

A Cathy Mee point and two frees from Deborah Murphy saw Limerick level the game with Joanne Doonan going close to a goal at the other end but palming wide.

It was Limerick who hit the opening goal with 15 minutes played, Murphy turned over a kickout and fisted across the goal for Róisín Ambrose to palm into the net to make it 1-03 to 0-03.

A swift response followed as Smyth pointed before Molly McGloin turned over the following kickout and fed Doonan who played Aoife McCabe in behind and the half-forward finished into the bottom left corner.

McGloin almost added a second goal two minutes later but her effort rattled off the crossbar before Smyth also put a goal chance wide.

Smyth pointed again and it was then The Shannonsider's turn to hit the bar as Kate Kennedy’s attempt pinged off the woodwork.

Ambrose tagged on another score with Doonan hitting the final point of the half as she tried to play in Smyth for a goal, but it was fisted away before coming back to Doonan.

1-06 to 1-04 read the scoreboard as the sides went into the changing rooms.

The sides traded points in the 10 minutes of the second half, Murphy and Kennedy both responded to Smyth with McCabe then answering Karen O’Leary’s effort.

Sean Kiely’s side then struck for their second goal, to go 2-07 to 1-09 ahead, as Murphy cut inside on an attack before rifling a shot into the top right corner of the net.

Bláithín Bogue responded with a point, but Limerick pushed further ahead with successive scores through substitute Caoimhe McNamara and Ambrose.

The lively McCabe then played her part in Fermanagh’s second goal as she went on a driving run and was taken down with the referee signalling for a penalty after a brief discussion with his umpires.

Smyth rolled the ball into the bottom left corner to put her side back in front. Bogue then made it 2-11 to 2-09 with a score from range on 60 minutes.

A Smyth free followed and the scoring was concluded with a Murphy free, six minutes into added time, with a final shot coming from Meadhbh MacNamara, but it dropped short and wide to the joy of her opponents as the full-time whistle sounded.

Fermanagh: Megan Maguire, Ciara Clarke, Molly McGloin, Eimear Keenan, Shannan McQuade, Courteney Murphy, Cadhla-Cara Bogue, Brenda Bannon, Lisa Maguire, Danielle McBrien, Joanne Doonan (0-01), Aoife McCabe (1-01), Bláithín Bogue (0-02), Eimear Smyth (1-08, 3f, Pen), Bronagh Smyth.

Subs: Niamh McManus for B Smyth (45), Róisín O’Reilly for Eimear Keenan (60+4).

Limerick: Sophie Hennesy, Joanne McGuire, Yvonne Lee, Róisín Browne, Grace Lee, Cathy Mee (0-01), Maedhbh MacNamara, Róisín Ambrose (1-02), Leah Coughlan, Karen O’Leary (0-01), Deborah Murphy (1-04, 3f), Caoimhe McGrath, Ellie Woulfe, Kate Kennedy (0-01), Fiona Bradshaw.

Subs: Grace Mullane for Woulfe (28), Caoimhe McNamara (0-01) for McGrath (HT), Sarah Dillon for Lee (53), Katie Heelan for Coughlan (58).

Referee: Justin Murphy (Cork)