Five of Fermanagh’s six selected stars made the trip to Croke Park last Friday after being chosen for the 2024 TG4 Team of the All-Ireland Junior Championship.
Both Junior and Intermediate teams were given their awards with champions Leitrim leading the way for the Intermediate 15 with seven of the players who featured in their shock final win over Tyrone.
Knockninny Gaels’ Ciara Clarke, Newtownbutler’s Molly McGloin, Derrygonnelly’s Eimear Smyth and Tempo trio, Bláithín Bogue, Cadhla Bogue and Shannan McQuade were all named in the Junior team that also featured five of the Louth players that Fermanagh defeated at the start of August.
Bláithín Bogue was the only Erne player not in attendance at the function as she continues her AFLW career down under with North Melbourne Kangaroos after flying over following the final.
Fermanagh defeated Louth 1-11 to 0-12 in Dublin, the first time they’ve won the trophy in Croke Park, as Eimear Smyth hit 1-09 picking up the ‘Player of the Match’ award and the 2024 ZuCar Golden Boot award after scoring a total of 8-48 (72 points) with the closest scorer to her being Louth’s Kate Flood.
CJ McGourty’s side went unbeaten in the championship, after a close ending to their opening Group A game against Sligo, they held on to win by a single point in Donagh before going on to record a six-point win against Carlow.
They booked their place in the semis with a win over Derry at Brewster Park before going on to hammer London in Killeeshill.
Limerick, at Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, once again stood in their way at the semi-final stage but another cagey ending saw them run out winners by two points and they would repeat the feat against Louth claiming a third All-Ireland Junior Championship in seven years.
Fermanagh will take inspiration having watched Leitrim win the Intermediate Championship after the Erne side bested them in the league last year.
The full Junior Championship team lists: Rebecca Lambe Fagan (Louth), Ciara Clarke (Fermanagh), Molly McGloin (Fermanagh), Ceire Nolan (Louth), Shannan McQuade (Fermanagh), Áine Breen (Louth), Cadhla-Cara Bogue (Fermanagh), Róisín Ambrose (Limerick), Eimear Byrne (Louth), Bláithín Bogue (Fermanagh), Deborah Murphy (Limerick), Rachel Sawyer (Carlow), Niamh Rice (Louth), Eimear Smyth (Fermanagh), Clíodhna Ní Shé (Carlow).
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