Captain Ambrose is eyeing up Down

Limerick captain Rรณisรญn Ambrose. Photo: Brendan Moran.

LIMERICK will be captained in Sundayโ€™s historic All-Ireland Ladies Junior Football Final against Down by Rรณisรญn Ambrose.

And, without question the Old Mill star is relishing the opportunity.

โ€œItโ€™s an absolute huge honour and Iโ€™m so grateful to be in the position to lead out the team. But in truth, we are more than just a team; weโ€™re a family in that we see so much of each other, and a close-knit family at that.โ€

Ambrose, along with Amy Ryan, Cathy Mee, and Kate Heelan, is chasing a second All-Ireland medal, having also been part of the 2018 triumphant side.

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She admits Limerick face a difficult challenge ahead against Down this Sunday.

โ€œDown are huge favourites,โ€ she insisted. โ€œThey were only relegated back to Junior last season and will be aiming for a quick return. Still, if we back and believe in ourselves, as we are all well able to play, I feel there will be no stopping us.โ€

With both counties already qualified, Down beat Limerick in a Group fixture at Newcastle West.

โ€œDown were better than us that day, but we had a lot of errors too, but they wonโ€™t happen again. Iโ€™m confident that that result will be turned around on Sunday.โ€

Support for the team has been huge in the build-up to the weekend, with several hundred in attendance at a weekend meet-and-greet with the players at Rathkealeโ€™s Mick Neville Park.

โ€œIt proved to a fabulous event,โ€ commented Limerick PRO Linda Harnett Youta.

โ€œThose there, especially the children, brought an air of excitement and the players said it too afterwards that it was a great start for the lead-up to the All-Ireland Final.โ€

This Thursday, a large turnout is anticipated for a fund-raising breakfast at Fitzgeraldโ€™s Woodlands House Hotel in Adare. Guest speakers include local hurling heroes Declan Hannon and Aaron Gillane, along with Mayo legend Cora Staunton and international rugby star Eimear Considine.