Both teams were victorious in their junior championship opener, although the Reds will have learned next to nothing about their All-Ireland credentials when swatting aside Kilkenny in Callan earlier in the month, having 20 points to spare.
The margin of victory puts Paul Hanlon’s charges top of the group but there was much greater significance to be drawn from the Treaty’s 1-12 to 0-8 success in Longford, who, alongside Louth, have also dropped down from intermediate.
This Limerick side has its fair share of big-match experience and having lost both last season’s All-Ireland and this campaign’s Division 4 finals, Seán Kiely’s side will be determined to go a step further in what is quite a wide-open championship.
Carlow, who Louth overcame to claim the Leinster crown, had four points to spare in the league decider against the Munster natives but it took a late goal to fully determine the outcome and while that was a disappointing experience, Limerick responded tellingly in Longford with midfielder Roisin Ambrose and half-forward Deborah Murphy performing particularly impressively.
That they rivalled an excellent Down team, who had 12 points to spare against Louth in this year’s National League, in last year’s junior showpiece, losing by 1-7 to 0-8, illustrates the quality within the ranks of the girls in green.
The aforementioned Ambrose, who captains the team, was at wing-forward when the Treaty devoured Louth in the 2018 All-Ireland decider. Una Pearson, Éimear Murray, Aoife Russell, Éimear Byrne, Céire Nolan, Rebecca Carr, Kate Flood, Niamh Rice, Áine Breen and Éilís Hand are all survivors from the Reds team that suffered a 5-6 to 0-8 defeat on that occasion.
Given that they play the Cats in round three, Limerick will see this as a match where victory would pretty much assure them of top spot and a more favourable semi-final draw. But for Louth, this is very much the start of their tilt at winning a fourth West County Hotel Cup.
